Kaohsiung's Youth Startup Support Upgraded! 'Entrepreneurship Energy Accelerator' Launches with 3-Tier, 9-Course, 25-Hour Mentorship Program

Kaohsiung's youth entrepreneurship support has been upgraded! The Youth Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government officially launched the 'Entrepreneurship Energy Accelerator' today (14) at the 'K-TV Kaohsiung New Media Talent Training Center,' bringing together partners from industry, university incubation centers, venture capital firms, and public associations. Through tiered development, mentor-led coaching, and resource matching, the program supports young entrepreneurs from ideation and business model creation all the way to market expansion and capital access, integrating with existing startup subsidy policies to build a dual-track 'funding + mentoring' support system.

The Entrepreneurship Energy Accelerator introduces professionals from various fields who provide one-on-one 'accompaniment-style' mentoring. Youth Bureau Director Lin Kai-Xuan emphasized that municipal support for youth entrepreneurship must go beyond merely 'distributing subsidies.' Instead, it should offer strategic guidance and professional resources when entrepreneurs face critical turning points. In the second half of this year, the 'Startup O'Star' mentoring mechanism has been further enhanced—not only establishing a permanent consultation desk at the Pier-2 Pinway base but also launching the 'Entrepreneurship Energy Accelerator' to bring in experts across industries for personalized one-on-one coaching. This ensures entrepreneurs have access to expert advice and tangible resources as they face market validation, supporting them from idea conception through product launch and market entry.

The 'Entrepreneurship Energy Accelerator' is built on three core pillars: tiered mentoring, practical training, and resource linkage. It offers a structured 3-tier, 9-course, 25-hour hands-on training program tailored to different stages of a young entrepreneur’s journey, progressing from foundational knowledge to real-world market application.

Simultaneously, the Youth Bureau has assembled a 'Mentor Advisory Panel' comprising seasoned practitioners in law, finance, management, AI applications, local revitalization, youth street vending, brand design, and marketing. Through individual consultations, these mentors help startup teams re-evaluate their products and services from a market perspective. After training and mentoring, teams will be further connected with venture capital opportunities, extending support from classroom learning to actual market integration.

The first practical session was held concurrently, featuring Sun Zhi-Hua, Dean of the Strategy Thinking Business School, delivering the Level 2 course 'Practical Fundraising Pitching and Execution.' From an investor’s viewpoint, he dissected key elements of fundraising presentations—such as business models, performance metrics, and Q&A communication—to help youth startup teams improve their pitching skills and seize opportunities for resource alignment and corporate partnerships.

Today’s launch ceremony was attended by Legislative Councilors Lai Rui-Long and Hsu Chih-Chieh, Kaohsiung City Councilor Chiu Chun-Hsien, and expert members of the Mentor Advisory Panel, including Ye Xiao-Ci, President of the Kaohsiung Bar Association; Wang Yan-Xiong, Deputy Director of Industry-Academia Collaboration at Kaohsiung Medical University; Liu Jian-Cheng, Chief Operating Officer of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Office at National Kaohsiung University; Li Wen-Cai, Chairman of the Southern Committee of the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Association; Li Mei-Fen, President of the Kaohsiung Vocational Development Association; representatives from National Sun Yat-sen University’s Industry-Academia Office; and multiple local enterprise leaders—all witnessing the expanded connectivity of Kaohsiung’s youth entrepreneurship support network.

During the event, Director Lin personally presented appointment letters to the 'Mentor Advisory Panel,' symbolizing the formal integration of industry expertise into youth startup support. Moving forward, the Youth Bureau will collaborate with these mentors to broaden resource networks and help more young people transform entrepreneurial ideas into tangible outcomes.

In addition to upgraded mentoring mechanisms, the Youth Bureau is also providing diversified financial support to alleviate early-stage funding pressures for young entrepreneurs. This includes the 'Youth Startup Subsidy' of up to NT$500,000, interest subsidies on startup loans with principal up to NT$2 million, and the 'Sustainable Kaohsiung Youth Startup Challenge' offering a top prize of NT$1 million.

For micro-entrepreneurs, the bureau launched Taiwan’s first 'Youth Street Vendor Brand Mentoring Program,' offering up to NT$25,000 in mentoring fees. Exhibition subsidies have also been relaxed this year, allowing eligible applicants to submit a 'second application' within a maximum limit of NT$100,000. This comprehensive support spans funding, branding, marketing, and market expansion across different stages of entrepreneurship.

The Youth Bureau announced that enrollment for the 'Entrepreneurship Energy Accelerator' courses is now open. Going forward, more entrepreneurial resources will be integrated, with plans to host a 'Results Presentation and Funding Matching Event' to directly connect youth achievements with markets and investors. Young individuals interested in starting or currently building their ventures can visit the 'Startup O'Star' platform for course details and updates or call the Youth Bureau’s startup counseling hotline at 07-7995678 ext. 2390 for inquiries.