Once a startup gains traction locally, deciding whether to scale its products or services—and possibly go global—becomes a critical step that can determine growth and even the overall success of the venture.
Entering a highly competitive yet opportunity-rich market like the U.S. is no small feat. Despite the cultural ties and policy synergies between Taiwan and the U.S., countless challenges and risks still stand in the way.
That’s exactly why we’re now in our fourth year of running the IP2 Scale Out Program—a U.S. accelerator initiative designed to help ambitious, high-potential Taiwanese startups make their move into the New York market.
But what exactly does this accelerator bring to the table for entrepreneurs?
After landing in New York, what real, tangible value do they walk away with?
In this interview, i2i sat down with John Chang, founder of Jmem Technology, to share his experience and key takeaways from entering the U.S. market.
John Chang points out that breaking into the U.S. market is far from an overnight process. It requires a deep understanding of the market’s needs and a clear assessment of whether your business is truly ready to land.
And that, he says, is the biggest purpose of participating in an accelerator program.
Since Jmem Technology focuses on high-tech solutions, the barriers to entry are naturally higher in international markets. However, the potential rewards are also far greater.
Finding the Right Market Entry Point
Chang explains that when it comes to entering the U.S. market, the first step is identifying the right entry point—the ideal starting ground for business expansion.
This goes beyond just picking the right product; it involves understanding local demand, market trends, and the competitive landscape.
"We needed to find a starting point for learning, and from there, scale our marketing efforts. For us, New York was the perfect landing spot," Chang says.
"It’s both a challenge and an opportunity. This is the place where we can really put our products to the test."
Understanding Market Needs and Focusing on Real-World Problems
When talking strategy, Chang emphasizes that success isn’t solely about technological innovation—it’s about understanding the market’s needs.
"We had to be here in New York, on the ground, to see if we were truly a good fit—if the market demand aligned with what we offer," he shares.
"Through the program, we realized that the industry we’re in holds significant importance here."
Only by deeply immersing themselves in the local market were they able to determine if they could establish roots and receive meaningful feedback.
They soon discovered that their big data technology aligned perfectly with the needs in New York. This positive reception from the local investment community has been vital for their future growth.
Facing High-Tech Industry Challenges: Using Market Feedback to Boost Competitiveness
For high-tech companies, the U.S. market is fiercely competitive.
But despite the challenges, Chang remains optimistic about the future.
"Big data basically has a high barrier to entry. But the people who get it are genuinely interested in what we offer."
This level of technical depth provides a competitive edge for startups that already have strong capabilities.
Chang also mentions how engaging with local investors and industry leaders through the accelerator program allowed them to quickly adapt to market needs:
"Even high-tech products need to focus on the real needs of customers."
"Besides in-depth discussions with mentors, we also received valuable feedback from U.S.-based contacts and advisors. Many people in fields related to ours, like big data, gave us very positive feedback."
He stresses that in a market like this, it’s not enough to just focus on technological advancements—you need to stay in tune with evolving market demands. That’s the key to not just surviving, but thriving in such a competitive environment.
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