SparkLabs launches Taiwan accelerator

SparkLabs Taipei will target companies in internet-of-things, virtual reality, augmented reality and mobile segments, as well as verticals related to financial and healthcare technologies. The three-month program will include funding, mentoring, workspace provision and access to professional and investor networks, including Silicon Valley executives.

Edgar Chiu, previously the COO of local IT company Gogolook, will act as managing partner of the accelerator. He also works as the general manager of Camp Mobile Taiwan, an app development subsidiary of Korean internet conglomerate Naver, which acquired Gogolook in 2013.

“Why don’t we see more Taiwanese startups moving onto the international stage? They have the knowhow and they have the ability, so what’s holding them back? These are questions that keep me up at night and make me restless,” Chiu said in a statement. “With our help, more Taiwanese start-ups will be able to go global.”

Alex Wu, vice president of marketing at educational technology company Newsela, and Tony Ling, a former managing director at Silver Lake Partners, will serve as part-time venture partners. Steve Chen, co-founder YouTube, and Kevin Chou, co-founder and CEO of US media company Kabam, will join the program’s advisory board.

SparkLabs launched its first accelerator in Korea in 2012 and opened a Beijing unit earlier this year. A Hong Kong accelerator focused on fintech is being planned for early next year.

Difficulty sustaining momentum in the development of Taiwan’s start-up ecosystem has been attributed to inadequate government support for emerging digital technology sectors. Additional accelerator activity addressing this issue includes development of the government-backed technology park known as Asian Silicon Valley.

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• Topics
• Greater China
• Technology
• Early-stage
• Taiwan (China)
• Venture
• seed