如果在大學的學習一點都不夠，但又沒辦法出國，有什麼替代管道呢？
If university education is not sufficient but you can't go abroad, what alternative pathways are available?
常常收到對台灣學習現況很不滿的同學們的訊息，最常見的問題是：如果沒辦法出國、或者是去 Minerva，有什麼辦法可以在台灣繼續精進的呢？
最近在加速器裡認識不少 19、20 歲的同學和高中人，有些高中剛畢業甚至已經賺超多 1M 了，但從國外空降。我問其中一個高中生，「你加拿大的高中有人做 AI 嗎？不然你怎麼有辦法找到這裡來？」他回答：「當然沒有人知道，不過我就在推特上發自己做的東西、到處逛，慢慢就找到這個 community 了。」
大部分的台灣人可見的線上資源，也多著重於怎麼進大型科技公司的計畫，我們從小到大熟悉的故事也是，念完高中和大學，工作幾年賺了錢，碩士之後就可以出國學習了。但是這是唯一的路徑嗎？
因此我想推薦一些待在成本較低，甚至待在台灣也可以嘗試的學習資源，如果能運用得當，不但可以認識很多厲害的人，甚至會有不用花大錢也能出國的機會。
第一步：BuildSpace
適合人選：推薦給還在探索，不知道自己想要做什麼的人
簡單介紹：目前我看過辦的最好的全球性線上 program，只要有個想嘗試點子，應該是有申請就會上，大家連續六週在推特上互相監督，點子不限於科技產品，有些人做 podcast 訪問自己想訪問的人，有些人寫歌，練習如何當 DJ，有些人辦活動、組織和陌生人吃晚餐，有些人做自己喜歡的 AI project。六週結束後，有做完的人能到舊金山或杜拜參加 Builder Demo 認識其他人。因為是自付，所以在台灣可能不方便去，但光是線上的 community 就已經非常好了。Builspace 有機制讓你連接和和你專案相似的同好，大家也都會在推特上給彼此每週的小 demo 建議，對於還不知道自己想要什麼，要不要投資的人來說，是成本極低，探索廣泛性強的 program。 這是最近 Buildspace 評選大家每週 demo 的連結：https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1LyxBnXjVRyxN。
官網連結：https://buildspace.so/
第二步：The Residency
適合人選：已經在自己興趣的點子上做出點東西，但還不確定要不要當成職業的人
簡單介紹：The Reisdency 每幾個月就會選十幾個 Residence 來舊金山住，最近辦了給大學生的六週 program（也有高中生），會需要一些科技相關的背景。他們和新創加速器有合作，讓大學生到加速器做自己的專案，也有畢業生參加他們六週的硬體 program 和四個月的新創 program，一樣是探索並做自己的點子。我推薦 The Residency 的原因是因為裡面的人聰明謙虛，也互相支持，community 的感情很好。有人開發用真的神經開發 AI 運算的實驗、有人做衣服穿搭 app 的 side project，最後變成一加公司、有人做了機器人手臂而一砲而紅。當然，雖然有人成立公司，也不是所有人都在 program 後繼續做自己的點子。但這是個認識矽谷人脈和資源、並更深入探索自己興趣的好機會。如果想瞭解大家的 project demo 和生活樣態：https://x.com/_TheResidency
另外，灣區有也很多的 hackerhouse community 像是 Arcadia，德國朋友大學暑假就來住幾個月一邊做自己的點子，一邊體驗灣區生活，也是個成本較低的探索方式。
The Residency 官網連結：https://www.livetheresidency.com
Arcadia 官網：https://joinarcadia.org/
第三步：Neo accelerator, Entrepreneur First
適合人選：打算全心投入一個點子，在加速器裡得到支持或融資的人。
簡單介紹：大部分的人應該都只知道大間的加速器，像是 Y combinator，但其實還有很多很好的隱藏版加速器。Neo Accelerator 是為期三個月的加速器，也有 scholar program ，媒合 scholar 的人到裡面的新創工作，做得好的話，他們的開的條件為 $600K（1.5% equity），因為條件比 YC 好多了，所以朋友放棄 YC 去 Neo。也朋友推薦歐洲緣起，最近跨足美國的 Entrepreneur First，是為期三個月，如果做得好一樣會得到投資。
Neo 官網：https://neo.com/
EF 官網：https://www.joinef.com/
最後，我發現一個隱藏版的重要社群是推特。大部分的台灣人雖然不用，但最稀奇、最先進的科技產品都在這裡，大家也會發自己的做的點子，和各種學習資源。上面推薦的 program 都有不錯的推特，稍微滑一下就可以看到有趣的人和專案，如果不知道如何開始，可以從很GenZ 的 BuildSpace 開始看起。
I often receive messages from students who are dissatisfied with the current state of learning in Taiwan. The most common question is: If I can’t go abroad or to Minerva, what can I do to continue improving in Taiwan?
Recently, I’ve met quite a few 19- and 20-year-old students and high schoolers in an accelerator. Some have just graduated from high school and are already making over 1 million dollars, but they came from abroad. I asked one high schooler, “Does anyone in your Canadian high school work on AI? How did you find this place?” He replied, “Of course, no one knows about it, but I just posted my work on Twitter and browsed around until I found this community.”
Most online resources available to Taiwanese people focus on how to get into big tech companies. The stories we’re familiar with from childhood are about finishing high school and university, working for a few years to earn money, and then going abroad for a master’s degree. But is this the only path?
Therefore, I want to recommend some learning resources that you can try while staying in a lower-cost environment, even staying in Taiwan. If used properly, you can meet many talented people and even have opportunities to go abroad without spending a lot of money.
Step 1: BuildSpace
Suitable for: Those still exploring and unsure of what they want to do.
Brief introduction: This is the best global online program I’ve seen so far. If you have an idea you’d like to try, you should be able to get accepted. Everyone supervises each other on Twitter for six weeks. The ideas aren’t limited to tech products; some people create podcasts, write songs, practice DJing, organize events, or work on their favorite AI projects. At the end of six weeks, those who complete their projects can attend Builder Demo in San Francisco or Dubai to meet others. It’s self-funded, so it might not be convenient for those in Taiwan to go, but the online community is already excellent. BuildSpace has mechanisms to connect you with people who have similar projects, and everyone gives each other weekly demo feedback on Twitter. It’s a low-cost, wide-ranging exploration program. Here’s a link to recent BuildSpace weekly demo selections: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1LyxBnXjVRyxN.
Official website: https://buildspace.so/
Step 2: The Residency
Suitable for: Those who have already made some progress on their interest but are unsure whether to pursue it as a career.
Brief introduction: The Residency selects about a dozen residents every few months to live in San Francisco. They recently held a six-week program for college students (and some high school students), requiring some tech-related background. They collaborate with startup accelerators, allowing students to work on their projects at accelerators. They also have graduates who participated in their six-week hardware program and four-month startup program, exploring and working on their ideas. I recommend The Residency because the people there are smart, humble, and supportive, forming a strong community bond. Some develop AI computing using real neural networks, some create clothing apps that turn into companies, and some build robotic arms that become popular. Although not everyone continues with their ideas after the program, it’s a great opportunity to connect with Silicon Valley’s networks and resources and explore your interests more deeply. Here’s a link to their project demos and lifestyles: https://x.com/_TheResidency. Additionally, the Bay Area has many hackerhouse communities like Arcadia, where a German friend stayed for a few months during summer break, working on their ideas and experiencing Bay Area life at a lower cost.
The Residency official website: https://www.livetheresidency.com
Arcadia official website: https://joinarcadia.org/
Step 3: Neo accelerator, Entrepreneur First
Suitable for: Those planning to fully commit to an idea and seek support or funding from an accelerator.
Brief introduction: Most people only know about big accelerators like Y Combinator, but there are many other excellent hidden accelerators. Neo Accelerator is a three-month accelerator with a scholar program that matches scholars with startups. If you perform well, they offer terms of $600K (1.5% equity), which is much better than YC, so some friends chose Neo over YC. Another recommendation is Entrepreneur First, originating in Europe and recently expanding to the U.S. It’s a three-month program, and if you do well, you can also get investment.
Neo official website: https://neo.com/
EF official website: https://www.joinef.com/
Finally, I found an important hidden community on Twitter. Although most Taiwanese people don’t use it, the most innovative and advanced tech products are there. People also post their ideas and various learning resources. The recommended programs above have good Twitter presences, and a quick browse can reveal interesting people and projects. If you don’t know where to start, you can begin with the very Gen Z BuildSpace.