23 Daily — According to udn.com, the New Taipei City Youth Bureau hosted the 2026 VentureStar New Taipei Startup Challenge, announcing the winners on October 29. Centered on themes of AI and ESG sustainability, the competition attracted 71 innovative startup teams across Taiwan. After multiple rounds, StarPhase Technology Co., Ltd. took first place, with Zhenzhi Technology Co., Ltd. as runner-up, and Taiwan Ruomei Technology Co., Ltd. placing third. The top three teams received prize money, residency at the New Taipei Youth Innovation Base, and a three-month intensive venture capital (VC) mentorship program aimed at accelerating technology commercialization and connecting with domestic and international investment markets.

New Taipei City Builds Startup Ecosystem with Industry and Funding Support

Mayor Hou You-yi emphasized New Taipei City's large youth population and comprehensive industrial chain as a fertile ground for startups transitioning from technical validation to market expansion. The city has established 10 innovation bases tailored to various industries. The VentureStar Challenge links government, VC, and industry resources, providing professional coaching, venture matchmaking, and market integration services. Over the past five years, this ecosystem has helped innovation bases and winning teams raise over NT

billion in funding, showcasing a robust infrastructure for startup growth.

Track Record Reflects Competition's Role in Accelerating Fundraising and Growth

Youth Bureau Director Chiu Zhao-mei highlighted the competition's systematic selection and entrepreneurship support mechanism yielding impressive results. For example, the 2025 champion, Ohm Jia Technology, secured NT$60 million in Series A funding within six months after expert-guided business model optimization. Similarly, 2025 third-place winner Chakou Scientific completed a NT

5 million angel round, and 2024 third-place winner Luguo Technology raised NT
8 million and achieved 200% revenue growth. These outcomes underline the competition's effectiveness in facilitating startups’ capital acquisition and market penetration.

Top Teams Demonstrate Innovative Technologies and Market Potential

This year's top ten finalists span AI, smart healthcare, semiconductors, and green energy sectors. Champion StarPhase Technology develops novel phased-array chips aiming to reshape satellite communications and radar industries. CEO Tsai Chung-wang noted the event provided opportunities for extensive investor interaction, helping the team overcome current growth bottlenecks. Runner-up Zhenzhi Technology focuses on low-power edge AI chip technologies, while third-place Taiwan Ruomei Technology addresses thermal management challenges in the electronics industry. These teams possess critical technologies with clear market applications.

Editor's take: New Taipei’s VC Mentorship Model Enhances Startup Momentum

The combination of professional VC mentorship with the VentureStar Challenge represents a strategic effort by New Taipei City to nurture the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem. Selecting teams based on technological innovation and business viability, coupled with funding and market advisory support, accelerates startup growth and competitiveness. The sustained mentorship during the VC accompaniment phase, integrated with industry connections, helps startups validate market demands and refine products and business models. Entrepreneurs should monitor such resource integration initiatives and participate in cross-sector collaboration programs to test market uptake and explore strategic partnerships.