On Friday, November 8, 2024, the Sustainable Leadership Forum at National Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU), hosted by Professor Timo Eccarius of the GHRM MBA and IBMBA programs, welcomed Elias Ek, the CEO and co-founder of Enspyre, a B2B telemarketing company representing major tech clients like Oracle and Google, for an engaging lecture on "How to Start a Business in Taiwan." As a seasoned entrepreneur and start-up investor in Taiwan, Elias shared his journey and expertise in navigating the unique challenges of Taiwan’s business landscape, drawing on his years of experience building Enspyre.

Elias highlighted key strategies for foreign entrepreneurs facing obstacles in Taiwan, from understanding local regulations and building trust with Taiwanese partners to recognizing cultural expectations in customer service. Elias’s experience with Enspyre underscored the importance of adaptability in business; he explained how the company transitioned from phone answering services to telemarketing and lead generation as Taiwan’s demand for B2B services evolved. Additionally, Elias introduced Dragons’ Chamber Taiwan, a pitch competition he co-organizes and sponsors. It supports foreign entrepreneurs in Taiwan by connecting them with investors and mentors, fostering a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In a lively session, students pitched their own sustainable business ideas, taking inspiration from Elias’s guidance on scalability, target market analysis, and aligning business goals with environmental impact. Groups presented innovative ideas, including eco-friendly products and waste-reducing services, and received Elias’s personalized feedback on refining their concepts for viability. Elias’s focus on addressing real-world issues through business inspired students to look beyond profit, considering the social and environmental contributions their ventures could make.

By the end of the lecture, students left with practical tools for launching businesses in Taiwan, sparking conversations on sustainability, innovation, and persistence—key values that Elias emphasized as essential for success in Taiwan’s competitive market.