To discover and nurture high-potential startups in their seed or early stages (within 5 years of establishment), the Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration under the Ministry of Economic Affairs has organized the "Hi-Po Star" selection event. Investment firms, incubators, accelerators, and startup hubs will be invited to recommend startups to participate, focusing on three key sectors: Deep Tech, Consumer Tech, and Green Tech.
Through a two-stage evaluation process involving representatives from industry, venture capital, and media, the most innovative and growth-potential startups will be identified. This serves as a reference for business investment and cooperation opportunities and connects with various government policy resources to further develop and refine these startups.
Since its inception, the program has attracted over 600 startup applications, resulting in a elite portfolio of 34 representative champions:
- In 2024, 16 finalists were selected from 238 startups (7 from Deep Tech, 5 from Consumer Tech, and 4 from Green Tech), linking them to over 37 follow-up reward resources.
- In 2025, 18 finalists were selected from 363 applicants (11 from Deep Tech, 3 from Consumer Tech, and 4 from Green Tech), linking them to over 40 follow-up reward resources.
To date, "Hi-Po Star" has successfully empowered its alumni to leverage over 50 resource networks, secure more than 120 media features, and engage in over 200 business matchmaking sessions, effectively facilitating their penetration into domestic and international markets while fostering strategic partnerships and global business opportunities.