Taiwan is a land filled with all sorts of cultural and creative products － from purses and decorations, to clothing and handicrafts. To help entrepreneurial designers realize their dreams, the Ministry of Culture launched the Angel’s Draft program for business matchmaking. Through such a platform, winners of the Ministry’s cultural and creative competitions can meet venture capitalists and pitch their award-winning ideas in person.
The final round of the annual Angel’s Draft event arranges for business representatives and angel investors to take part in a Q&A section. The judge panel then carefully questions each participant to understand their true potential and investment value.
Local designer Tsai Yi-shan, who has personally experienced the hardships of embarking upon the entrepreneurial path, says she could not have made it today if it weren’t for the help she received through such government support mechanisms.
At the awards ceremony, Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai remarked that the most important thing is to allow investors to see the true value and potential output of culture, rather than the placing all their funds in tech products or biotech goods. She noted that Taiwan’s young designers need encouragement, and that the affirmation and business guidance they shall receive will help them go a long way.
She concluded that such entrepreneurial designers, who are as talented as Tsai Yi-shan and Johan Ku, can become internationally famous within ten years’ time if they have the financial backings to match their talent.