Anne Chen, Investor Relations Director (陳祈安 / 投資人關係協理)

Anne takes care of investor relationships for AppWorks Funds. She brings to AppWorks four years of experience at DBS, where she specialized in institutional banking relationships as a management associate and excelled at financial planning for both public and private companies as well as founders. Before that, while in college, she interned at AppWorks. Anne graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from National Taiwan University. She enjoys cooking, taking care of succulents and long walks on the beach.

(English Below) 在 AppWorks 快 3 年，是個很好的回顧時間。

與 AppWorks 的緣分可以追溯到 2013 年，約略是 AppWorks 紀元裡古生代的實習生，當時參與了加速器、接觸一點募資，懵懂間大概認識了創投前端和後台的樣貌。從台大財金系畢業後，我去了商業銀行企業金融繞了一圈，學習在授信的世界，取得風險與收入的平衡，開發業務累積臉皮的厚度，學習如何經營關係，學習獨當一面。

在銀行一繞就是 4 年多，對我來說，擔任企業金融的 RM (Relationship Manager) 本質上非常有趣，我的客戶橫跨 PCB 設備製造廠、紡織業、化學貿易業、鋼鐵業、客運業。要讓一段客戶關係發展成相依互利，就必須深入瞭解產業，而一個好的 RM 會成長為各產業的專家，幫助客戶從金融的角度解決問題。

至於為什麼選擇銀行作為職涯的起點？我有時候覺得自己唸錯科系，某些方面的我是很隨性的，有點藝術家、偏左派、需要創作的人格，居然去唸了財金系這種多數人認為充滿銅臭味的科系。高中的我在想什麼已不可考，但大學畢業要踏入社會時，我的初心其實是很美好的：我想用自己的所學幫助企業成長，因為企業是一切的活水。

這個單純到有點愚蠢的初衷，帶著我去了商業銀行。4 年後，發現大企業的資源實在是多到滿出來，少一個 Anne 真的沒差；但創業者的資源是相對少的，而我也是很需要使命感的人，所以這個想法又引領我回到 AppWorks，開始扛起投資人關係，也是另一種 RM (Relationship Management)。

有趣的是，AppWorks 是一間 KPI 開宗明義要 Make Taiwan Better & Do Everything Founder First 的公司，讓我可以繼續保留美好的信念前行。從實習生時代接觸募資，到以正職身份加入，負責打點 AppWorks 投資人關係以及創投基金事務，回頭看總覺得這是一段很奇妙的旅程，人生中幾個看似隨機的點點們，似乎逐漸連結起來，成為一條有跡可循的道路。

可是，投資人關係到底是什麼？！

作為 AppWorks 數一數二神秘的職位，創業者最常問我：投資人關係在做什麼？總結來說：AppWorks 管理的創投基金由許多投資人投入，只要是跟投資人相關的事都跟我的團隊有關，從基金募集、架構設計、基金行政、投資人的各種需求 (想認識加速器的新創、想問基金 / 投資案狀況、想從 AppWorks School 找人才、想來 AppWorks 找 Anne 喝咖啡等等諸如此類)，都是我的守備範圍。

關於 Anne 的一些瑣事：

• 作為一個腦子停不下來的人，每年我總會選擇一座山來攀登，這是我的 Reset Button。在山上資源很有限，乾淨的飲水、一餐熱食、隱蔽的廁所，都彌足珍貴，山下的欲望跟種種看似十萬火急的事情，總被拋到九霄雲外，因為手機沒有訊號。
• 全家都在航空業，但被問到家人飛去哪個國家，會被考倒。
• 逛菜市場的熱情 > 百貨公司，下廚是消遣。

對投資人及企業關係、基金架構有興趣的夥伴，歡迎隨時找我聊聊！

My journey with AppWorks dates back to 2013, when I was one of the earliest batches of interns. Back then, AppWorks itself had a lean and humble origin, and I always believed my role was important, even as an intern. Eventually I had the opportunity to participate in AppWorks Fund II raising at the end of my internship, that was one of the earliest memories I had with AppWorks. 

After graduating from the Finance Department of National Taiwan University, I started my career as a relationship manager in institutional banking. I thought this was a detour as I always felt something was missing, but it was indeed an interesting one. My client base spanned across a variety of industries, including PCB manufacturing machines, textiles, chemical trading, transportation, and more. For a relationship manager, the most important thing is to create value for your clients, and in this highly competitive market, sometimes you need to lean in to capture opportunities. All in all I would like to think this experience made me a fearless person, I was no longer the 22 year-old girl I used to be after the journey.

As to why I chose banking as the starting point of my career, it was very simple. I wanted to leverage my knowledge to create value for corporations, as I thought they are the key to spinning the flywheel of society. This simple purpose took me to banking, and after four years, realizing that the founders of startups are in serious need of more resources, it took me back to AppWorks, where I became responsible for Investor Relations of the firm. With Fund III closing and new funds on the horizon, everyday I feel passionate and excited to bring more value to the ecosystem, I am finally in the right place at the right time. 

Being an artistic person, somewhat progressive, and needs constant creative stimulation, somehow the 18-year old me chose Finance as my major, which to this day is an unsolved mystery. Whenever I made key decisions in my life, I always picture multiverses being created at that very moment, my life became completely different. Re-joining AppWorks was definitely a multiverse-creating event on my timeline, only this time, all the random dots seem to connect on this journey, and looking back, everything makes perfect sense. 

But what exactly does Investor Relations do?

As one of the most mysterious positions at AppWorks, the easiest way to explain what I do is – I am responsible for everything related to the investors of our funds! From fundraising, fund structuring, administration, every request from our dearest investors, I take care of these.

Some random things about me:

• Mountain trekking is my reset button, where I view the basic aspects from a different perspective. Who needs fancy handbags when you can have a safe, clean shelter.
• My whole family is in the aviation business. Most of the time I don’t know where they are. 
• Cooking is a way to clear my mind. I am always excited to talk about food. 

If you are interested in investor relations, fund structuring etc., come grab a coffee with me!

Dave Liu, Associate (劉大維 / 投資經理)

Dave is an Associate on the accelerator & investments team. He joined AppWorks in 2022 with over 15 years of equity, ETF and derivatives trading and investment experiences. Before that, he managed his own investment house while at the same time he served as the head of investment at a fintech startup, TRUBUZZ, where he was first exposed to the excitement of a 0-to-1 journey. Prior to that, he worked as a derivative/strategy trader at KGI Securities and T3 Trading Group in New York. Dave received an MS in Financial Engineering from the University of Connecticut, and both an MS in Optoelectronics/Photonics and a BS in Engineering Science from National Taiwan University. Complementing his analytical nature, Dave is an avid fan of psychology and enjoys listening to others’ life stories, while also relishing basketball, skiing, and hiking in his spare time.

(English Below) 我是誰，取決於我的價值觀，與跟這個世界的連結。

價值觀

我的人生軌跡一直受 Steve Jobs 的幾句話牽絆著：

• Don’t limit your boundaries, always keep an open mind to the world.

你無法預先把現在發生的點點滴滴串聯起來，只有在未來回顧時，才會明白這些看似不相關的點是如何連成一條線，所以必須相信，過去與現在的人生軌跡，會在未來造就更進化的你。必須去相信你的直覺也好、命運也行，或甚至是因緣。這樣的方式從來沒有讓我失望，而是造就了我的生命更加與眾不同。

•  Find something you truly love, this is where you’ll shine.

工作會佔據人生很大一部份，如果要對人生滿意，就要去做自己覺得很棒的事。而要成就偉大的事之前，必須先熱愛你正在做的工作。如果還沒找到想做的事，就繼續找，千萬別屈就於自己不喜歡的事。用盡所有心力去找，會找到的。

•  In our limited lifetime, there are abundant things to experience.

如果你專注地做一件事情而且結果相當不錯，不應該沈浸在這樣的喜悅太久，而該繼續去投入到下一件很棒的事情，開啟新的體驗。

從這三個價值觀開始，我開始了人生體驗：持續嘗試、努力、體悟。

我與這個世界的連結

從小就特立獨行，不想走大家都走的路。或許是對這世界的好奇，盡可能地去體驗新的感受，去學習的新的事物，去接觸這大到可以容納千奇百怪事物的世界。因為生命與時間很有限，期望在每一個當下，都不會後悔正在做的事情，哪怕是痛苦但有意義的。

一次又一次，在人生的十字路口上，聆聽自己內心的聲音，不做別人認為你該做的事，哪怕這條路上只有我自己，也甘之如飴。因為，每一次新的體悟，都會帶來新的價值觀，新的價值觀會幫助你做好下一個選擇，持續循環。

高中時因為數學好，所以選擇了理組，自然而然地在大學進入理工科。然而，Robert T. Kiyosaki 的著作《窮爸爸與富爸爸》，開啟了我全新的視野：透過被動收入增加人生選擇權，了解理財是「每個人」不可避免的課題；越早讓資金、經驗、知識開始複利，用長期的思維去理解，先把一些 Must Do List 做完，慢慢貼近想做的事情。

於是，我產生了新的價值觀，這個價值觀帶我走上了一條全然不同的路：在台大電資學院畢業後，多數同學走進台積電，我毅然決然地走向了金融領域，花了 15 年去實踐自己的選擇。

在 14-15 年交易與投資生涯中，我試著用不同的角度去切入市場，曾在台灣經歷過證券研究員，紐約 T3 Trading 擔任策略交易員、KGI 證券自營部擔任衍生性商品交易員，隨後加入新創圈，兼任 FinTech 新創 TRUBUZZ 投資部負責人，同時自行經營投資事業。

我用大數據的分析去處理量化交易，以數學去計算每一筆交易的期望值，善於掌握市場情緒去找到賺錢的機會，也學習總體經濟與產業分析去了解由上而下的脈絡，並同時透過由下而上的投資思路去推演公司的商業價值，更用新創的思維去理解受市場喜愛的產品，與作為一個創業者需要具備的能力。我找到我熱愛的事情，以做為一個通才為樂趣，學習用不同的視角去看待同一個市場。

巴菲特的合夥人查理．蒙格 (Charles T. Munger) 曾說：「當你會同時用不同框架來思考，或是集合不同領域的專業時，你的能力會有加乘效應，合起來比個別領域相加還高，這稱之為魯拉帕路薩效應。」我相信只要在不同人生階段都用心投入，基於不同的選擇，最後會造就出與眾不同的能力。

在金融市場的教育下，坦然接受事情的不可控制性，包容各種的不可預測性，在每一個看似相似實則不同的職涯中去學習新的視野，也從每一次的市場興衰去體會人生的下坡路怎麼走。

然而，生活的變故帶來了新的價值觀。

2019年，我待了 3 年的新創公司，創辦人心肌梗塞驟然離世。作為他身邊最親近的人，也是最後一個看到他的人，我不得不重新思索人生的先後順序，也需要重新探索自己。

我花了 2 年半的時間全力經營自己的事業，也認識許多厲害的創業者。同時，也在這段時間涉略各式各樣的書籍，從知名企業家的傳記、人類的歷史探索、心理學的奧妙，到老子與聖嚴法師的價值觀、房地產建設的產業研究等。與此同時，經營社群媒體、參與個人創業投資、擔任新興金融科技的顧問。

在這過程中，我重新找到自己認同的價值：只要你身邊的人因為你而更好，你就會快樂。有什麼是比真心的快樂更重要的事呢？拋下人類喜歡證明自己的習慣，專注在幫助別人的過程，於是我來到 AppWorks，用另一個角度參與新創圈。我花了十幾年找到之於自己的 PMF，就像一個創業者之於產品的熱情。我是 Dave，歡迎來 AppWorks 和我聊聊。

Who I am is determined by my values and connection to the world.

My Core Values

The trajectory of my life has been led along by these quotes from Steve Jobs.

• Don’t limit your boundaries, always keep an open mind to the world.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

• Find something you truly love, this is where you’ll shine.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” 

• In our limited lifetime, there are abundant things to experience.

“I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.”

Starting from these three core values, my life experience begins with continuous experimentation, hard work, and comprehension.

My Connection to the World

Maybe I have been rebellious and free-spirited since I was a child. I don’t take the path that most people seem to take, maybe because of my curiosity about the world. I am eager to experience as much as possible, absorbing emotions I have never experienced before, to learn new things that I like, and to touch upon the vast knowledge of this world, which is big enough to accommodate all kinds of unusual things. Because life is short and unexpected, I wish to do something even if it is painful, as long as I don’t have any regrets.

Again and again, when standing at a crossroad in my life, I’ll always listen to my inner voice and not follow the path others suggest I take. I would gladly endure even though there is no one else on the same journey, because the new comprehension will bring me new core values and fresh outlook on life, it would help me make good decisions for my next journey.

Since I am proficient at mathematics, I chose to enter science group in high school and naturally ended up in the science & engineering department in college. However, the values of the book, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki opened up a new level of thinking when I was a student. To increase life choices through passive income, and understanding that financial management is an inevitable lesson in everyone’s life; the sooner you let your finances, experience, and knowledge compound and accumulate, and using long-term thinking to understand that there are some must-do things in life to accomplish first, then you can gradually move closer to what you want to do.

As a result, I formed new values that led me to a completely different path. After graduating from National Taiwan University with a degree in the Electronics Engineering department, most of my classmates went into TSMC. I took a completely different path and decided to pursue finance and spent fifteen years practicing it in the industry.

In the 15 years of my trading and investment career, I tried to cut into the market from different angles. I have experience as a security researcher in Taiwan, a strategy trader in T3 Trading in New York, a derivatives trader in KGI Securities Proprietary Department, then served as the head of the investment department of FinTech startup TRUBUZZ, and also operated my own investment business.

I leverage big data analysis to conduct quantitative strategic trading, and calculate the expected value of each trade. It helps me capture market sentiment to find opportunities for profit. I also study macroeconomics and industry analysis to adopt a top-down approach. I deduce the business value of a company through bottom-up value investing research, and use innovative thinking to understand which products are loved by the market, and the capabilities that an entrepreneur needs to have to succeed. I found what I love, and I take pleasure in being a polymath, constantly learning to view the market from a different perspective.

Buffett’s partner, Charlie Munger once said: “If you are able to think from different frameworks, or gather specialties from different fields, your abilities will have a multiplier effect, which will be better than the sum of individual field. This is called ‘Lollapalooza Effect’ “ I believe that as long as you put your head and heart into different life stages and try hard to learn something from it, you will eventually cultivate a unique ability.

After being trained in the financial markets for years, I can calmly accept that life is uncontrollable, and tolerate all kinds of unpredictability. Explore new horizons in every career that look similar but are actually different, and learn how to rebound  from every market downturn.

Yet a realization brought me new values.

I was working in a startup for three years when our founder suddenly died from a heart attack. It gave me a whole new perspective on life watching someone very close to me ending their life without any warning. After that, I decided to spend two and a half years running my own business, finding ways to meet many great founders, and also exploring more about myself. I love to read, so during this period I read a variety of books. From biographies of well-known entrepreneurs to historical explorations of humanity and the secrets of psychology, from the values of Lao Tzu and Master Sheng Yan. Meanwhile, I was managing my own financial page on social media, pursued venture capital investments in real estate, and served as a consultant for a fintech company.

During this time, I was able to discover more of my life’s purpose and values. As long as the people around you are better because of you, you will be happy. What is more important than genuine happiness? Leave the human habit of proving yourself behind and focus on the process of helping others. So I joined AppWorks to participate in the startup industry from another perspective. It took me more than ten years to find my product-market-fit, just like an entrepreneur’s passion for their product. I’m Dave, please feel free to talk to me and I’ll be happy to listen.

Alyssa Chen, Principal (陳敬旻 / 協理)

Alyssa is a Principal leading the Accelerator Arm of AppWorks, overseeing products including AppWorks Accelerator, Wistron Accelerator and management of communities ranging from accelerator alumni to mentors — “a lab that helps startups build their rockets,” as she puts it. She interned at AppWorks for a year during university. After graduation, Alyssa started her career at Huashan 1914, Taiwan’s pioneering cultural creative park. In 2016, she returned to AppWorks as an Analyst, became an Associate in 2019, and most recently assumed the role of Principal in 2022. She holds a Master of International Communications and a B.A. in German, both from National Chengchi University. On a personal basis, Alyssa is a strong advocate for female power, and has an undying passion for flowers and wine.

(English Below) 我是 Alyssa，今年 (2022) 在 AppWorks 工作滿第 6 年，最初由分析師開始，現在是加速器事業群協理。快速回顧這 6 年：在接下加速器負責人的任務之後，每年都迎接了不同的挑戰。過程中帶領加速器持續成長、區域化，2018 年重新定位為專注於 AI、區塊鏈加速器，2020 年起隨疫情轉型為 Hybrid 加速器，2021 年與緯創合作推出 Wistron Accelerator 垂直加速器，協助對接企業與新創的深度合作。

這些年來，AppWorks 的新創社群，累積已輔導超過 457 個來自大東南亞的活躍新創、將近 1500 位創業者，而這些新創公司，共為世界上創造了超過 2 萬個數位工作機會。

簡單介紹這些年我在 AppWorks 的工作內容，接下來我也想分享，我自己時常思考的問題：為什麼我覺得做這些事很重要？為什麼這是我的熱情所在？

從 20 代的開始，自由這個字彙時不時會在我心中浮現。當時的我，對所謂自由還沒有一個清楚的定義，只是在日常生活中，總有幾個片刻，我會突然感到好自由、好快樂。比如說，學生時代的我常泡在圖書館看學校才有的進口原文書籍，坐在政大圖書館，卻吸收著來自世界的文化、資訊與意識形態，這種能夠突破框架的體驗，讓我感到自由。又比如說，大學選擇念德文系，其實當時背後並沒有太深遠的想法，單純認為理解一個新的語言，有機會為我打開新的視角，帶我到更遠的地方，這種被賦能的力量，是我嚮往的自由。

而對自由的定義，在出了社會後，開始有了更清晰的輪廓。畢業後的第一份正式工作，我在華山文創園區，開發新銳設計師與藝術家，協助他們將作品商業化、策劃開立期間限定店，測試實體銷售表現。原本以為自己很藝文導向的我，在這段工作期間，回想起學生時期在 AppWorks 擔任實習生的經驗，意識到原來我更嚮往的，是能夠站在科技的最前線，協助創業者打造出可能改變下個十年人類行為的新產品 —— 對我而言，這是一種能夠形塑未來、顛覆現況的自由。

6 年下來，在 AppWorks 的工作歷程中，秉持著一樣的初衷，希望打造一個強大的創業者社群，協助創業者透過試錯、學習，突破自己變得更強更好，做出用戶喜愛的產品，打造有影響力的公司，每個人改變這個世界上的一小部分，聯合起來就是一股強勁的力道，推動許多價值的創造。

6 年不變，很幸運地，在我深信的理念之下，我同時擁有許多自由揮灑的空間。如文章開頭所舉例，這些年加速器的幾個改變與里程碑，其實都來自於平時與創業者互動所累積的觀察、討論，進而延伸出來的創新計畫與服務。

今年八月，睽違幾年在疫情後，終於又能再度親訪我們的重點市場之一印尼雅加達。我記得，那也是一個週間午後，和合作夥伴開完會，踏出商業大樓，想著未來可能促成的新計劃，自己一個人走在市中心準備去搭車的那個空檔，又一次的，在那個片刻，我深深感到自由且珍惜。

所以，關於我常常思考的問題，原來答案一直就在身邊：幫助創業者是一種賦能，陪伴每位創業者的過程到結果，其中有無限的可能性，這也是一種自由。

與創業者討論關於個人、公司的種種疑難雜症，協助梳理問題，引導適合的合作關係，是我的工作內容，也是我擅長且很有熱忱的事情。如果有相關議題想討論，以下方式可以找到我：

Email: alyssa[at]appworks.tw

Linkedin 

Facebook

Hello readers! I’m Alyssa, and it’s my sixth year at AppWorks (2022). I started my career here as an Analyst, and now I’m the Principal of the Accelerator Arm. A quick review of the past six years: After taking over the task of leading the accelerator, we experienced different challenges each year. With a mission to scale up the accelerator and expand it across more regions, in 2018, we repositioned to focus on AI and blockchain startups. In 2020, we transformed into a hybrid accelerator due to the pandemic. In 2021, we collaborated with Wistron to launch a new vertical accelerator, facilitating in-depth cooperation between enterprises and startups. 

Over the years, AppWorks has so far mentored more than 457 active startups and nearly 1,500 entrepreneurs from Greater Southeast Asia, and these startups have created more than 20,000 job opportunities in the digital world .

Having briefly introduced my experience at AppWorks, now I’d like to share something that I often reflect on by myself: Why do I think it’s important to work with startups? Why is this my passion?

When I was in my 20s, “freedom” was a word that popped into my mind from time to time. Back then, I didn’t realize how important it was to me. It’s just that in my daily life, there are always a few moments when I suddenly feel free and fulfilled. 

For example, in college, I often indulged myself by staying all day in the school library. I grabbed myself a pile of international magazines which could only be found in the school. Even though I was sitting in the library in Taipei, those publications could transport me to other parts of the world and let me immerse myself in different cultures. That made me feel free.

By the way,  I majored in German (the language) back in university. To be honest, I didn’t think too much when I picked this major (I was just 18!), but I knew that by learning a different language, it can open up a new world to me. It made me feel empowered, and I yearned for this kind of freedom.

I figured out a more clear definition of freedom after I started my career. In my first job, I was working at Huashan Cultural and Creative Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taipei. I was in charge of scouting up-and-coming designers and artists, turning their artwork into consumer products, and opening up pop-up stores to test offline sales performance. I applied for this job because I originally defined myself as a romantic hipster who could publish magazines and open a flower shop in the future. But during that time, I recalled my experience as an intern at AppWorks when I was in college, and realized that what I yearn for is to be at the forefront of technology and help entrepreneurs create innovative products – products that could change human behavior in the next decade. Being able to foresee and shape the future is also a kind of freedom I crave.

Over the past six years at AppWorks, we always shared the same vision – build a strong entrepreneur community and help founders become a better version of themselves through trial and error. Encouraging founders to create products that users love and build impactful companies. When everyone can change a small part of the world, together, it’ll create massive impact.

Fortunately, I still get to enjoy a lot of freedom while working towards AppWorks’ vision. From interactions with founders, I accumulate my understanding about entrepreneurship, and then apply these ideas when we design products and services for founders – it then results in improvement and new milestones.

In August 2022, after travel restrictions finally loosened up, I was able to visit Jakarta again, one of our key markets. I remember that it was also a weekday afternoon. After a meeting with a partner, I stepped out of the office building, thinking about new initiatives we might kick-off in the future while walking alone in the city center. Once again, in that specific moment, I felt deeply free and gratified.

I realized that I feel free by empowering founders and helping them discover all the possibilities along the entrepreneurial journey. I feel free through building and creating with founders. This is where I find passion.

Note: 

Founders often book my time to chat over their founder journey or business plans. I’m passionate about helping founders sort out their problems and connecting them with suitable stakeholders. If you have related topics in mind to discuss, you can find me through the following channels:

Email: alyssa[at]appworks.tw

Linkedin 

Facebook