2025 StartSphere Taipei Successfully Wraps Up : Connects Startups from 8 Countries, Igniting a New Future of Cross-Industry Entertainment

StartSphere Taipei 2025 wrapped up today at POPOP Taipei, following three days of vibrant exchanges. The event welcomed investors, entertainment tech startups, film producers, game developers, and media representatives from Taiwan, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. Startups and enterprises showcased cross-industry innovation, immersive lifestyle technologies, and phygital (online–offline) applications.

The event not only highlighted the integration of AI and digital entertainment, but also successfully built a platform for collaboration among investors, creators, and startups across Asia. More than an exhibition, StartSphere embodied the spirit of “turning conversations into opportunities, and opportunities into impact.” It reflects the Taipei City Government’s ongoing commitment to combining creativity, culture, and technology, strengthening international partnerships, and positioning Taipei as a forward-looking regional hub for entertainment and tech innovation.

Highlight Forum: InteractiVerse – The Future of Gaming & Technology

The InteractiVerse Forum spotlighted the potential of Southeast Asia. Silicon Valley’s 886 Studios shared investment insights, emphasizing that “interactive entertainment has become the next core driver of technology and the community economy.” Representatives from AppWorks, VinaCapital Ventures, and Metatheory analyzed how games can transcend borders and attract global investment from capital, industry, and content perspectives.

Lin Jung-Sheng, co-initiator of the Taipei Game Developers Forum, highlighted the resilience and creativity of Taiwanese developers, stressing that internationalization is not just about exporting, but about the cultural fusion that creates endless possibilities.

Vietnam’s GameGeek representative Thao Anh Hoang offered a market analysis, pointing to the explosive growth of local gaming communities and the critical role of supportive policies in accelerating industry development. The forum also held live game showcases by Vonder Games (Thailand) and Playard Studio (Vietnam), immersing the audience in Southeast Asia’s distinctive aesthetics and gameplay, while showcasing the potential of cross-border co-productions.

The finale featured Taiwan’s TiiOi founder Yu Cheng-yen, whose “Community Lab” demonstrated the creativity and energy of Taiwanese game design, delivering a powerful closing note.

Fusion Realm Exhibition Forums

At the Fusion Realm Exhibition stage, the Thursday morning session featured the forum “Short Video + AI: Next-Gen Content Marketing.” Fan Yi-Peng, co-founder of short-video team Follow Me, and Lin Shang-Che, founder of generative AI education brand nuva, shared how to build million-reach content from scratch, revealing “15-second hook strategies” and “solo AI workflows.” Creators and brand owners eagerly engaged during the Q&A, fueling a dynamic exchange.

In the afternoon, in collaboration with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) Comic Base, two ACG (Anime, Comics, Games) introductory lectures were held.

• In the first, manga scriptwriter and producer Xiao Xing-Tao spoke on “Kick Off “Enjoyable” Cross-Industry Collaboration!”—sharing her extensive experience working with both artists and businesses, unpacking the challenges and opportunities of cross-industry partnerships, and showing how to find win–win models across different cultures.
• The second forum, “Taiwan Manga Industry Unveiled,” was led by TAICCA comic development specialist Ren Rong, who has overseen works such as Guardian Spirit, The Gatherer’s Field Notes, The Agnostic Detective, and 16647. Through case studies and industry data, Ren explored Taiwan’s publishing and digital platform landscape, policy resources, and revenue models. Young creators listened attentively, underscoring that Taiwan’s manga industry is entering a new era of self-reliance and growth.

After Party & Closing Celebration

The evening After Party featured performances by DJ Bubble and DJ Shaw, bringing together international guests, entrepreneurs, and creators to celebrate innovation and collaboration, marking a lively conclusion to the three-day event.

Although StartSphere Taipei 2025 has officially concluded, the excitement continues with TRENDY TAIPEI, Taipei’s international city music festival, which runs through September 7. This festival connects music, art, audiovisual, technology, gaming, and fashion, transforming the entire city into a creative laboratory. TRENDY TAIPEI showcases the future of cultural trends while driving impact across the concert economy, industry trends, and city action.

For more information, visit the official TRENDY TAIPEI website: https://trendy.taipei.

Media Contacts: Taipei City Government Department of Economic Development

• Hsu Chien-Hui: 1999 (outside Taipei: +886-2-2720-8889 ext. 6557) / +886-952-227-892
• Chang Huai-Yuan: 1999 (outside Taipei: +886-2-2720-8889 ext. 6567) / +886-972-368-366