By hannover-web.com The Berkeley SkyDeck startup accelerator, ranked among the top five globally, is making its inaugural trip to Taiwan to host the “International Entrepreneur Bootcamp.” This event will take place on June 14, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM local time in Taipei, featuring speakers such as SkyDeck General Manager Sibyl Chen, brand and marketing expert Will Burke, and business strategy consultant Dan Hall.
Caroline Winnett, Executive Director of SkyDeck, expressed her enthusiasm for Taiwan’s technology ecosystem, noting its status as a long-standing hub for ICT manufacturing and its capacity to nurture the next generation of tech companies. “Several Taiwanese startups have already participated in our startup training programs in Silicon Valley through SkyDeck, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Science Council, and Industrial Technology Research Institute. Our team is excited to meet more startups in Taipei and show them the benefits of being part of SkyDeck.”
Sibyl Chen highlights the challenges Taiwanese startups face when entering the international market, particularly in the U.S. “It’s almost impossible to avoid the U.S. if you want to go global, but entering Silicon Valley and the U.S. tech ecosystem is not easy,” she said. “You need networks, cultural understanding, and industry-specific knowledge. The best approach is to find an accelerator that can genuinely help you navigate this ecosystem.”
As Berkeley’s largest and most renowned startup accelerator, SkyDeck combines practical guidance from international industry experts with extensive resources from a top research university. However, acceptance rates are typically around 1.5%. The Taiwanese government, through its Global Innovation Partner Program with SkyDeck, is enabling more Taiwanese startups to join the SkyDeck alumni network via initiatives like the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ TREE program, the National Science Council’s TTA program, and recommendations from the Industrial Technology Research Institute. To date, SkyDeck has successfully mentored 25 Taiwanese startups, aiding over four in securing investments from Silicon Valley.
Chen believes that the Taiwanese government’s support for startups aiming for the global market is a wise move that has fostered rapid growth in Taiwan’s tech ecosystem in recent years. She anticipates seeing even more Taiwanese startups operating on a global scale in the coming years and hopes to welcome more of them into SkyDeck.
Discussing the advantages of joining SkyDeck, Chen stated that participating startups gain access to SkyDeck’s network of 500 advisors, 60% of whom are angel investors, along with 70 industry partners and over 510,000 alumni from Berkeley. They also have the opportunity to engage in numerous networking events to connect with investors.
As an example, Andrea Wang, CEO of AHEAD Medicine, benefited from her time in the SkyDeck accelerator program, where she was introduced to 40 investors. Chen was particularly impressed by Wang’s dedication and determination, noting that every potential investor she met during the program was impressed by her professionalism. “Quality is something investors value,” Chen remarked, adding that combining this with truly interesting and innovative ideas will enhance the chances of Taiwanese startups succeeding in the global market.
