The #AsiaRocks, the first and only Asia-focused startup event, will open on November 13 for a three-day run in Taipei, aiming to help local and overseas startups expand their businesses in the Asia Pacific region and strengthen ties between regional startup ecosystems, according to event organizer Taiwan Startup Stadium (TSS).
Through exhibitions, keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking meetings, the event will provide access to key players and resources from Asian markets as well as opportunities to tap deep into different startup ecosystems and learn more about investment trends, government subsidy programs and soft-landing services of participating countries, TSS said.
Among exhibitors and speakers are: Taiwan Tech Arena, Startup Terrace, AppWorks and DIT Startup, all from Taiwan; Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, Hong Kong Cyberport; Invest Tokyo, ProtoStar, Fukuoka Growth Next all from Japan; Seoul Startup Hub from Korea; SEA Bridge from Indonesia; Startup Bootcamp from Australia; Zino Innovation Hub and New Zealand; and National Innovation Agency & Startup Thailand.
TSS CEO Leroy Yau said the startup scene in Asia is young compared to that in Silicon Valley, but it is booming and has produced over one third of the world's 331 unicorns as of April 2019. The government in Taiwan has pledged to boost its startup scene by providing tax credits and relaxing regulations to facilitate introduction of foreign talent and funding resources seeking to create its first unicorn.