Teenagers do not have a monopoly on fascination. Instead, it is an attitude towards life. Surely, we’ve all at some time or another become so fascinated that we’ve lost our way for a while.
Taiwan’s young people have become increasingly motivated and passionate about starting their own businesses in recent years. But there’s a lot to starting a business. Even something so basic as finding an appropriate location can be an expensive, time-consuming proposition. Perhaps it is this, or the growing number of small startups, or even just the greater comfort that today’s young entrepreneurs have with sharing that accounts for the growing popularity of “space sharing” among Taiwan’s startups. Shared spaces typically provide several startup tenants with the tools, equipment and machinery they need to pursue their respective ventures, while also enabling them to work on their projects without interruption in their own portion of the space. By making it easy for tenants’ employees to chat, bounce ideas off one another, and share experience and personal networks during their breaks, they also foster a kind of cross-pollination.
This month’s cover story takes an in-depth look at five of these “coworking spaces,” introducing us to the diversity of startups operating around Taiwan, and to the value-added that results from sharing and cooperation.
This issue includes another story on sharing involving Miaoli sculptor Kang Muxiang. Having created a unique piece he called Wishes from Taiwan out of discarded cabling from Taipei 101 elevators, Kang then gave it to the German city of Karlsruhe to commemorate its 300th birthday. Slated to be installed in the city’s main plaza, this gift from Taiwan will be seen daily by city residents. Kang’s gift reaffirms the friendship between Taiwan and Germany, and, in so doing, exemplifies the power of sharing.