To help young people develop careers and create a friendly entrepreneurial environment, Premier Mao Chi-kuo today presided over the press conference to announce the launch of the upgraded online platform for youth startups. The event was held at the former official residence of the premier on Jinhua Street, which has been regenerated to serve as a youth startup base and social enterprise hub.
Creating and fostering friendly environments for innovative startups in both the real and virtual worlds is a responsibility of the government, Mao stated. The upgraded online platform for youth startups has integrated various ministries' resources to deliver services online, and Mao hopes young entrepreneurs and social enterprises will also maximize the utility of the Jinhua site. How social enterprises use the residence will depend on their "hackathon spirit" of pooling wisdom and planning together, he said.
The Jinhua residence has already been transferred to the National Property Administration of the Ministry of Finance, the premier noted. He joked that he himself was a "fake" owner and he is happy to see that the residence has found its true proprietors.
Premier Mao wrote a couplet at the entrance of the residence's main structure: "Elite youths congregate here to innovate" and "Social enterprises soar and flourish." He hopes that the residence will turn into a place for all Taiwan's youths to congregate to develop their creativity and innovation, and boost social enterprises to flourish and become an inherent part of Taiwan. Youth startups and social enterprises alike can all realize their dreams here, he said.
Zuvio Tech cofounder Chao Shih-lung, Townway Cultural and Creative Corporation founder Ho Pei-jun, and Changee founder Lin Tuan-jung—creator of a platform for shared creative work spaces and the arts—all shared their observations about Taiwan's entrepreneurial environment and new generation of entrepreneurs at today's press conference.
These three representatives of Taiwan's young entrepreneurs encouraged young people to start their own businesses but noted they must have passion and perseverance. They also affirmed the government's efforts to offer more needed entrepreneurial resources to youth.
To help young people realize their entrepreneurial dreams, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), in coordination with the Executive Yuan's plans for six new Internet platforms or "online avatars," has strengthened its substantive policies and links with the online world, the ministry said. It has upgraded its youth startup platform and integrated resources for public entrepreneurship services in the platform's eight zones: Funding, Space, Convenience Pack, Calendar, Highlight, Facebook, Social Enterprise and Ideas.
In addition to establishing this one-stop platform for youth startup services, the MOEA has made the Jinhua residence an "all-in-one" base for youth entrepreneurial services.
Meanwhile, the ministry has arranged for a shuttle bus to visit townships and villages to help aspiring entrepreneurs more easily find the services they need.
To encourage more exchange and cooperation between social entrepreneurs, the MOEA will hold a hackathon for social enterprises at the Jinhua residence on March 28 and 29. Social entrepreneurs, startup workers, and experts from industry, government and research institutions are invited to discuss related issues, and these discussions will serve as references for future planning of social enterprise hubs.