The AppWorks Accelerator FAQ (for founders applying to AW#31)

 

Founded in 2010 by Jamie Lin, AppWorks Accelerator is a startup community created by founders, for founders. 

Every six months, we welcome founders who are building on the edge of what’s possible – those pushing the boundaries of technology and creating what the world has yet to imagine. We equip them with the necessary resources, mentorship, and community to turn bold visions into lasting impact.  

We know there are many considerations for founders when applying to an accelerator. That’s why we’ve created an FAQ page to help you decide whether or not AppWorks is the right fit for your startup. 

As of April 2025, AppWorks Accelerator #31 is open for applications. You can find important information about the Accelerator experience on our main page.

The FAQs

1. What do I need to know before joining the accelerator? What is AppWorks doing to help founders make the most out of the accelerator?

We understand the unique needs and aspirations for founders, and we’re committed to providing an experience that’s both flexible and comprehensive: 

a. Tailored Events for Founders: No two founder journeys are alike — whether you’re just getting started, actively scaling, based in Taiwan, or operating from anywhere in the world, we’ve designed a flexible accelerator that blends online and offline experiences. You’ll have access to the resources, mentorship, and connections that best fit your unique path, ensuring that you get what you need, when and where you need it.

b. Regional Presence in Greater Southeast Asia: Beyond flexibility, what sets AppWorks apart is our deeply rooted presence across Greater Southeast Asia. With an active network spanning Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, we open doors to regional insights, cross-border opportunities, and partnerships that accelerate your growth beyond your home market.

c. Unlocking Taiwan’s Potential: Taiwan is home to a dynamic tech ecosystem, and we proudly maintain the most extensive network in the region. We invite you to consider Taiwan as a market ripe with valuable opportunities, a wealth of digital talents, reliable manufacturing partners, and a robust supply chain. The resources available here are vast and can significantly boost your venture.

We encourage founders to join us for in-person activities whenever possible, as face-to-face interactions with our network in Taiwan and across Southeast Asia can unlock deeper relationships, richer insights, and new opportunities that virtual meetings simply can’t replicate.

Your success is at the heart of what we do. We can’t wait to embark on this journey with you.

2. I already raised a Series A / I’m profitable, is AppWorks right for me?

The short answer is, yes!

The long answer is, reaching a funding goal can be a cause for celebration, but it’s also a relatively minor part of the founder journey. So many more things can go right or wrong, even with a funding round. There are many other facets to overcome and master. When we admit founders into the program, it is because we have carefully considered what they need as a founder, and how our resources and network across Taiwan and Southeast Asia can help them grow. 

Joel Leong and Henry Chan at ShopBack had already built a business model and received seed funding in 2015 when they launched in Singapore before they came to AppWorks Accelerator #13 in 2016. 

Joel told us that had the team known about Taiwan’s massive US$20 billion GMV e-commerce market and all the region-wide technical and tactical innovations that it would eventually yield, they would have made the move to Taiwan much sooner. Taiwan has since become one of ShopBack’s biggest markets and R&D centers. It demonstrates that funding rounds and business model maturity do not limit founders in learning something new. 

As long as you think that AppWorks can help you in the entrepreneurial learning process, you should apply. 

3. How can AppWorks Accelerator help a web3 founder?

As our web3 ecosystem has grown, so have opportunities for partnerships, knowledge exchange, and founder-to-founder support—all critical for entrepreneurs building in this network and community-driven space:

a. Grow with one of the largest web3 founder communities.

The web3 ecosystem within the AppWorks community now consists of 155 active teams with a total of 320 founders. These extraordinary web3 startups include Pendle (AW#20), a DeFi yield-trading protocol that enables the tokenization and trading of future yield; Resolv (AW#30), which issues stablecoins through a ‘Delta Neutral’ strategy and an over-collateralization mechanism; and Event Horizon (AW#28), a meta-governance platform that mobilizes community assets to influence external governance proposals. 

As one of the region’s most active web3 founder communities, we help you navigate every stage of the journey—through mentor and founder intros, ecosystem resources, and peer learning on tokenomics, DAOs, and community-building.

b. Stay ahead of the game to capture the pulse of the ecosystem and access premium development partners

In web3, startups developing on the right public chain and working with the right partners can help create synergies and accelerate scaling. Within the AppWorks web3 ecosystem, almost 95 teams have developed their products on various public chains, including Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, Sui, TON, Base and so on. If you are a founder building on these chains, you can always find a connection within our ecosystem.

AppWorks stays closely connected with leading L1 and L2 ecosystems to ensure founders can tap into the best resources available. We also partner with key platforms and tools, such as GSR, Alchemy, Quantstamp, and Chainlink to make sure that blockchain startups gain the support they need to grow and thrive.

4. How does AppWorks Accelerator help founders enter new markets?

Since 2010, AppWorks has made close connections within founder communities and throughout the venture capital ecosystem. When startup teams decide to enter a new market, we can quickly help them learn from local partners to tap into key resources and business models that are specifically tailored to different regions.

The AppWorks community includes our accelerator alumni, international startup teams that have received investment from AppWorks Venture Funds, and mentors with insight and experience. Our community of founders are based all around the world, and many are from our key markets in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. For example, Qoala is an InsurTech startup headquartered in Indonesia that has expanded to Thailand and Malaysia, and the CEO/Co-founder, Harshet, is a seasoned founder and has been an active mentor to many startups in the region. Carousell is a startup from Singapore, which focuses on C2C e-commerce and has expanded into eight markets across Asia. The CEO/Co-founder, Siu Rui, has always been the go-to person for fellow founders who are exploring regional expansion.  

In addition to our community, AppWorks has also established strategic relations with more than 25 venture capital funds across Southeast Asia and the web3 industry. Our partners include ACV, Golden Gate Ventures, Openspace Ventures, Ascend Vietnam Ventures, Foxmont Capital, Figment Capital、Reforge VC, and others. When entering a new market, we can easily cooperate with investors from different regions to help you quickly gain access to local connections and business opportunities.

5. What does AppWorks look for in applications?

When AppWorks reviews applications submitted by founders, we pay special attention to a founder’s north star. Some questions that might help you think about whether AppWorks is a good fit for you: 

  • Why did you launch your startup?
  • What problem do you want to solve and why?
  • What do you believe fundamentally needs to exist in this world that doesn’t already?
  • What kind of future do you want to create and how will you get there?
  • What have you already done to demonstrate your commitment to tackling this problem?

AppWorks Accelerator’s online application covers about 30 topics related to team background, product/service, business model, market analysis, and more. It is very detailed and requires time to complete. It also includes a required one-minute self-intro from the founder (CEO) for us to know you better.

6. Does AppWorks Accelerator cost anything?

No. AppWorks Accelerator has always been free for founders. We will not charge rent or service fees, nor will we require any form of compensation, such as sweat equity, tokens, options, revenue, or profit-sharing. Our exclusive mission is to help founders. 

7. We need funding now, can we get an investment by joining AppWorks?

The short answer is you will have much better access to us than non-AppWorks accelerated teams. We will discuss with you and help you figure out at this stage of your startup’s journey if capital can give your startup a significant edge and/or take it to the next level, or if there are other more burning issues, e.g., achieving stronger product-market fit, figuring out a working go-to-market strategy, recruiting a solid co-founder, etc. 

Any AppWorks founder is welcome to start a discussion with us on fundraising anytime. We will do our best to advise and support you with US$350 million in total fund size behind us. 

8. My service (or product) has not yet started to make money. Can I still apply?

Of course! There probably isn’t a better time to learn in an accelerator than as a founder just starting out. This period before a founder has built a startup into a scalable business model with Product-Market Fit is called the “seed stage.” During this period, founders always need more than funding; they need a variety of entrepreneurial-related insights, inspiration from other founders, and room for trial and error. AppWorks Accelerator, with over 15 years of experience, was built to provide these lessons and more. 

9. I’m planning to expand my business into Taiwan, however, since I am not a Taiwanese citizen, can you help me obtain a proper visa?

International founders admitted to AppWorks Accelerator, according to your qualifications and needs, AppWorks can help with your application for the Gold Card, or Entrepreneur Visa in Taiwan. This enables founders from overseas to concentrate on work in Taiwan without traveling abroad to sort out troublesome visa issues. We can offer guidance on this process.  

10. Do I have to set up a company to join AppWorks Accelerator?

Not necessarily, but we recommend founders to set up an office when entering a new market, especially those of you that are B2B facing. This may enable you to build relationships with business partners and make negotiating commercial agreements smoother in the future.

For the founders who are planning to land in Taiwan, AppWorks has professional accounting and legal specialists who can assist in managing the necessary procedures, making the process of setting up much easier and more efficient.

11. What is the difference between applying during the first round vs. the final round? 

The application period is split into two intakes, with interviews and admissions facilitated on a rolling basis. Based on past experience, teams that submit their application earlier tend to have a higher chance of being admitted and are also immediately granted access to all the resources that AppWorks Accelerator has to offer.

12. I have previously applied to AppWorks and have been rejected, can I apply again? Will it affect the chances of admission?

Reapplying represents the determination of the founder and is a positive signal for us. Therefore, we will re-evaluate all aspects, not only for the growth of the founder but also for the progress of the company. In the past, some entrepreneurs applied 2-3 times before being selected. In some cases, after unsuccessful applications, they continued to explore and eventually achieved more user growth and deeper insights. In other cases, they honestly faced the fact that there was no Product-Market Fit (PMF), changed their topic, found a scalable business model, and reapplied. These entrepreneurs have performed well after graduating from the accelerator.

We hope the above FAQ can help clarify your questions about AppWorks Accelerator. If you seek more clarity, please write to: [email protected], and we will try to answer your questions.

If you’re a founder creating what the world doesn’t know it needs yet, you’ve come to the right place! Applications for AppWorks Accelerator #31 will be open until June 30, 2025.

AppWorks Accelerator FAQ 創業者常見問題回覆 (為 AW#31 申請團隊準備)

 

AppWorks Accelerator 在 2010 年由 Jamie 林之晨等創業者,為創業者所成立。每半年招募一屆,對象是來自台灣、東南亞與世界各地的新創團隊。成立 15 年以來,AppWorks Accelerator 總共已招募 30 屆,自 2025 年 4 月起,開放申請的 AW#31,限定招募站在科技最前緣,改寫規則、突破現況的創業者。

每次招募團隊,AppWorks 都會收到許多申請書,過程中我們發現,新創團隊在看完網站的介紹後,對我們的加速器計畫仍有些許疑問,因此,我們整理了以下常見問題,希望能為有類似疑惑的你,提供一些解答。

【AppWorks Accelerator #31自 2025 年 4 月開放申請

1. 在加入加速器之前,我需要了解什麼?AppWorks 在幫助創業者充分利用加速器方面做了哪些工作?

AppWorks 致力於提供創業者彈性且全面的體驗,服務台灣本地創業者、以及國際創業者。以下是一些我們獨有的特點:

專為創業者打造的活動:無論你正處於初步驗證、產品開發,還是正在擴張成長,我們都會依照創業階段,設計最適合的活動,協助你持續突破下一個里程碑。

AppWorks 的創業者來自台灣、香港、東南亞、美國及全球各地,為了滿足跨時區與多元需求,我們提供實體與線上並行的活動形式,讓你能以最適合自己的方式參與。從工作坊、創業者對談,或是商業媒合,每場活動都經過精心設計,幫助你在每個關鍵時刻加速成長。

大東南亞網絡:經過 15 年的持續耕耘,我們可以很自豪地分享,AppWorks 現在於大東南亞包括台灣、新加坡、香港、印尼、越南、菲律賓、和馬來西亞等七個市場,皆有活躍的在地創業者社群與創投網絡,確保你無論身在何處,都能獲得你需要的支持。

台灣的市場能量:台灣擁有獨特而繁榮的科技生態系,包含活躍的創業者社群、創投、許多國際級企業、以及懂得科技的媒體與人才庫。我們非常樂意幫助創業者充分利用台灣的工程與數位人才、世界一流的供應鏈與生產商,加速成長,更快成為頂尖的企業。

於台灣起家的 AppWorks,在此擁有最廣泛且活躍的人脈,透過 AppWorks 線上和實體的區域活動,我們可以為您引薦適合的合作對象,幫助您在台灣和東南亞建立有價值的聯繫。

我們堅信,面對面的互動可以建立更牢固的人際關係,並幫助你獲得更深入的洞察。因此,我們強烈建議創業者親自參加 AppWorks 加速器的實體活動,無論是在台灣還是其他東南亞國家,以確保你能獲得最優化且豐富的體驗。

2. AppWorks Accelerator 可以提供 web3 新創什麼幫助?

隨著我們 web3 創業者社群的成長,為參與其中的創業者,創造出越來越多建立策略夥伴關係、知識交流的機會,並可促成創業者彼此之間互相幫助。 AppWorks 社群可為 web3 創業者提供獨特的加值服務:

a. 與最活躍的 web3 創業者社群共同成長

由 AppWorks 建立起的 web3 生態系,已累積 155 支活躍新創團隊、共計超過 320 位創業者,這些傑出的 web3 新創,包括實現資產未來收益代幣化的 Pendle (AW#20),聚合鏈上投票權並幫助協議用戶完成去中心化治理投票的 Event Horizon (AW#28);透過「Delta 中性」策略和超額抵押機制,發行穩定幣的 Resolv (AW#30)

作為此區域領先的 web3 創業者社群,所有創業者形成一個緊密的新創網絡,AppWorks 每位同事的重要任務之一,就是在其中穿針引線將資源與人脈引介給各新創團隊,並從不同創業者身上,交流學習各種創業相關經驗與秘訣。

b. 在快速發展的 web3 生態系下保持領先地位,並獲得優質的開發合作夥伴

在 web3 領域,選擇適合的公鏈開發產品,以及與優秀的夥伴合作,有助於新創創造綜效並加速擴展市場。在 AppWorks web3 生態系中,有近 95 支區塊鏈團隊已經在各種公鏈上開發產品,包括 Ethereum、Solana、Arbitrum、Sui、TON、Base 等。想將產品建立在這些公鏈上的創業者,可以在我們的社群中找到具有相關經驗的其他創業者,彼此交流或成為更密切的合作夥伴。

除了協助創業者與各個區塊鏈生態系建立合作機會外,AppWorks 也與其他 Blockchain 重要開發工具、造市商、審計公司以及雲端服務商建立合作夥伴關係。加入的新創,可以獲得 GSR、Quantstamp、Chainlink 等相關協助資源。

3. 如果我的新創已經完成 Series A/B 募資、或是已經開始獲利,AppWorks Accelerator 還適合我嗎?

我們並沒有限定申請團隊的成熟階段,無論是正處於早期、或是已規模化擴張的團隊,只要你認為在創業過程中,AppWorks 能提供到你所需要幫助,都歡迎申請加入。

依過去的案例,也有許多較成熟的團隊加入,例如,有些團隊已經在台灣做出不錯的成績,想往東南亞發展,AppWorks 可以成為新創佈局東南亞的橋樑或跳板。

或者是規模已不小的國際團隊,如果想在台灣建立技術團隊或開發市場商機,加入 AppWorks, 可以成為在台落地的第一步。像是例如來自新加坡、在 2016 年進駐 AW#13 的 ShopBack,早在 2014 年就創立,並在 2015 年完成種子輪募資並在新加坡推出服務,而透過在 AppWorks Accelerator 的時間,ShopBack 在台灣建立起技術團隊,並同時驗證了測試台灣市場的發展性可能性。如今,台灣已是 Shopback 所有經營的市場中,重要的營收來源和核心研發基地。

4. AppWorks Accelerator 可以提供想進入國際市場的新創什麼幫助?

AppWorks Accelerator 自 2010 年啟動迄今,累積了廣大的創業者社群與 VC 夥伴網絡,協助新創團隊在進入新市場時能快速獲取關鍵資源,並向當地的創業者學習因地制宜的商業模式。

AppWorks 的社群中,包含加速器校友新創、已接受 AppWorks 創投基金投資的國際團隊、以及擁有規模化與出場經驗的 Mentors。這些創業者遍佈全世界,許多來自我們於東南亞所耕耘的重點市場,包括新加坡、印尼、越南、菲律賓、馬來西亞等。例如創辦於印尼的保險科技新創 Qoala,目前已擴展到泰國和馬來西亞,其執行長暨共同創辦人 Harshet 是一位經驗豐富的創業者; Carousell 是於新加坡起家的新創公司,專注於 C2C 電商。執行長暨共同創辦人 SiuRui 從一畢業就創業,到目前已擴展到亞洲的八個市場。這兩位 Mentors 總是很熱忱的分享他們的經驗,給許多正在拓展東南亞市場的初創業者。

除了創業者社群以外,AppWorks GP 另外在東南亞及 web3 領域投資超過 25 個創投,包含 AC Ventures、 Golden Gate Ventures、 Openspace Ventures、Ascend Vietnam Ventures、Foxmont Capital、Figment Capital、Reforge VC 等,讓新創團隊進入新市場時,能與不同區域的投資人合作、更有效率的拓展人脈與商機。

5. AppWorks Accelerator 要收費嗎?

AppWorks Accelerator 是針對創業者完全免費的服務。我們不會向新創團隊收取租金、服務費,也不會要求技術股、選擇權、營收、獲利分成,或是 Token 等任何形式的回饋。

6. 我們現在需要一筆資金,加入 AppWorks 就可以被投資嗎?

相較於其他新創團隊,參與 AppWorks Accelerator 的創業者,有更多與我們深度交流的機會,自然也就有更高的合作機率。無論參與的新創處於什麼階段,我們都會與創業者討論,什麼是現階段最需要且適合你的幫助。在對的時間點,當資金可以大幅提升該新創的實力與競爭優勢,我們會全力協助你完成該輪募資。但有些時候,創業者當下更重要的任務,是解決其他更急迫的問題,包括重新定義市場問題、 探索正確的目標客群、或是尋找更強的 Product Market Fit 等等。

AppWorks 管理四支創投基金規模共 3.5 億美元,無論是關於募資,或是其他策略面向的討論,我們隨時準備好提供你最適切的建議與協助。

7. 我的服務 (或產品) 還沒開始賺錢,這樣能申請嗎?

當然可以。從公司創立到找到可規模化商業模式這段期間,稱為「種子期」。種子期新創公司需要的多半不是資金,而是各種與創業有關的知識、啟發,以及嘗試與犯錯的空間。AppWorks Accelerator 有豐富的經驗,協助種子期新創尋找可規模化商業模式,幫助他們順利邁向下一階段。

8. 加入 AppWorks Accelerator 一定要設立公司嗎?

不一定,但我們會建議做 B2B 的團隊設立公司。根據我們的經驗,這將有助於你與潛在事業夥伴洽談後續合作。AppWorks 有專業的會計與法務專家,可以為創業者提供成立公司過程中所需要的協助;以及為計劃擴張到台灣的團隊處理落地的手續。

9. 我不是台灣公民,能否幫忙申請簽證?

入選 AppWorks Accelerator 的國際創業者,可根據個人的需求與條件,由 AppWorks 提供協助,申請 Gold Card 就業金卡Entrepreneur Visa 創業家簽證 ,讓來自海外的創業者能在台灣專心工作,不需為了簽證問題出境往返。

10. 新創的申請書中,AppWorks 注重的內容有哪些?

我們特別重視驅動創業者長期持續自我精進、沿途排除阻礙,非得要抵達的北極星。此外,以下幾個問題,也是我們關注的:

  • 為什麼要創業?
  • 你希望透過創業解決什麼問題?為什麼?
  • 你相信世界上,還有哪些尚未被滿足的基本需求?
  • 你希望創造什麼樣的未來?計畫如何去實現?
  • 你已經做了哪些努力來證明你正在解決這些問題?

11. 申請書的題目都是英文,用中文寫會不會影響分數?

AppWorks Accelerator 的線上申請書共有約 30 個題目,包含團隊、產品、商業模式,與市場分析等眾多面向,非常詳盡,需要花一定的時間與心思填寫。我們希望透過這些題目協助每一個來申請的團隊,釐清自己當下的發展狀態與所需協助。

填寫報名表是一種自我健檢,因為在填寫過程中,創業者必須深入思考自己的產品、市場策略、團隊分工,以及整體產業環境。因此,不管申請與否,我們都建議創業者針對這些問題仔細思考、研究。

在 AppWorks,創業者有大量使用英文的機會,與各國創業者、投資人與企業夥伴溝通交流。因此,我們鼓勵你嘗試以英文作答。用中文填寫並不會影響評估結果,最重要的是必須清楚表達你想傳達的訊息。另外,我們也需要創辦人/CEO 拍攝一段一分鐘的自我介紹與產品說明影片,讓我們不僅是透過文字,能夠更加認識你。

12. 第一階段 VS. 第二階段申請有何差別?

AppWorks Accelerator 的面談與入選採先收先審方式 (Rolling-basis),根據過去的經驗,先繳交申請書的團隊,有較高的入選機率,且能提早知道自己已經入選,有更充裕的時間預先規劃相關事宜。因此,我們會鼓勵創業者在第一階段就填寫申請書,以免到了最後申請截止前夕,競爭變得更加激烈。

13. 我以前有申請過 AppWorks 被拒絕了、還能再申請嗎?是否會影響錄取的機率呢?

不會影響錄取率。我們會評估你在這段時間的進展,無論是 Founder 本身的成長,或是公司的拓展。整體而言,再次申請代表了創業者的決心,對我們來說是正面的訊號。過去也有創業者申請了 2~3 次才獲選。有的案例是在申請未果後,仍繼續耐心摸索,最終成功增長更多的用戶、也累積了更深入的洞察;有的案例則是坦誠面對沒有 PMF 的事實,更換了題目後,找到可擴展的商業模式而再次申請,而這些創業者自加速器畢業後的表現也相當優秀。

希望以上整理能幫助你釐清對 AppWorks Accelerator 的諸多疑問。若還有其他需要進一步瞭解的地方,歡迎留言給我們,或是來信至:[email protected],我們將盡量為你解答。

【歡迎所有不滿足於現狀、正致力於以嶄新方式突破傳統的創業者,加入專為你們服務的 AppWorks Accelerator,AW#31 申請截止日為 2025 年 6 月 30 日】

Why We Invested: Dennison Bertram and Rafael Solari, the co-founders of Tally

Nearly a decade ago, The DAO on Ethereum introduced Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) to the broader public—though infamously through a hack that led to an Ethereum hard fork in 2016. MakerDAO, launched afterward, further showcased DAOs’ potential, sparking a realization that DAOs could empower communities while enabling them to make informed decisions that support the long-term growth of protocols efficiently. While many have long believed DAOs could become a new organizational blueprint, Dennison and Rafael saw an opportunity to accelerate that vision. They joined forces to create Tally—a platform that has evolved into the leading DAO tooling solution, powering over 500 decentralized organizations worldwide. AppWorks is thrilled to share our Series A investment in Tally, and we can’t wait to see how Dennison and Rafael continue to shape the next chapter of governance by many.

Where Humanity and Technology Converge – Dennison Bertram 

Dennison’s life journey has been shaped by a profound intersection of technology and social consciousness, stemming from his upbringing in Buffalo, New York. Born to a civil rights activist mother and a Dutch scientist father, Dennison was immersed in an environment where advocacy and exploration flourished side by side. Computers entered his world at a young age, fueling a curiosity that led him to master microprocessors and build his own machine by age thirteen. This passion for innovation propelled him into the esteemed robotics program at Carnegie Mellon University when he was just sixteen, reflecting his remarkable talent for technical problem-solving. Yet, as he delved deeper into robotics, Dennison felt a pull that extended beyond code and circuitry. Influenced by his mother’s steadfast commitment to social justice, he became increasingly drawn to the complexities of governance, power structures, and communal well-being. His academic path shifted toward political science at the University of Pittsburgh, and later, he ventured abroad to witness firsthand how societies rebuild themselves in post-conflict settings. These formative experiences solidified Dennison’s belief in the transformative power of collective decision-making. After returning to the United States and re-immersing himself in the burgeoning crypto sphere, he met Rafael, and later on together they discovered the idea of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Dennison immediately grasped their potential to blend transparent governance with cutting-edge technology—an endeavor that resonated with everything his life had been leading toward. In founding Tally, he sought to unify his passions for engineering and social betterment, creating a platform designed to standardize and streamline DAO governance. 

From Silicon Valley Startups to DAO Innovation: Rafael Solari 

Rafael’s path to co-founding Tally can be traced back to his formative years in San Francisco, where technology was practically in his DNA. With a mother involved in Apple and early network startups, and a father at Intel, he grew up surrounded by the energy of the first wave of the internet. Even in middle school, Rafael fantasized about launching his own company—a dream fueled by the infectious excitement of web 1. This passion for creation guided his educational choices: he majored in computer science, immersing himself in subjects like discrete mathematics and game theory, and diving into collaborative programming projects. Outside the classroom, Rafael tested the waters of entrepreneurship through various side ventures, including a campus-winning restaurant recommendation service. Though it never went commercial, it confirmed his love for building products from the ground up.

Post-graduation, Rafael sought out smaller startups in Silicon Valley, believing they would offer a more raw, hands-on approach to learning how businesses are truly built and scaled. From e-commerce to ad-tech, each role gave him an inside view of how dominant platforms like Google, Amazon, and Facebook invariably shaped the competitive landscape. Realizing that these centralized power structures could stifle innovation, Rafael became intrigued by protocols—public, decentralized alternatives that could foster genuinely new business models. His exploration of Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2016 led him to the Crypto NYC coworking space, where he met Dennison. Over countless discussions about governance, stablecoins, and the future of decentralized organizations, their shared vision for a standardized DAO framework took shape. When Compound launched its DAO in 2020, Rafael saw the validation he had been waiting for, and the duo launched Tally to fill the gap in DAO governance tooling.

Tally – The Bedrock and Software Layer for DAOs 

Tally provides essential infrastructure for DAOs, enabling seamless on-chain voting, proposal management, and delegate coordination. As the most comprehensive DAO governance platform in the space, Tally has established itself as the industry leader over the past four years, powering over 7,000 proposals and supporting more than 500 DAOs, including top-tier protocols like Uniswap, Arbitrum, and zkSync. Its deep-rooted expertise in DAO governance and strong relationships with key delegates give Tally a significant advantage in securing partnerships and being recognized as the only credibly neutral service provider in the space. This strategic positioning has fortified Tally’s defensibility, and we firmly believe that Dennison and Rafael can continue scaling its platform to become the default governance solution for DAOs.

But Tally’s ambitions go beyond governance tooling. The ultimate vision is to serve as the software layer for DAOs at every stage of their lifecycle. To achieve this, the team has been rapidly expanding its product suite—most notably with the introduction of The Tally Protocol, a groundbreaking solution that allows DAOs to issue liquid staking versions of their governance tokens while preserving voting power. As DAOs collectively manage billions in treasury assets, governance has become a critical challenge, with low voter participation, governance attacks, and misaligned incentives threatening their sustainability.

The Tally Protocol addresses these fundamental issues by providing DAOs with a mechanism to return value to token holders while maintaining decentralized governance. By aligning incentives, increasing participation, and safeguarding against governance vulnerabilities, Tally is not only solving immediate pain points but also laying the foundation for a more resilient and scalable DAO ecosystem. As the space continues to evolve, Tally remains at the forefront, pioneering the next generation of decentralized governance.

At AppWorks, we invest in founders that combine deep technical expertise with a relentless drive to solve fundamental problems for humanity. Dennison and Rafael’s long-term vision, execution, and commitment to building the most robust DAO infrastructure make them the ideal team to push this transformation forward. As DAOs continue to proliferate and demand better governance, we firmly believe Tally will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of this new form of human organization. That’s why we are excited to back Dennison and Rafael as they take DAO to the next level.

Why We Invested: Teruaki Aso, Founder & CEO of Jiraffe (MAGI)

MAGI, operated by Jiraffe, is Japan’s leading marketplace dedicated to trading card games (TCGs). Founded by Teruaki Aso, MAGI is tapping into a vibrant market valued at approximately US$6 billion worldwide, driven by passionate collectors and players.

Jiraffe, notably, represents AppWorks’ first-ever direct investment into a Japanese startup, highlighting a strategic step into one of most dynamic consumer and entertainment markets as we broaden our support for founders into different Asian locations. This investment bridges Japan and Southeast Asia’s digital ecosystems via Taiwan, combining Japan’s big market and cultural influence with Southeast Asia’s vibrant consumer base, enabling founders from both sides to expand and unlocking substantial long-term growth.

Teruaki Aso’s entrepreneurial journey began early, shaped by youthful curiosity and a passion for digital communities. As a middle school student, Aso managed his first online community site, competing enthusiastically for web traffic and learning firsthand the power of engagement and community-driven platforms. His early fascination with digital connectivity and peer interaction set the foundation for a career built around creating compelling online communities.

While studying at Hitotsubashi University, Aso ventured into his first significant startup project, “Hikakaku!,” a price-comparison platform enabling consumers to find the highest buyback offers from second-hand shops for their used gadgets, which eventually evolved into Jiraffe Inc. when he was just 22. Quickly understanding the dynamics of marketplaces and consumer behaviors, he became adept at navigating and pivoting business models, learning invaluable lessons on liquidity management, customer acquisition, and market positioning.

However, Aso was not content with simply running any marketplace, and aspired for greater ambitions—he meticulously searched for a niche that perfectly balanced unit value, trading frequency, and ease of handling. After extensive experimentation across various categories such as smartphone repair, electronics, sneakers, and general secondhand goods, he set his sights on the trading card game (TCG) market with his team. At 26, Aso launched MAGI, a marketplace specifically designed for TCG enthusiasts, effectively capturing a unique, deeply engaged consumer segment and eventually closed or sold all of his other businesses.

MAGI’s success hinges on its dual-channel strategy, seamlessly integrating online accessibility with physical retail experiences. This hybrid model caters precisely to the consumer demands of Japan’s enthusiastic and highly engaged TCG community. Users can effortlessly search, buy, sell, or trade cards through MAGI’s intuitive online platform or visit physical storefronts for immediate interaction and purchases.

MAGI’s recent international expansion, marked by opening its first store in Taipei, further demonstrates the company’s ambition and potential for global growth. The successful Taipei launch serves as a blueprint for future international expansions, showcasing MAGI’s readiness to scale its uniquely effective TCG marketplace model beyond Japan’s borders.

Looking forward into 2025, by continually expanding its physical presence in Japan and enhancing platform features, refining operational practices, and building stronger relationships within the community, MAGI is well-positioned to consolidate its leadership in the rapidly growing global TCG market.

At AppWorks, we proudly support visionary founders like Teruaki Aso, whose entrepreneurial journey and deep industry insight align seamlessly with our investment ethos. Through this partnership, we aim to propel MAGI towards sustained international growth, fostering one of Asia’s premier interest-based marketplaces to better serve TCG lovers.

Wistron Accelerator FAQ 緯創加速器常見問題回覆 (為 #9 申請團隊準備)

緯創資通與 AppWorks 從 2014 年開始合作,是 AppWorks Fund II、Fund III 的主要股東之一,之後也陸續投資了 MoBagel (AW#16)、 ANIWARE (AW#17)、Authme (AW#18) 與  Aiello (AW#20) 等自 AppWorks Accelerator 畢業的新創校友,雙方有長期的策略合作關係與默契,並於 2021 年 9 月首度啓動緯創垂直加速器,由大東南亞領先的新創加速器 AppWorks 提供營運等核心業務。

計畫申請緯創加速器的新創團隊,也許對本計畫將有更近一步的疑問,因此,我們整理了以下常見問題,希望可以協助創業者從中得到解答。

【Wistron Accelerator #9 現正開放申請中:申請專頁

1. 緯創集團期待藉由加速器與新創達成什麼樣的合作成果?緯創集團可以提供新創什麼幫助?

Wistron Accelerator 可以提供的相關幫助包括: 

a. 緯創集團各企業 / 事業單位高階主管提供產業面的專業建議

這個加速器的最大特色,是由緯創集團各企業與事業單位高階主管擔任 Mentors,加入的新創可直接與 Mentor 們討論合作內容與商業模式,從他們身上,獲得產業最前緣的 Insights,大幅減少新創摸索、試錯與實驗的機會成本。緯創集團參與 Wistron Accelerator 的企業與事業單位如下:

  1. Wistron 緯創資通 (包含 CVC 企業投資辦公室)
  2. Wiwynn 緯穎科技
  3. WNC 啟碁科技
  4. Wistron ITS 緯創軟體
  5. WMT 緯創醫學
  6. WiAdvance 緯謙科技

有與企業合作經驗的創業者都知道,通常高階主管負責策略,而團隊負責執行,因此如果能直接與最高層級溝通,那麼在策略合作聚焦,以及共同發展出新服務、新事業的機會將因此大增。

除此之外,當新創與企業合作時,常遇到的挑戰是,即便新創在本身領域具備一定的專業能力,但面對每一個不同領域的產業、每一家組織規模更大的企業,都是仍有許多需要更深入掌握的軟硬知識與技術。

因此,Wistron Accelerator 在內容設計上,一開始就由高階主管親自上陣,解決上述問題。新創在加速器期間,將與各事業單位負責人進行深度的合作與互動,不只能更深入理解企業真正的需求與計畫、產業 Insight,也能藉此學習如何與企業客戶有效溝通、幫助解決他們的問題。

b. 與緯創集團獨家合作 PoC

做 B2B 生意的新創都知道,因為企業組織與決策流程的關係,要成功推動企業合作,通常需要醞釀比較長的時間,動輒一季、甚至超過半年,都是常有的情形。

為了加速合作的速度,Wistron Accelerator 在時程、進度與合作目標,都經過了精心規劃。參與 Wistron Accelerator 的團隊,以與緯創集團各企業或共同協作 PoC 為目標,過程中 AppWorks 也將全程協助推動 PoC 的討論與實作,以 4 個月的時程安排,驗證最小可行性產品 (MVP),作為新創與緯創集團的協作學習經驗,以及後續合作的評估標準。

2. 緯創集團會從申請加入的新創之中,觀察哪些重點?

當收到創業者提出申請後,結合 AppWorks 輔導創業者的經驗,以及緯創集團的產業專業,我們特別重視引領創業者持續自我精進、排除阻礙的北極星,以及產品的核心技術。以下幾個問題,可幫助創業者思考是否適合加入 Wistron Accelerator:

  • 為什麼要創業?
  • 你希望透過創業解決什麼問題?為什麼?
  • 你已經做了哪些努力來證明你正在解決這些問題?
  • 你所打造的產品,與其它既有的解決方案有什麼不同之處?
  • 你期待藉由與緯創集團的合作得到什麼?你能為緯創集團帶來什麼價值?

3. Wistron Accelerator 要收費嗎?我們現在需要一筆資金,加入就可以被投資嗎?

Wistron Accelerator 是針對創業者完全免費的服務。我們不會向新創團隊收取租金、服務費,也不會要求技術股、選擇權、營收和獲利分成等任何形式的回饋。同時,每一支入選 Wistron Accelerator 的新創團隊,皆會獲得緯創贊助 20 萬新台幣的補助 (不佔股份)。

緯創近幾年的策略投資,已投入超過 100 億新台幣,累計 60 家投資甚或長期經營的對象,更於 2021 年成立了企業創投 (CVC),將積極佈局新創策略投資。因此入選  Wistron Accelerator 的新創,不論在加速器期間,或是加速器應屆計畫結束後,都將有機會與緯創企業創投、所合作的企業與事業單位,進一步討論未來的正式合作或投資機會。

4. 為什麼限定招募來自 AI、物聯網、雲端、資安、教育與醫療科技的創業者?

緯創資通身為全球 ICT 產業領導廠商之一,正積極佈局未來、邁向永續。憑藉堅強的研發及技術創新能力,以及多元化產品發展,將硬體設備結合軟體服務、雲端數據系統,提供技術服務與解決方案,建立新技術產業鏈以及創新平台,大力將事業擴展至教育、企業服務、物聯網及醫療等新領域。

藉由 Wistron Accelerator,緯創集團希望分享其產業經驗與豐富的業界資源,結合新創獨有的解決方案,藉由 PoC 合作,探索新的發展機會,幫助新創測試 B2B 解決方案、擁有緯創集團作為使用者案例。同時,也樂見緯創集團透過加速器期間的合作成果,發展成為下個十年的創新動能。

5. 什麼階段的新創適合申請 Wistron Accelerator?

我們並沒有限定申請團隊的成熟階段,但我們會建議來申請的新創,最好已經有和企業的合作案例,或是至少有 1~2 個 PoC 的合作經驗,將能更善用加速器所規劃的 4 個月時程,並確保在這樣的時間內,能有一定程度的成果產出。

如果你目前仍處於打磨 MVP、尚未和目標客戶接觸的階段,我們會建議你優先專注於打造你的產品,並嘗試接觸幾個目標客戶,搜集意見回饋、調整產品,確認自己想解決的問題以及核心優勢之後,再申請 Wistron Accelerator。

如果你已經有產品雛型,但尚未設立公司,根據我們的經驗,我們會建議你先完成此程序,這將有助於尋找事業夥伴並洽談後續合作。AppWorks 備有專業的會計與法務顧問,可以為創業者團隊提供成立公司過程中,所需要的協助,也有豐富的經驗,能為海外團隊處理落地台灣的手續。

6. 我不是台灣公民,能否幫忙申請簽證?

入選 Wistron Accelerator 的國際創業者,可根據個人的需求與條件,由緯創與 AppWorks 提供協助申請 Entrepreneur Visa 創業家簽證Gold Card 就業金卡Business Visa 商業簽證,讓來自海外的創業者能在台灣專心工作,不需為了簽證問題出境往返。

我們將持續關注台灣政府的最新政策,以確保能提供所有創業者必要的協助。

7. 進駐 Wistron Accelerator 後,是否每週一到五整天都要待在緯創?我們可以遠距參加嗎?

新創並不需要整天待在緯創集團工作,每一家錄取的新創,將與其媒合的事業單位或企業,針對其合作需求,討論必要的會議頻率、工作地點,以及會面方式。

8. 申請書的題目都是英文,用中文寫會不會影響分數?

Wistron Accelerator 的線上申請書共有約 26 個題目,包含團隊、產品、商業模式,與市場分析等眾多面向,非常詳盡,需要花一定的時間與心思填寫。我們希望透過這些題目協助每一個來申請的團隊,釐清自己當下的發展狀態與所需協助。

填寫報名表是一種自我健檢,因為在填寫過程中,創業者必須深入思考自己的產品、市場策略、團隊分工,以及整體產業環境。因此,不管申請與否,我們都建議創業者針對這些問題仔細思考、研究。

我們鼓勵你嘗試以英文作答,但用中文填寫並不會影響評估結果,最重要的是必須清楚表達你想傳達的訊息。另外,我們也鼓勵創辦人 (CEO) 拍攝一段一分鐘的自我介紹影片,讓我們能夠更完整的認識你。

9. 第一階段申請和第二階段申請有何差別?

Wistron Accelerator 的面談與入選採先收先審制度 (Rolling-basis),根據過去的經驗,先繳交申請書的團隊,有較高的入選機率,且能提早知道自己已經入選,有更充裕的時間預先規劃相關事宜。因此,我們會鼓勵創業者在第一階段就填寫申請書,以免到了最後申請截止前夕,競爭變得更加激烈。

希望以上整理能幫助你釐清對 Wistron Accelerator 的諸多疑問。若還有其他需要進一步瞭解的地方,歡迎留言給我們,或是來信至:[email protected],我們將盡量為你解答。

【歡迎所有 AI、物聯網、雲端、資安、教育與醫療科技的創業者,加入 Wistron Accelerator 申請,早鳥輪申請截止日為 2025 年 5 月 13 日】