Taiwan version of "Innovative Winners" shark lineup revealed! Lin Zhichen and Huang Licheng team up, ready to talk about the crypto world?

Taiwan version of “Shark Tank Taiwan” officially announces the lineup of five major investors, including Huang Licheng, Lin Zhichen, and Liu Yicheng. The show has launched a nationwide startup selection, combining startup investment with popular entertainment, sparking lively discussion in the tech industry.

“Shark Tank Taiwan” officially reveals the five-shark lineup

The Taiwan version of “Shark Tank” (Chuang Zhi Ying Jia) has officially entered the market spotlight. Produced in collaboration between Weilai TV and Sony Pictures Television, “Shark Tank Taiwan” recently announced the list of five “shark investors,” including:

• Taiwan Mobile General Manager and AppWorks Chairman Lin Zhichen
• Hedon Venture Capital Vice Chairman Liu Yicheng
• Relove Co-founder Gu Wanzhen
• Japanese venture firm Headline Asia founding partner Tanaka Akio
• “Maji Gege” Huang Licheng

The show has already launched a nationwide startup search and has quickly sparked discussions within the venture capital and tech circles.

The original “Shark Tank” has enjoyed high popularity in the United States for many years. Its core format involves entrepreneurial teams pitching directly to investors to secure funding and resources. Now that Taiwan has officially introduced an authorized version, it signifies that the local startup show is moving closer to an international venture entertainment model.

Image source: ABC “Shark Tank” original show has long been highly popular in the U.S.

Maji Gege becomes a focal figure, with crypto and entertainment backgrounds drawing the most attention

Among the five investors, the most followed by the crypto community is Huang Licheng (Machi). Besides his background in music and entertainment industries, he has been active in NFT, DeFi, and high-leverage trading markets in recent years. He co-founded Mithril and CREAM Finance and is known as a major crypto whale due to holding a large number of BAYC NFTs. Recently, he has been dubbed the “Liquidation King” by media and communities for frequently engaging in high-leverage trades on Hyperliquid.

• Related news: Machi Gege lost $74 million in six months! On-chain analysts say: if copying trades inversely, expected return in 30 days is 5,644%

Market observers believe that Machi Gege’s inclusion makes “Shark Tank Taiwan” markedly different from traditional venture-focused business shows. Especially as Web3, live-streaming economy, community culture, and AI entrepreneurship gradually merge, a new generation of venture shows is beginning to exhibit stronger online cultural traits.

On the other hand, Lin Zhichen and Liu Yicheng represent Taiwan’s typical tech venture capital and industrial capital routes. Lin Zhichen has been actively promoting the AppWorks ecosystem, AI, and telecom integration in recent years, while also continuing to invest in virtual assets and tech industries. Liu Yicheng has long been active in financial venture capital and startup investment markets, holding a highly representative position in Taiwan’s venture scene.

Taiwan’s venture entertainment and content trend accelerates

It is widely believed that “Shark Tank Taiwan” truly aims to promote the integration of startup investment, entrepreneurial culture, and mainstream entertainment. In recent years, the global venture market has gradually shifted from a closed VC circle to content creation and community engagement, including podcasts, YouTube, live streaming, and entrepreneurial reality shows, all becoming important exposure channels for the venture industry.

Especially in Asia, where emphasis on startups, ecosystems, and AI transformation has grown in recent years, governments are actively promoting entrepreneurial environments and tech investments. Taiwan has also continued to increase support for AI, startups, and digital finance policies, coupled with advantages in semiconductors and tech supply chains, making venture capital and entrepreneurship topics increasingly mainstream.

Some market analysts believe that if “Shark Tank Taiwan” successfully boosts viewership and community discussion, it could further change the Taiwanese public’s perception of venture capital and startup industries. Venture capital has traditionally been seen as a highly closed financial and tech circle, but now it is beginning to enter the general audience’s view through show formats.

AI, startups, and Web3 entrepreneurship topics may become future main themes

As the AI startup boom continues to heat up, along with the maturation of Web3, digital content, and the Creator Economy, the market is also paying attention to what types of startups might appear on “Shark Tank Taiwan” in the future. Especially as global venture funding shifts from pure traffic models to AI applications, enterprise software, fintech, and infrastructure, more AI agents, automation tools, content technology, and blockchain-related startups are emerging in Taiwan.

For many young entrepreneurs, the show itself could become a major exposure platform. Especially in an environment dominated by social media and short-video platforms, how entrepreneurs build personal brands, persuade investors, and generate market buzz has gradually become a key competitive skill for startups.