Taiwan (officially the Republic of China or simply ROC) has become one of the fastest-growing markets in South-east Asia over the last two decades, attracting many talented entrepreneurs to start new businesses in the region. In fact, the Taiwan’s startup scene is one of the top emerging startup ecosystems in the world. Angel investors play a critical role in expanding the pipeline of investible businesses by providing early-stage ventures with essential resources including capital to bridge the funding gap and by sharing their expertise and networks to unlock business opportunities that facilitate growth.
In 2017, the government earmarked US$3.3 billion for a new startup fund, which included tax credits, setting aside land for technology companies, and new laws to encourage foreign talent to come to Taiwan. Foreign entrepreneurs can apply for the Entrepreneur Visa and an Employment Gold Card, both of which are helping to move the island away from strict immigration policies and attract more international talent.
We have compiled a list of active angel investors who are spearheading Taiwan’s tech renaissance. They are venture capitalists, hedge fund managers, and entrepreneurs who scour Taiwan for startups from Hsinchu to Taipei City. If there is sufficient interest, the angels may offer mentorship, referrals, or further collaboration.
Plug- TeamWave – Simple CRM, Project Management & HR Software for Small Business
Top Angel Investors in Taiwan
1. Lucas Wang:
Lucas Wang is the Managing Partner at Comet Labs. He has been actively investing in startups for more than 20 years. He also served as a Founder and CEO of HWTrek, a Taipan based platform that connects hardware startups with manufactures and other resources. Lucas Wang earned his MBA from National Sun Yat-Sen University. He is also currently working as a Partner at WI Harper Group.
Sector: E-Commerce, Mobile Games, Internet of Things, Robotics, SaaS.
Portfolio: Codementor, Leiyoo, Swivl, Spire Health, Driving Curve.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn | AngelList
2. Koichi Saito:
Koichi Saito is the Founder and General Partner at KK Fund. Koichi has more than 15 years of experience in angel investing, venture capital, private equity and money lending. He previously worked at IMJ Investment Partners as Director and responsible for IMJ’s startup investments across Southeast Asia. Koichi Saito holds a MBA degree from IE Business School in Spain.
Sector: Consumer Internet, E-Commerce, Marketplaces, Mobile, Enterprise Software,
Portfolio: Bfab, Kaodim, Loansolutions, EduAdvisor.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn | AngelList
3. Volker Heistermann:
Volker Heistermann is a Venture Partner at Trans-Pacific Technology Fund, a technology driven venture capital fund, investing in innovative companies shaping the future of global business. Volker Heistermann is serial entrepreneur and an active angel investor. He is also a VP of Innovation-e-mobility at Mosaic Venture Lab, Taipan.
Sector: Mobile, Consumer Internet, Social Commerce, SaaS, Industrial Automation.
Portfolio: FoodJing, Gomai.la, InsureMe, Lucent Sky.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
4. Darren Wang:
Darren Wang is an active angel investor and serial entrepreneur based in Taiwan. He is currently the Founder and Chairman at OwlTing Group, a world leading blockchain company focus on e-commerce and applications. He has invested in many startups spread across Southeast Asia. Darren Wang is also the Founder and CEO of OBOOK Inc.
Sector: E-Books, Mobile Payments, Mobile Commerce, Location Based Services.
Portfolio: I.X Security, Aetheras, MaiCoin, OwlTing.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn | AngelList
5. Jack Huang:
Jack Huang is the Managing Partner at Dreamhub Ventures. He is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor, he is interested in tech-driven consumer innovations. With decades of experience working in various cities including London, Tokyo, Taipei, Beijing and Oslo. Jack is passionate about cross-border business opportunities derived from local insights and technical breakthroughs.
Sector: Consumer Internet, Enterprise Software, Internet of Things, Ed-tech, SaaS.
Portfolio: 8 Interactive, AppOnboard, Blueseeds, iDrip.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn | AngelList
6. Ping Wang:
Ping Wang is the Founder of Ansir Innovation Centre, a firm which focuses on providing resources to assist entrepreneurs, engineers and consultants to enter into practical business. He is also the Advisor and Co-Community Instigator at AMIS Technologies. Ping Wang is the Former Executive Director at Techstars.
Sector: Clean Technology, Consumer Internet, Healthcare, Digital Media.
Portfolio: CleverPet, Locbit, VEA Technologies, Techstars.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
7. Chun-Hun Lin:
Chun Hun Lin is the Chief Executive Officer at Lin Enterprises, Taiwan. He has managed to help small startups grow into large-scale businesses with substantial profits and exposure. Chun-Hun Lin beliefs that becoming an angel investor for Taiwan entrepreneur markets offer a wide range of possibilities. He has actively invested in many startups in Taiwan.
Sector: Social Games, Clean Technology, E-Commerce, Education, Healthcare.
Portfolio: Billoby, Binti, FoundersClub, Datanyze.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
8. Dan Clarke:
Dan Clarke is an Advisor at Delta Crypto Exchange. He has 20 years of experience in global equities with last two roles as branch Manger at Barclays and Macquaire Taiwan Equities Divisions. Dan Clarke aims to create value by empowering talented visionaries transform their ideas into real businesses. Dan is an active angel investor.
Sector: Fin-Tech, Mobile, Consumer Internet, Enterprise Software.
Portfolio: Cornerstone, Powered Now, Powervault, ZOEK.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
9. John Huang:
John Huang is currently the Vice President at Donhan Development, Taiwan. Before joining Donhan Development, he has worked as a Acquisition & Asset Manager at Avoni Inc. He has also been a Board of Director at Bayview Glen. Given his experience in strategy, technology, entrepreneurship and operations, John focuses on helping entrepreneurs on the right business strategy.
Sector: Commercial Real Estate, Consumer Internet, Big Data, Enterprise Software,
Portfolio: Schoola, Sliced Investing, Jauntr.com.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
10. Jamie Lin:
Jamie Lin is currently the Chairman and Partner at AppWorks, Asia’s leading startup accelerator and one of the regions most active early-stage VCs. Before becoming an investor, Jamie was a founder for 10 years. In 1999 he co-founded Hotcool.com, a pioneer in Taiwan’s burgeoning e-commerce industry. Jamie Lin is also a President at Taiwan Mobile.
Sector: Consumer Internet, Mobile, SaaS, E-Commerce, Education.
Portfolio: Dcard, Splitforce, ShopBack, KKday.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
11. Edgar Chiu:
Edgar Chiu is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at SparkLabs, a premier startup accelerator for entrepreneurs who seek to go global from the outset. Edgar is experienced in running startups and mobile app businesses. Edgar is also the Co-Founder of the Jumpstart Program, cultivating over 90 entrepreneurial leaders for organizations, engaging hundreds of leading corporate executives and startup founders as mentors and coaches.
Sector: Mobile, SaaS, E-Commerce, Ed-tech, Consumer Internet.
Portfolio: Kneron, Tresl, PenguinSmart, Evo.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
12. Jeff Chang:
Jeff Chang is the Managing Director and Legal Representative of Vertex Venture Management Pte. Ltd. (Taiwan Representative Office), heading the investment activities in Taiwan. Before joining Vertex Group, Jeff was the Vice President of WK Technology Fund, a leading venture capital fund in Taiwan.
Sector: Consumer Internet, Digital Media, Enterprise Software, SaaS.
Portfolio: 17LIVE, Vee, TaniHub, Boundless Bio.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
13. Yan Lee:
Yan Lee is an entrepreneur turned Venture Builder, early stage investor and veteran in Data & AI, and extremely passionate in working with top Taiwanese talent to foster the next wave of Unicorn technopreneurs of Taiwan. Yan Lee is the Founder and Managing Partner at Hive Ventures. Yan holds an MBA from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
Sector: Clean Technology, AI, Consumer Internet, Fin-tech, Ed-tech.
Portfolio: Infuse AI, Phase, PicSee, Avesha.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
14. David A. Hall:
David A. Hall is the Co-Founder and CEO of TAMP, a digital healthcare platform for doctors. He is an active angel investor and mentor. David has managed to help small startups grow into large-scale businesses with substantial growth and exposure. He actively invests in the healthcare industry.
Sector: Healthcare, Ed-tech, Enterprise Software, Consumer Internet.
Portfolio: A CARE, EON Reality, Wejump, ICC Tech.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn | AngelList
15. Alex Wu:
Alex Wu is currently a Founding Team and VP Strategy, Marketing and Partnerships at NEX Team, a mobile artificial intelligence company started by a team of second-time entrepreneurs and former Apple, Google and Facebook employees. Alex Wu is also a Venture Partner at SparkLabs, Taiwan. He has mentored many entrepreneurs.
Sector: Fin-tech, Big Data, Cyber Security, Media Tech.
Portfolio: Baypay, Glia Cloud, Influenxio, Funtek.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
16. Toshi Otani:
Toshi Otani is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at TransLink Capital. Toshi invests in cloud, mobile, infrastructure and IoT companies with an enterprise focus. Before co-founding Translink, Toshi was Senior Vice President of Everypath, where he led business development. Toshi holds an MBA from Stanford Business School.
Sector: Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, Consumer Internet, Fin-tech.
Portfolio: Nexar, Miles, Pathmind, Singular.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
17. Emma Cui:
Emma Cui is the Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer at LongHash Ventures. She is experienced management consultant helping companies with digital transformation as well as in-depth banking knowledge as an ex-corporate banker. Emma Cui is also the Executive Committee Member at Singapore Fin-tech Association (SFA).
Sector: Consumer Internet, Enterprise Software, E-Commerce, Fin-tech.
Portfolio: Balancer, Filecoin, DFINITY, Plasm.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
18. Y.K. Chu:
Y.K. Chu is the Managing Partner at WI Harper Group. He has over 20 years of investment and technical experience and serves as the Senior Partner of the Taipei office, running operations while overseeing investments and portfolio management in Taiwan. Mr. Chu received an ME in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Washington.
Sector: Healthcare, Enterprise Software, Clean Technology, Consumer Internet.
Portfolio: Appier, Resvent, Kindstar Global, Creator.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
19. John Chen:
John Chen is currently the Founder and Managing Partner at Hive Ventures, a global seed to early stage venture capital firm, with a focus on AI, blockchain and its applications across the Greater China and Southeast Asia regions. Before founding Hive Ventures, John Chen was the Executive VP of Technology. He earned his MBA from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
Sector: AI, Consumer Internet, Enterprise Software, Digital Media.
Portfolio: Canner, Botrista, ROEL, Profet AI.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn
20. Cheng Wu:
Cheng Wu is the General Partner at Taiwania Capital Management. Cheng is a successful serial entrepreneur and well-acclaimed industry veteran, having founded and led numerous businesses spanning a range of different industries. Cheng Wu has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from ChiaoTung University, Tiwan.
Sector: AI, Enterprise Software, Healthcare, Ed-tech, Consumer Internet.
Portfolio: PharmaEssentia, Regenacy, Viracta, XGene.
Connect With Him: LinkedIn