Not a founder, not a builder — so why co-host a builder's dinner?

As a fresh graduate in the humanities and social sciences, my biggest takeaways from four years of study were:

1. Think deeply about what you wish to learn.
2. Find the right person to ask.
3. Ask the right questions.

These principles have guided me throughout my career. I've been fortunate to connect with ecosystem pioneers who generously shared their industry insights, career advice, and even life lessons.

When brainstorming with Angel Lui from GenieFriends and my amazing peer Jovy Yu, co-founder of GitRoll, the vision was clear: "Let's bring a warm, supportive, and productive vibe to the builder community in Taiwan!"

The dinner

Taiwan is a vibrant ecosystem filled with talented builders. With this dinner, we aimed to create a space that fosters meaningful connections and collaboration.

I'm truly grateful to GenieFriends for joining us in Taiwan, and to all my mentors, partners, and friends who showed up to share their wisdom:

• Ryan Lim — A tech HR expert with 10+ years of APAC experience. A great mentor who provides an overview of the tech ecosystem in SEA countries and calls Taiwan his second home.
• Mark Birch — A global startup community builder and connector, who shared valuable insights about scaling startups.
• Michael Rolph — A serial entrepreneur and advocate for public goods, bridging government, tech ecosystem, and non-profits between the U.S. and Taiwan.
• Albert Cano — CEO and Co-founder of Unicorn AI, an AI edtech company. A language enthusiast and team builder.
• John Zhao — Founder of Tonomo, a "slow" digital nomad and Taiwan newcomer eager to learn Chinese.
• Anita Chen — A mental health advocate and fresh podcaster, and one of the best new friends I met this year.
• Yu-Ting (Mike) Lin — A Taiwan Web3 community builder and owner of Tempo House, a fantastic co-working café.

Our expectations? Around 20 sign-ups. The reality? A full house with 37 enthusiastic builders.

The positive feedback and energy from the dinner were incredible, and it's clear the community wants more. We'll be back in Taipei in January 2025!