— Entrepreneurship Insights by General Manager Linch Lin for Master's and PhD Students at National Central University Entrepreneurship may seem glamorous, but in reality, it is a demanding journey that requires wholehearted dedication. Recently, Linch Lin, General Manager of Sysinno, delivered a talk at National Central University, sharing his hands-on experiences in technology entrepreneurship over the years. Addressing the core challenges faced by entrepreneurs, he offered the master’s and PhD students inspiring advice. Covering four key aspects—entrepreneurs themselves, entrepreneurial partners, business plans and models, and preparations that can be made during their studies—he guided the audience through the challenges and practices behind entrepreneurship.
The Entrepreneur: Building Capital and Facing Real-World Challenges
Is entrepreneurship as glamorous as it appears on the surface? General Manager Lin bluntly and succinctly told the audience: "Entrepreneurship is cool, but it’s not romantic."
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: The first reality entrepreneurs must face is that life will no longer be balanced. You may lose a significant amount of leisure time and even have to endure long periods of high-pressure work. Moreover, income is far from stable, contrary to popular belief. Drawing from his own experience, Lin explained that income during the early stages of a startup is often unpredictable, and entrepreneurs must be mentally prepared to embrace this uncertainty.
Building Entrepreneurial Capital: Entrepreneurship is not only about breakthroughs in technology but also about enhancing personal abilities and building credit. Lin emphasized that before starting a business, it’s crucial to accumulate diverse skills, such as business knowledge, communication abilities, and even basic management techniques, in order to be well-prepared for the challenges ahead. Additionally, "personal credit" is especially important. Whether it’s with entrepreneurial partners, clients, or future investors, the level of trust they have in you will significantly impact your entrepreneurial journey. Building good credit will become a key foundation for driving your business forward.
Entrepreneurial Partners: Building a Team That Can Share the Burden
Lin believes that the entrepreneurial team is the foundation of a company's success, and finding the right people is one of the major challenges on the entrepreneurial journey.
What kind of partners are needed? Lin emphasized that entrepreneurship cannot be a solo endeavor. Entrepreneurs must seek out a diverse team to complement each other's skills. This not only refers to complementing professional expertise but also aligning values and communication abilities. "Why is your team the best?" Lin reminded the students that when communicating with investors or clients, they must clearly explain what unique value their team can bring.
The Unromantic Everyday of Entrepreneurship Lin candidly admitted that the daily realities of entrepreneurship are filled with trivial and even painful challenges, and issues related to people are often the most difficult for entrepreneurs to handle. Conflicts can arise within the team, and communication with shareholders and partners is often under pressure. Crisis management becomes the norm, and entrepreneurs must have a high level of stress tolerance. He joked, "There are times when I feel like I can't go on," but it is precisely this pressure that drives rapid personal growth.
Business Plan and Business Model: Execution is More Important Than the Plan
Lin believes that while a business plan (BP) is important, it is not the core factor that determines success or failure. What truly impacts the outcome of a startup is the entrepreneur's execution ability and their keen insight into the market and business model.
The Key to Transforming Technology into Products Lin shared that the value of technology lies not only in its innovation but in how it addresses users' pain points. He reminded the students with engineering backgrounds that when starting a business, they should not focus solely on "what I can do," but rather on "what the market needs." The value of a product comes from users' willingness to pay for it, which often depends on the experience, service, and even the sense of trust the product provides.
Adapting the Business Model Lin further pointed out that entrepreneurship is a continuous process of experimentation and adjustment. As the market environment changes, the business plan may need to be adjusted accordingly, with a constant focus on finding the right business model and monetization strategies. Additionally, he mentioned that timing and luck are also important factors for entrepreneurial success, but these are built upon a deep understanding of the market and the ability to respond quickly.
What You Can Do Now: Building Networks and Accumulating Knowledge
At the end of his lecture, Lin offered several practical pieces of advice to help students start preparing for their entrepreneurial journey.
Build More Connections, Step Outside Your Circle Lin encouraged students to make friends with people from diverse backgrounds, as future collaboration opportunities often arise from these heterogeneous networks. He emphasized that these connections not only bring fresh perspectives but can also become valuable allies on the entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, he reminded students to "protect their reputation," as the professional world is smaller than they might think—everyone is interconnected. Personal credit and reputation, therefore, are crucial.
Continuous Learning and Maintaining Health Entrepreneurship requires a wide range of professional knowledge and cross-disciplinary skills. Lin advised students to explore fields outside of their major to broaden their perspectives. He also highlighted the importance of developing a regular exercise habit, as the entrepreneurial process demands far more mental and physical energy than most people realize. Good health is the foundation that allows entrepreneurs to persist over the long term.
Conclusion: Entrepreneurship – The Integration of Dreams and Reality
General Manager Linch Lin, through his personal experiences, revealed the truth about entrepreneurship: it is both full of challenges and full of endless possibilities. He encouraged students to start accumulating skills and resources now, embrace the unknown, and prepare for future entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is not just a journey from technology to market; it is also a practice of self-growth and breakthrough.
