2026.07.30
September 3 (Thursday) to September 4 (Friday), 2026
Launching September 3–4, StartSphere Taipei is a premier global platform for “Entertainment Technology × Cultural Content × Global Connection”, We bring together global startup communities including startups, unicorns, tech media, investors, industry leaders, global enterprises and exhibition brands—where technology meets culture, and innovators defy limits.
【Event Highlights】
• Global Synergy: Connecting visionaries from Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the U.S. to spark cross-border industry insights and shared international experiences.
• Industry Insights: Integrating gaming, film, music, IP, and XR through a series of thematic forums that explore the future landscape and global opportunities of entertainment tech.
• Immersive Showcase: The “Culturepreneurs” feature area highlights high-interaction displays and the seamless integration of technology and culture.
Join us as we empower startups and investors to build the future, reinforcing Taipei as a leading hub for innovation and cultural-tech excellence in Asia!
To register, please click: Event Calendar
Department of Economic Development, Taipei City Government
※The organizers reserve the right to make final modifications, changes, interpretations, or cancellation of this event.
Sony, a global industry leader, will make its debut appearance alongside a rapidly rising Malaysian company to explore the convergence of AI and XR. Together, they will showcase a future in which people can visit exhibitions, connect with their favourite artists, enjoy immersive entertainment, and even enter the same virtual space with people from around the world.
The Immersive Intelligence: XR & AI in the Next-Generation Creative Economy forum explores how immersive technologies are reshaping culture, tourism, education, and retail into experiences that feel like stepping into another world. Behind this transformation are breakthroughs in XR hardware, growing investment from venture capital, and creative teams turning cutting-edge technology into real-world experiences. Together, these forces are moving immersive technology beyond concept and into everyday life.
Industry leaders and creative pioneers from Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia will share the latest developments in XR headsets, metaverse platform operations, and cross-border immersive content, offering a front-row view of where the industry is headed, and how you can be part of its next wave.
| Time | Schedule | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00-09:30 | Guest Registration | |
| 09:30-10:00 | Opening Ceremony of StartSphere Taipei 2026 | |
| 10:00-10:05 | Forum Opening & Group Photo | |
| 10:05-10:10 | Welcome Remarks | Yu-Jung Cheng, Chairman, Taiwan XR Smart Industry Association |
| 10:10-10:25 | Keynote: AR/VR & Investment Perspectives on Next-Gen Entertainment | Daisuke Suzuki, Sony Ventures |
| 10:25-10:35 | Keynote: The Next Mile for XR/AI | Tom Liang , Jorjin Technologies |
| 10:35–10:45 | Keynote: A Virtual World with Millions of Visits | Sumiko Musha, HIKKY |
| 10:45–10:55 | Keynote: From Pixels to Profit: Scaling Portable Mixed-Reality IPs Across B2B and Consumer Markets | Havene Liew, XR Associates |
| 10:55–11:30 | Panel Discussion: Built, Backed, and Lived In: How XR Moves from Lab to Life | Andy Peng, TAVAR x Daisuke Suzuki, Sony Ventures Corporation x Tetsuya Ohashi, CinemaLeap Inc. x Sumiko Musha, HIKKY x Havene Liew, XR Associates |
| 11:30–12:00 | Closing Remarks & Networking | |
As technology moves into the content industries — film and television, gaming, music, IP —Business models will be upgraded to create more diverse revenue streams and deliver new experiences. AI and new technology is transforming how movies are made. From scriptwriting and mind-blowing VFX to building virtual sets, streaming debuts, and international film festivals—the entire filmmaking pipeline is getting a massive upgrade. As AI, XR and generative technologies reshape everyday life, technology is becoming less about the spotlight and more about creating meaningful experiences. Across fashion, culture, entertainment and immersive exhibitions, innovation is redefining how people engage, connect and participate. This forum brings together speakers from technology, investment and cultural curation to explore how creativity and human-centred innovation are shaping the future of experiences through cross-disciplinary dialogue and real-world insights. This forum brings Japanese and Korean companies and investors, including Taiwan’s leading music-streaming platform, to explore the latest opportunities for IP collaboration and share experiences of international expansion. IP Convergence looks at how IP moves beyond its original work into city-wide experiences, and how AI and new technologies make it easier to adapt and extend stories across film, games, events and online platforms. The gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in entertainment technology, with increasing investment flowing into the Asia-Pacific region. You may have cleared countless stages and pulled plenty of SSRs, but you have probably never had the chance to explore the commercial opportunities behind the games you play. Play Behind the Scene lifts the curtain on how the game industry really works: how a studio plans its IP and product lineup, decides which titles to build, and allocates resources to claim its place in the global market. Led by GameWorks, the forum brings together Japan's leading corporate venture fund Bandai Namco 021Fund and Vietnamese gaming unicorn VNG in conversation. They'll share how they think about the future of games from the angles of new IP, next-generation entertainment, and technology, giving you a much clearer picture of how game companies operate and collaborate internationally. Can a single prompt generate a shot? As generative AI evolves from text and images to full motion pictures, the film industry now faces a question it can no longer defer: is AI a new tool for directors, or a variable about to rewrite the entire production chain? Invest in Next Entertainment brings together the largest gathering of entertainment technology investment institutions. Attendees will gain first-hand perspectives from leading entertainment investors across multiple countries, while exploring new opportunities for fundraising and business collaboration. From text generation to image generation, AI tools are evolving faster than anyone imagined — type a sentence, get a picture; sketch a storyboard, generate a scene. So when AI can draw, what happens to comics? Is it the creator's assistant, or their rival? And when a work is made with AI, who owns the copyright? One Piece, Naruto— we grew up on Japanese animation, few of us ever stop to ask: what about Taiwan?Culturepreneurs Exhibition
Culture was once purely about creative output. Now, it can be digitised, platformed and capitalised, becoming a key asset driving industry growth. The creator economy, entertainment tech, immersive experiences — these fast-growing industries are all built on the convergence of culture and technology.
Culturepreneurs: entrepreneurs who turn culture into business. Building on film, music, gaming, IP, design and lifestyle content, they combine technology with new business models to transform creative work into products and services that can make a difference in business models and investment.
This year, StartSphere Taipei takes "Culturepreneurs" as its central theme, bringing startups from Taiwan and around the world across film and television, gaming, music, IP content and lifestyle. With a curated exhibition built around interactivity and immersive experience, you won't just be viewing the showcase, you also can find the business opportunity.Partner
Exhibitor
Game as Culture
Immersive Storytelling
Screen Culture
The Future of Filmmaking: AI, Film & Cross-Border Co-Production
The Future of Filmmaking puts the spotlight on how AI and next-gen visual technology are reshaping modern production. Visual specs that once required Hollywood studio budgets are now becoming affordable options for indie crews, boutique teams, and solo dreamers.
Hear directly from top creators and producers from Singapore and Vietnam—the visionary minds driving success across Netflix and major Asian markets. Discover how to use tech as a creative supercharger, turning original ideas into powerful stories built for an international audience.Agenda
Time
Schedule
Speaker
13:30–13:35
Opening Remarks & Group photo
13:35–13:55
Keynote: Crafting Films in the Age of AI
Hank Tseng, GrX Studio; Charles Chao-Hua LEE, TWR Entertainment
13:55–14:15
Keynote: Reengineering VFX in the AI Era
Thierry Nguyen, Bad Clay Studio
14:15–14:35
Keynote: Hybrid Filmmaking
Chia-Chi Lin, Moonshine Studio
14:35–15:15
Panel: StArt: Stories, Tech, and the Art of International Co-Production
NG KHOON CHUAN, Singapore Producer; Patricia, GrX Studio; Thierry Nguyen, Bad Clay Studio
15:15–15:25
Introduction to International Film Festival
Taka Matsui, AI Film Festival Japan
15:25–15:30
Closing Remarks
Speaker Highlights
Phygital Futures: Where Fashion, Technology & Human Experiences Converge
Event Agenda
Time
Schedule
Speaker
14:00-14:10
Opening Remarks + Firsthand Observations and Case Studies from VivaTech Paris 2026
Ching-Hua Lin, Founder of DigiFashion Forum
14:10–14:20
Panel Discussion: Why Brands Are Beginning to Sell Not Just Products, but Experiences
Jennifer Lin , Very Mulan Investment Co., Ltd.
Linien Yen , AiStyle
Wei-Yun Chang, Wei Aesthetics Co., Ltd.
14:20–14:30
Panel Discussion: Are We Making Experiences More Human-Centered?
Jennifer Lin , Very Mulan Investment Co., Ltd.
Linien Yen , AiStyle
Wei-Yun Chang, Wei Aesthetics Co., Ltd.
14:30–14:40
Panel Discussion: How Do the Speakers Envision New Models of Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration?
Jennifer Lin , Very Mulan Investment Co., Ltd.
Linien Yen , AiStyle
Wei-Yun Chang, Wei Aesthetics Co., Ltd.
14:40-14:45
Closing Remarks: How Will Fashion, Entertainment, and the Creative Industries Shape the Next Generation of the Experience Economy Over the Next Five to Ten Years—and What New Changes Can Audiences Begin to Consider or Anticipate Today?
Jennifer Lin , Very Mulan Investment Co., Ltd.
Linien Yen, AiStyle
Wei-Yun Chang, Wei Aesthetics Co., Ltd.
14:45–15:00
Networking & Q&A
Speaker Highlights
IP Convergence: New Frontiers in Entertainment Experience and Digital Technology
Agenda
Time
Schedule
Speaker
16:00-16:10
Opening & Group Photo
16:10-16:25
Keynote: Korean Content Industry: Cross-Industry Connections and Global Expansion
Matthew Cho, Pacemakers
16:25-16:40
Keynote: Global Consumers in the Music & AI
Michael Yeh, KKBOX
16:40-16:55
Keynote: IP Meets AI: New Opportunities for Taiwan–Korea Collaboration
Hailey Song, Millennial Works
16:55-17:10
Keynote: Digital Content Driving Global Impact: Pinkfong's Path to Globalization
Ryan Seungkyu Lee, Kejora Capital
17:10-17:50
Panel Discussion: The Practice of Cross-Border Matchmaking Practices in Cross-Border Collaboration of IP
Moderator:
Matthew Cho, Pacemakers
Panelists:
Nobuhiro Nakatake, Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Sota Moriyama, YOAKE Entertainment
Hailey Song, Millennial Works
Dennis Yang, studio76.co
17:50-18:00
Closing & Networking
Speaker Highlights
Play Behind the Scenes: How the Game Industry Actually Works
Agenda
Time
Schedule
Speaker
10:00-10:05
Opening
10:05-10:20
Remarks by the Department of Economic Development (DOED) Taipei City Government, Taipei Entrepreneurs Hub x Foundry Collective MoU Signing Ceremony
10:20-10:40
Keynote: Investment Landscape for Game Studios and What Strategic Investors Look For
Zin Kao, Bandai Namco 021Fund
10:40-10:55
Keynote: 3 learnings from my time in Vietnam and Southeast Asia
Christopher Liu, VNG Corp
10:55-11:00
International Startup Showcase
Thanon Vangvasu, Maxion
11:00-11:20
Keynote: Play Behind the Scene: from Idea to Market
Johnson Lin, GameWorks Ventures
11:20-12:00
Panel Discussion: Inside Game Development
Moderator:
Johnson Lin, GameWorks Ventures
Panelists:
Zin Kao, Bandai Namco
Christopher Liu, VNG Corp
Andy Liao, GameWorks VenturesSpeaker Highlights
AI, Content & the Creative Industries: Building Japan-Taiwan Pathways from Creation to Market
Japan is already putting this on the table. This November, the AI Film Festival Japan returns to Tokyo for its second edition — Asia's largest and Japan's first international film festival dedicated to the collaboration between human creators and AI. This year, it introduces a new award category for AI-generated film scores. The same wave is now reaching Taiwan: copyright ownership, cross-border co-production, and the reshaping of creative labor are challenges Taiwanese and Japanese creators will have to face together.Agenda
Schedule
Speaker
First Half: From Creation to Market: BuildingJapan–Taiwan Content, IP & Technology Pathways
Taka Matsui, CSO of AI Film Festival Japan
Second Half: From Creation to Market:Taiwan–Japan AI Content, IP, and CreativeIndustry Collaboration
Mayumi Fukuzawa, Executive CommitteeMember of AI Film Festival Japan
Speaker Highlights
Invest in Next Entertainment: The New Generation of Entertainment Tech Investment
Sony Ventures, Twitch co-founder, and a key investment decision-maker from Rotten Tomatoes will share global entertainment investment trends, including the products and business models they are watching. Live startup pitches will also reveal what content and platforms need to attract investment and reach international markets. From ideas and products to capital, the forum offers creators, content-platform operators, corporate venture capitalists, and anyone curious about the future of entertainment a complete view of the entertainment technology journey.Agenda
Time
Schedule
Speaker
14:30-14:40
Opening Remarks & Group Photo
Solid Sie, Secretary General, Taiwan Venture Capital Association
Taipei Entrepreneurs Hub
14:40-14:55
Keynote: Investing at the Intersection of Technology and Entertainment
Kazuhito Hadano CEO, Sony Ventures Corporation
14:55-15:35
Panel Discussion: How Technology is Transforming Entertainment
Moderator
Ko Chi, Executive Director, Startup Island TAIWAN
Panelists
Kevin Lin, General Partner, Lifelike Capital
Patrick Lee, Co-Founder, Rotten Tomatoes / VENN
Andy Zain, Managing Partner, Kejora Capital
15:35-16:15
Panel Discussion: Where is Capital Going in Entertainment Tech?
Moderator
(Inviting)Willy Chen, Director, Appier
Panelists
Kazuhito Hadano, CEO, Sony Ventures Corporation
Kevin Lin, General Partner, Lifelike Capital
MK Hsieh, Founder, Calocedrus Capital
16:15-16:45
Startup Showcase
International
beMyFriends (Korea)
CinemaLeap Inc. (Japan)
YOAKE Entertainment (Japan)
Taiwan
DA2 Creative
Nyamyam
Team9
OptiqbSpeaker Highlights
Behind the Magic of Comics: Taiwan Comics Industry Unveiled — AI Impact on Creative Risks and Challenges
These questions aren't hypothetical — they're unfolding in Taiwan's comics industry right now.
This talk takes a close look at the latest developments in AI-assisted comic creation, and the copyright and legal questions behind it. When technology moves faster than the rules, how do creators make sense of the change — and protect their own work?
Whether you're a comic artist, curious about AI tools, or simply keen to understand where the content industry is heading — join us, and see where creativity is going in AI.Agenda
Time
Schedule
Speaker
15:00-16:00
AI-Assisted Comics: Copyright, Opportunities and Risks
Tseng Chien Hua, Caricaturist
Speaker Highlights
Behind the Magic of Comics: Decoding Taiwan's Manga Industry
Taiwan's comics industry is quietly coming of age. Beyond traditional publishers, there are now major online platforms and government resources to draw upon. From print to digital, from serialisation to IP adaptation, the stage for Taiwanese comics is far bigger than you might imagine.
From the current state of the market, the distinctive strengths of publishers and digital platforms, and available government resources, to the complete journey of a comic from creation to profit — the true landscape of Taiwan's comics industry and its many possibilities.
Whether you're an creator looking to break into the industry, or simply a curious reader wondering what Taiwanese comics are all about, you'll come away seeing them in a whole new light — Taiwanese comics have come further than you think.Agenda
Time
Schedule
Speaker
16:30-17:30
Taiwanese Comics Industry: Creative Formats and Market Diversity
Summer Jen, Manga Development Specialist, Creative Comic Collection, TAICCA
Speaker Highlights
