Startup Island TAIWAN Podcast

Why Foreign Gen Z Founders are Looking at TaiwanWhat makes a Gen Z founder skip the traditional career path and instead build a deep-tech startup? In this episode, we sit down with Chai Chang Yao, co-founder of Buildables, a Singapore startup developing AI-powered engineering models that help manufacturers inspect products, optimize R&D, and coordinate machines, humanoids, and workers from a single command center.Chai shares why he started Buildables at such a young age, why Taiwan caught his attention as a market for expansion, and what he learned after joining AI TAIWAN. If you're curious about Taiwan's manufacturing ecosystem, the next generation of startup founders, or what it takes to build a global deep-tech company from Singapore, this conversation is for you.In this episode, you'll learn:What Buildables is building and how it is transforming manufacturing engineeringWhy Chai chose the startup path at such a young ageWhy Taiwan stood out as a place to expand and build partnershipsWhat he learned from AI TAIWAN and Taiwan's startup ecosystemAdvice for founders looking to take their startup beyond their home market是什麼原因讓一位 Z 世代創辦人跳脫傳統升遷管道，直接投入深科技的創業領域？本集節目邀請到新加坡新創公司 Buildables 的共同創辦人 Chai Chang Yao。他們專門研發製造工程專用的 AI 系統模型，協助產線進行智慧品管檢驗、加速研發時程，並透過單一控制中心串接傳統機台、人形機器人與第一線作業員。Chai 在節目中暢談年紀輕輕就創立 Buildables 的初衷、選擇臺灣作為海外拓展關鍵市場的原因，以及參與 AI TAIWAN 後的實際觀察。若想深入了解臺灣製造產業鏈的實力、新世代創業思維，或如何從新加坡打造放眼全球的深度科技企業，絕對不能錯過這集精采訪談。本集重點內容：Buildables 的核心技術，以及團隊如何翻轉製造工程與產線運作Chai 選擇此時投身創業的關鍵動機臺灣在市場拓展與供應鏈合作上吸引海外新創的優勢參與 AI TAIWAN 獲得的第一手產業洞察與在地生態圈觀察給予有意跨出本土市場、布局國際的新創創辦人的實務建議📍 About Host: Paolo Joseph LisingSenior Global Community Builder, Business Next Media Corp. 巨思媒體集團#GlobalFounders #TaiwanStartup #StartupEcosystem🌏 Helping foreign founders navigate Taiwan’s startup ecosystem by bringing together founders, investors, and innovators to share practical insights and support more global startups in Taiwan.🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolojoseph/📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley HubWebsite: https://sv.startupisland.tw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/ Powered by Firstory Hosting

AI Education, Gen Z, and the Future of Learning: Why This Generation Is Never BoredGuest: Michael Cheng — Founder & CEO, Kikichat, and Ex-Managing Director, Drum Tower VenturesIn this episode, we speak with Kikichat founder & CEO and former Drum Tower Ventures Managing Director Michael Cheng, who spent two decades witnessing the rise of China’s startup ecosystem. He compares China’s survival-driven execution with Silicon Valley’s mission-driven innovation—and explains why Taiwan must expand beyond semiconductors into software ecosystems. Michael also explores why Gen Z may be the first generation to never experience boredom, how video became their default learning medium, and why constant digital stimulation can increase isolation. Finally, we discuss AI-powered education, the future role of teachers, and why successful startups must offer dramatically more value—not merely a 20% improvement.China vs. Silicon Valley: Survival-driven execution, rapid iteration, and breakthrough innovation in the AI eraFrom Alibaba, TikTok to new platforms: How Chinese startups capture human behavior, connection, entertainment, and boredomTaiwan’s next competitive advantage: Moving from semiconductor dominance to software ecosystemsGen Z’s video-first learning behavior: Constant stimulation, social isolation, co-watching, and collaborative learningAI-powered education startups: Video discovery, personalized learning, the future of teachers, and building products that are 10X betterAI 教育、Z 世代與學習的未來：為何這個世代不再感到無聊？在本集節目中，我們邀請到 Kikichat 創辦人兼執行長、前鼓樓創投（Drum Tower Ventures）董事總經理鄭偉立（Michael Cheng）。擁有二十年親歷中國新創生態系崛起歷程的經驗，他在節目中深入對比中國市場「生存導向」的極致執行力與矽谷「使命驅動」的突破性創新，並精準剖析臺灣為何必須跳脫半導體的單一優勢，跨足打造軟體生態系。Michael 亦分享了 Z 世代為何成為史上第一個與無聊絕緣的群體、影音內容如何躍升為他們首選的學習媒介，以及持續性的數位刺激又為何引發孤獨感。最後，我們探討了 AI 驅動的教育轉型、教師未來的全新角色，以及新創企業若想脫穎而出，為何必須提供跨越式的價值，而非僅僅兩成的邊際改善。中國與矽谷之爭：AI 時代下的生存導向執行力、快速迭代理念與突破性創新從阿里巴巴、TikTok 到新一代平台：中國新創企業如何精準掌握人類行為、社群連結、娛樂需求與解悶心理臺灣的下一個競爭優勢：從半導體製造龍頭轉型走向軟體生態系Z 世代以影音為核心的學習行為：持續性的數位刺激、社交孤立現象、共賞文化與協同學習模式AI 驅動的教育新創：影音探索、個人化學習體驗、教師的角色演變，以及打造優於現有產品十倍的破局之道📍 About Host: Uly SuGeneral Partner, Addins Venture#CrossBorderMentor #StartupExpansion #TaiwanToSiliconValley🌏 A cross-border mentor who supports startups in entering global markets, with deep experience in fundraising, talent strategy, and international operations across the U.S. and Taiwan.🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulysu/📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley HubWebsite: https://sv.startupisland.tw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/ Powered by Firstory Hosting

The Last Programming Language: Why Prompts Could Replace CodeGuest: Greg Tanaka — CEO & Founder, Prompt DrivenWriting code may no longer be the developer's primary job. Greg Tanaka argues that natural language is becoming the next — and perhaps final — programming language, drawing a parallel to semiconductor design's shift from hand-drawn schematics to Verilog: engineers didn't lose their craft, they moved up a level of abstraction. Tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex are moving the developer's centre of gravity from authoring code to expressing intent and validating output.And if code is cheap to generate, it should be cheap to discard — hence Greg's case for "regenerate, don't patch," treating source as a disposable artifact and the prompt as the durable specification. The conversation covers how Vibe Coding and Prompt-Driven Development elevate human intent, how regeneration reshapes technical debt, and what the Verilog transition suggests about the junior engineer's path in an AI-driven industry.最後一種程式語言：為什麼提示詞可能取代程式碼來賓：Prompt Driven 創辦人暨執行長 Greg Tanaka寫程式碼，可能不再是開發者最主要的工作。Greg Tanaka 提出，自然語言正成為下一種、或許也是最後一種程式語言。他以半導體業從手繪電路圖轉向 Verilog 的歷史作為對照：工程師並未失去專業，而是往上跨了一個抽象層級。Claude Code、Cursor、Codex 這類工具，正把開發者的重心從「撰寫程式碼」移轉到「表達意圖」與「驗證產出」。而如果生成程式碼的成本極低，丟棄它的成本也應該很低——這正是「重新生成，而非修補」（regenerate, don't patch）的核心：原始碼是可拋棄的產物，提示詞才是需要長期維護的規格。本集也談到 Vibe Coding 與提示詞驅動開發如何把人類意圖放到最上位、重新生成如何改變技術債的處理方式，以及 Verilog 的歷史轉折對 AI 時代初階工程師的啟示。📍 About Host: Uly SuGeneral Partner, Addins Venture#CrossBorderMentor #StartupExpansion #TaiwanToSiliconValley🌏 A cross-border mentor who supports startups in entering global markets, with deep experience in fundraising, talent strategy, and international operations across the U.S. and Taiwan.🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulysu/📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley HubWebsite: https://sv.startupisland.tw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/ Powered by Firstory Hosting

In this episode, we sit down with Cher Sion, Quan, Chairman and Advisor of 3D/CP-GENAI, to discuss why he chose Taiwan as the launchpad for AI-powered 3D-printed construction. Beyond the technology, Quan shares his vision for Taiwan's role in the future of construction, the opportunities he believes many international founders overlook, and the connections that helped him establish his business here. For global entrepreneurs considering Taiwan, this episode offers practical insights into building the right network and navigating the local startup ecosystem.Why Taiwan is an ideal market for AI-powered 3D printed constructionOpportunities in Taiwan that many foreign founders overlookTaiwan's place in the future of construction innovationThe key organizations and connections that helped launch 3DCPGENAIPractical advice for international entrepreneurs looking to build a business in Taiwan📍 About Host: Paolo Joseph LisingSenior Global Community Builder, Business Next Media Corp. 巨思媒體集團#GlobalFounders #TaiwanStartup #StartupEcosystem🌏 Helping foreign founders navigate Taiwan’s startup ecosystem by bringing together founders, investors, and innovators to share practical insights and support more global startups in Taiwan.🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolojoseph/📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley HubWebsite: https://sv.startupisland.tw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/ Powered by Firstory Hosting