Nearly 20,000 Join the "Deck Party" — Keelung's Industry Development Director Talks Youth Entrepreneurship at the Market

The "Deck Party" has set sail at Keelung Port — no boarding required. The venue is the rooftop garden of Keelung Port's East Wharf Passenger Terminal, right on the front row of the harbour view. Kicking off on April 21 with a "Youth Entrepreneurship Market," the event brought together 20 local Keelung startup brands for sales and showcases. An AR experience app let Whale Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, and other marine giants dive into the party alongside visitors. Over three days, the event drew 19,665 attendees and generated total revenue exceeding NT$336,000.

Keelung's Young Startup Brands Lead with "Ocean Elements"

Six resident singers took the stage in rotation while the market covered every corner of food, drinks, and fun. Badouzi's beloved local shop "Bo Sheng Hang" served up its signature flying fish roe sausages — made with flying fish roe at ratios of up to 15% and 30% — drawing curious visitors in with the aroma alone. Ocean media outlet BlueTrend also reeled in the crowds with freshly baked taiyaki shaped like marine creatures, selling out within three hours of opening. The booth also introduced BlueTrend's latest ocean board game, Meow~ I Have an Island, which uses gameplay to spark reflection on the balance between marine conservation, ecology, and economics.

"Every place has its own unique character, and for Keelung, it's all about the ocean. From food to cultural and creative accessories, this market was full of ocean elements." Lin Ding-chao, Director of Keelung City's Industry Development Department, previously served as Director of Kaohsiung City's Youth Affairs Bureau and brings extensive experience in supporting young entrepreneurs. He noted that markets like this give young entrepreneurs invaluable exposure to real market conditions, and he hopes they will help Keelung's startup scene become more commercially oriented and scalable. The Director also expressed his hope that future markets can be held at fixed locations on a regular basis — not only to showcase Keelung's distinctive character, but also to draw in tourist traffic.

From Venue to Business Mentorship — Supporting Startups on the Path to Market

There's an art to fostering young startups, and it starts with choosing the right venue. Why hold the market regularly at the rooftop garden of the Keelung Port East Wharf Passenger Terminal? Director Lin explained that many activities and startup or co-creation spaces tend to be set up in vacant or idle locations. While this can revitalise underused spaces, it rarely draws crowds. For this reason, the Industry Development Department is committed to hosting its market series in the city centre, ensuring that startup brands gain maximum visibility.

The city government also provides young entrepreneurs with resources including workspace, funding, and business mentorship. Director Lin said: "Starting anything from scratch is hard, and mentorship is the biggest challenge in youth entrepreneurship. Beyond helping teams strengthen their technical skills, products, and services, the Keelung City Government also supports startups in learning about taxation and legal matters, and in connecting with others' resources — so that entrepreneurs can avoid as many unnecessary detours as possible." To foster a healthy startup ecosystem, Keelung City has also formulated an urban regeneration strategy. Short-term goals include establishing a startup showcase, while mid- and long-term plans involve setting up a Youth Innovation Incubation Centre and drafting a youth entrepreneurship mentorship programme.

"A Theme, a Community — Making One Plus One Greater Than Two"

The focus goes beyond physical space; equal weight is placed on providing startup entrepreneurs with comprehensive consultation and mentorship, akin to the concept of an "Incubator." When asked about the possibility of nurturing Keelung's first ocean-themed incubator in Taiwan, Director Lin was enthusiastic: "Developing something like that in Badouzi would be fantastic. Having a theme, forming a community, and increasing opportunities for exchange can make one plus one greater than two — and Taiwan doesn't yet have a marine-focused incubator."

Continuing to open up diverse possibilities for the startup ecosystem, Director Lin offered an exclusive preview: a brand-new community is coming to Badouzi. An idle fish cold-storage facility will be redeveloped into a multifunctional space inspired by Tokyo's Tsukiji Market, integrating a seafood supermarket and a shared space built around an ocean theme. Director Lin said with excitement, "Badouzi is going to get more and more lively!"

Tide Forward · Mountain & Sea Keelung — Deck Party Market Series

• Dates: April through June, every third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the month, 13

  –20

• Venue: 3F Lido Butterfly Garden at 35-coffee (Keelung Port East Wharf Passenger Terminal Rooftop Garden)

• Riding the First Wave | Youth Entrepreneurship Market |

• Dates: 4/21–4/23

• Coming Ashore | Coffee Market |

• Dates: 5/26–5/28

• Meeting the Wave | Ocean Market |

• Dates: 6/16–6/18

Further Reading:

• Tide Forward · Mountain & Sea Keelung Facebook Page
• Keelung City Industry Development Department
• Keelung City Government Partners with Marine Citizen Scientists to Document and Advocate for the Ocean
• Keelung's Chaojing Wanghaixiang: A Perfect Blend of Marine Protected Area and Citizen Science
• MPA Deep Dive: Chaojing Outperforms Shen'ao! Uncovering the Differences in Management Measures and Intensity