In his childhood, Dr. Y. P. Chang once exclaimed, "My aspiration is to be the of Taiwan!" As time passed, his ambitions changed. By the time he entered college, his goal became, "I want to be the CEO of a publicly traded company!" Last December, when SemiLux International (SELX) was listed on NASDAQ, his dream came true.
 
Taiwan’s Top Five Electronics Companies Extend a Hand of Friendship
Dr. Chang mentioned that after the company was listed on NASDAQ, it significantly boosted their international brand recognition and competitiveness. For example. Taiwan’s top five electronics companies are shifting towards AI development, particularly focusing on automotive electronics. This led them to collaborate with Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. The primary reason was that being listed on NASDAQ ensured financial transparency, making it easier for potential partners to collaborate with them. This positive outcome was a direct benefit of their NASDAQ listing.
 
The Importance of Family Support in Entrepreneurship
Discussing his entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Chang emphasized the crucial role of family support, especially considering the financial instability in the early stages, which could place significant pressure on the family. He shared that his initial capital came from seizing a “financial opportunity.” Reflecting on the early days, the first year of his startup saw no salary and zero income, yet he persisted. The second year, he earned only the minimum wage. It wasn’t until the third or fourth year that his income normalized. Although their first product was excellent, not a single unit was sold, which was a major setback for a young entrepreneur. Fortunately, Dr. Chang was not discouraged by this failure and continued moving forward.
 
Mentorship and Advancing in the "Tech Services" Industry
Dr. Chang stated that the company’s focus is on serving people, and recognizing the future potential of semiconductor lasers, they invested in this area. Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. also stressed the importance of protecting users' eyes from laser exposure, so they developed eye-protection features for their products. Around this time, they met the Chief Technology Officer of Delta Electronics, who believed in the potential of Taiwan Color Optics, Inc.’s products. Six months later, an opportunity arose when Texas Instruments expressed interest in their products, paving the way for Taiwan Color Optics, Inc.’s future success.
 
Under Dr. Chang’s leadership, Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. has positioned itself as a “tech service company” that serves people, placing great importance on talent cultivation. With 75 employees, one-third of them are in R&D. He emphasized that talent development should be diverse. Currently, Taiwan’s tech industry faces a talent crisis due to a lack of diversity; many young graduates head straight to companies like TSMC or MediaTek, leaving small and medium-sized enterprises struggling with lower wages and a talent shortage.
 
In addition to focusing on talent development, the corporate culture of Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. emphasizes integrity and social responsibility. This includes sponsoring overseas trips for students and teachers, providing emergency assistance, and supporting the underprivileged and military personnel during holidays.
 
A Strong Competitive Edge Through Semiconductor Mastery and Product Miniaturization
Dr. Chang pointed out that in the industry, what matters is not the size of the company but whether it keeps up with technological trends; otherwise, it risks becoming obsolete. Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. is different from what it was ten years ago and even different from last year. The company is now listed on NASDAQ as a holding company under SemiLux International Ltd. Their main products are AI chip applications, which can be used in autonomous driving, smart healthcare, and AI medical care.
 
The company’s key products are Solid-State LiDAR and ADB/Laser Headlights, with their strong competitive edge being the miniaturization of products through semiconductor chips, which also helps reduce costs. Taiwan Color Optics, Inc.’s location in Taiwan gives them access to a robust semiconductor supply chain, adding to their competitive advantage. This advantage has significantly enhanced their technological competitiveness. As AI and silicon photonics chip integration becomes increasingly intertwined, Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. has positioned itself at the forefront with AI chip design capabilities, investing in autonomous driving technology.
 
Regarding Taiwan Color Optics, Inc.’s success in entering the international industrial supply chain and gaining international partners’ favor, Dr. Chang explained that several factors contributed to this. By 2000, the U.S., Japan, and Germany had no semiconductor factories, but these countries recognized the need for domestic factories and invited TSMC to set up plants. While Japan has strong hardware capabilities, it lacks AI chips, presenting a business opportunity for Taiwan Color Optics, Inc.
 
Dr. Chang is not one to seek glory for its own sake; he steadily leads the company forward, developing talent, advancing technology, and skillfully leveraging “R&D leverage.” He noted that Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. effectively utilizes government resources, such as the National Science Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs, PIDA, and academic institutions, which have all provided valuable support. These resources have been instrumental in developing Taiwan Color Optics, Inc.’s R&D talent.
 
As Taiwan Color Optics, Inc.’s “drone defense” product gains popularity, many are curious about how optics and AI should be integrated. Dr. Chang explained that we need to first understand the relationship between drones, optics, and AI. Simply put, AI replicates the human brain, and optics represents the eyes. AI is universal across industries, but optics is different; it requires precise management when combined with AI. The business opportunities generated by "AI and creation" are in customization and personalized AI. For example, an experienced lawyer cannot write too many legal documents without AI assistance, and radiologists in hospitals also need AI to help manage their workload. These examples all involve interaction with the outside world, hence the importance of optics as the eyes.
 
Recently, Dr. Chang visited the U.S. again, deeply feeling the importance of international exchanges. He stated that many opportunities come from these exchanges, and Taiwan must seize business opportunities in international development. This is the insight gained from standing on the shoulders of giants and looking out at the world. Let’s follow in the footsteps of the successful and take another big step forward!