YouTube

Mr. Steve Chen, Co-Founder, YouTube

Steve Chen is an entrepreneur, technologist, and investor best known as the co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of YouTube. A Silicon Valley veteran, he arrived in the region in 1999 as an early engineer at PayPal before co-founding YouTube in 2005. As the platform’s key technologist, he architected the massive data and streaming infrastructure that powered its explosive global growth, guiding the company through its acquisition by Google and subsequent integration. He later worked at Google Ventures, supporting the next generation of disruptive startups.

Since relocating to Taiwan in 2019, Steve has dedicated his efforts to bridging the technology ecosystems of the United States and Taiwan in both directions. He actively works to connect later-stage international technology companies with Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor and advanced hardware manufacturing infrastructure, while simultaneously mentoring high-potential Taiwanese founders and opening direct pathways for them into Silicon Valley’s capital and innovation networks. An active global investor and board director, Steve was also instrumental in the launch of Taiwan’s Employment Gold Card program, continuing to foster cross-border collaboration across the global tech landscape.

 

Topic:
Bridging Two Worlds - from Silicon Valley to Silicon Island

 

Abstract:
My talk will focus on what it takes to actually connect Silicon Valley and Taiwan, drawing on the different vantage points I've had over 20 years in Silicon Valley -- starting as an individual contributing engineer, then a co-founder and CTO building up YouTube from scratch, then moving into roles as an advisor and investor watching the next generation of founders. Spending the last 7+ years living in Taiwan, immersed in its semiconductor ecosystem, gave me the other half of the picture.  I will discuss the importance of having sat on both sides, as a builder in Silicon Valley and as a resident in Taiwan, that shapes how I think about what it will actually take to bring these two ecosystems together.