The Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Northern California and its affiliated Youth Chamber of Commerce jointly held the “4th Global Youth Business Potential Star” Golden Bay Area Event Online Information Session on the evening of June 5th (Thursday), attracting nearly fifty young overseas Taiwanese entrepreneurs.
Since 2021, the Overseas Community Affairs Council of Taiwan has been promoting the selection and guidance program for “Global Youth Business Potential Stars,” providing professional consultants to entrepreneurs and senior managers under the age of 40, assisting them in advancing their careers and expanding international markets. Starting from 2024, the event has been adjusted to be held biennially, with the number of selected participants reduced from 30 to 10.
The event was chaired by the Chairman of the Counseling Association, Jake Huang. The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Sybil Chen, expressed great honor in hosting this informational session, hoping to inspire more young individuals in the Bay Area to courageously challenge themselves and bring glory to Taiwan. The President of the Youth Chamber of Commerce, Eric Huang, also encouraged the young attendees to make good use of the program’s resources to achieve personal and business goals, introducing the 38 youth chamber branches in North America with over 3,500 members and welcoming collaboration.
Director Zhuang Yashu of the Overseas Education Center delivered a speech, stating that young entrepreneurs are precious assets of Taiwan. Since the implementation of this program by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, it has assisted nearly one hundred young entrepreneurs globally to grow and thrive, promoting international, cross-sector, and cross-generational cooperation, receiving enthusiastic responses from global youth entrepreneurs.
Three previous winners were invited to share their practical experiences and experiences of participating in the selection process.
Crystal Bien, the founder of Riverside Fruit and 2023 winner, mentioned that since the establishment of the company in 2022 and participating in the program, she has not only received guidance from mentors, media exposure, and financial support but also inspired more entrepreneurial thinking. She is now actively promoting excellent Taiwanese artists to enter the American market, introducing emerging American art trends to Taiwan, and utilizing AR/VR technology to promote cultural and creative development.
Peggy Hsieh, founder of O.M.G Entertainment and winner of 2022, shared that her initial entrepreneurial intention was to assist local businesses in marketing. After two years of effort, her company has become a designated event execution unit for various government activities in the Bay Area. She admitted that she had limited understanding of the program in the early stages but later discovered that it not only provides resources but also serves as a strong belief support, encouraging her to persist with Taiwanese brands, entering the mainstream and reaching out to the world.
Samuel Chien, founder of US Air Supply and 2022 winner, shared his three entrepreneurial experiences, from the setbacks and transformations of a meal ordering platform to establishing the industrial gas management company US Air Supply, and then using AI technology to develop a customer sales platform. He emphasized that the most valuable part of participating in the “Youth Business Potential Star” is not only resources but also trust and endorsement, opening crucial doors for investment opportunities.
Finally, Manager Hong Haozhe from the Chinese Productivity Center detailed the eligibility criteria and application process for participation. Applicants must be under the age of 40, hold an Overseas Community Affairs Council-issued overseas identity card, and serve as a foreign enterprise leader or senior manager. It is important to note that individuals from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau are not eligible to apply.
Additionally, applicants must be recommended by the local Overseas Education Center, foreign units, or qualified recommenders (such as past winners), and complete the submission of application materials. Winners will not only receive certificates and trophies but also expert mentor consultations, media publicity opportunities, networking platforms, and overseas credit guarantee fund project loan support. The list of winners is expected to be announced before August 15, 2025.
A Q&A session was held after the meeting, where participants actively asked questions, bringing a successful conclusion to the evening’s event. For those interested in applying, please complete the application by 5:00 pm on June 23 (Taiwan time). For more information, please contact the Overseas Education Center or relevant windows of the Taiwan Chinese Productivity Center. ◇