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Photo credit: David Hsieh.

Accelerator network SparkLabs Global Ventures is launching its Taipei program today, with Hong Kong next on its list.

The network’s first accelerator set up shop in Seoul back in 2012, later expanding to the Songdo International Business District in neighboring Incheon. Earlier this year, it established its first program outside of Korea with the launch of its Beijing accelerator.

SparkLabs has brought in Edgar Chiu as managing partner for its Taiwan program. Chiu was previously general manager at Camp Mobile, an affiliate of Korean internet giant Naver. Prior to that, he was COO at Taiwanese app developer Gogolook, which Naver acquired in 2013.

Also coming on board is Alex Wu, vice president of marketing at communications at educational content platform Newsela. Wu has previously worked at Facebook, Quora, and on Barack Obama’s first US presidential election campaign.

Tony Ling, a former managing director at Silver Lake Partners, will join Wu as a venture partner at SparkLabs Taipei.

YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, Kabam co-founder Kevin Chou, and co-founders of Guitar Hero developer RedOctane, Charles Huang and Kai Huang, will sit on SparkLabs Taipei’s advisory board.

The new accelerator will not have any specific technological themes, though the network says it will target startups working in artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, mobile, fintech, healthcare, and connected devices.

The three-month program will provide participating startups with funding and office space, as well as access to SparkLabs’ global network of entrepreneurs, investors and corporate executives.

After its cross-border leaps into Beijing and now Taipei, SparkLabs already has its next program in sight. It said that it plans to launch a fintech-focused accelerator in Hong Kong early next year.

This post SparkLabs continues global growth with Taipei launch and Hong Kong on the horizon appeared first on Tech in Asia.

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