The Taiwanese Government Wrote an Article About Me!
The Taiwanese National Immigration Agency wrote an article about my 101-day walk around Taiwan and the story of me starting a company in Taiwan.
[Hundreds of Voices] Leaving the Runway Behind: American Creator Jacob’s Entrepreneurial Journey in Taiwan
Leaving the Runway and Choosing a Harder Future
Jacob, originally from Seattle, USA, came to Taiwan four years ago to study Chinese and work as a model. After traveling through several countries across Asia, he ultimately chose to stay. The safety, friendliness, and comfortable pace of life made the island a place where he wanted to live long-term. But what truly shifted his direction was not just the environment—it was how he began thinking about his future.
Although he could have continued down the relatively stable path of modeling, he chose instead to pivot toward entrepreneurship and video creation. He describes it as a more difficult and riskier road, but one that allows him to control the rhythm and direction of his own life. For him, it wasn’t giving something up—it was an upgrade.
Walking the Island While Rebuilding His Life
Last year, he spent several months walking around Taiwan on foot. This year, he set out again—not to check places off a list, but to go deeper into every corner of the island. Instead of carefully planning his route, he gave himself just one rule: arrive first, and let the stories unfold.
Along the way, he chats and shares meals with locals, gradually learning the rhythm of each place. In Shuili, Nantou, for example, he met a friendly older man who enthusiastically took him to a local “Twin Earth God Temple”—a rare temple that enshrines two Earth Gods, something many Taiwanese people themselves may not even know about. By coincidence, it was the man’s birthday that day. Jacob ended up joining the celebration, sharing a meal and conversation with the villagers, going from stranger to part of the table.
Sometimes he sleeps in temples or churches. Sometimes he joins community activities on the spot. At Sun Moon Lake, he even experienced a SUP picnic, where he met a local entrepreneur who runs a handmade bread shop and outdoor activities business. It showed him how local creativity can combine baking with lake experiences to create new ways of living. None of these moments were carefully arranged—they simply emerged naturally along the journey.
These experiences have become the most important source of inspiration for his work. His videos are mostly produced bilingually, with Taiwanese audiences as the primary viewers, while also allowing international audiences to understand Taiwan through subtitles and storytelling. What he documents is not just mountains and ocean views, but the interactions between people, local stories, and the small yet authentic cultural details of everyday life.
Entering the Health Market with a Protein Bar
While continuing his creative work, he has also set a longer-term goal: launching an all-natural protein bar brand in Taiwan. Growing up in the United States, he was used to seeing a wide range of high-protein options in convenience stores. In Taiwan, however, he noticed the choices are still limited. Compared to markets in Japan, Korea, and the West, there is clearly room to grow.
His lifestyle—spending long hours outdoors filming and constantly on the move, combined with a focus on healthy eating—has made him especially aware of the need for convenient ways to replenish protein. He wanted something portable, made with simple ingredients, and free from excessive processing.
So he began working with a Taiwanese factory to develop the formula, repeatedly discussing ingredient ratios and texture. He insists on avoiding low-quality oils and unnecessary chemical additives, keeping “natural” and “practical” as the core principles behind the product.
This protein bar is not designed only for fitness enthusiasts, but for a much wider range of everyday situations—hiking, camping, long workdays, or simply when someone wants a snack but doesn’t want to choose something high in sugar. From prototypes to food testing, every step has taken more time than expected. He has also documented this entrepreneurial process honestly, allowing viewers to see the details and pressures behind building a brand.
For him, entrepreneurship and running a content channel are actually two forms of the same path. His channel documents his life in Taiwan, his adventures, and the process of building a business, allowing viewers to see the decisions and challenges along the way. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, turns the health philosophy he talks about in his videos into a real product. Running the channel helps more people understand what he is doing and why he is doing it; building the business turns those ideas into something people can actually use. The first builds trust and connection, while the second establishes the foundation of a real company. The two move forward together, rather than operating separately.
Authenticity Matters More Than Success
His channel does not only show the beautiful parts of life. He also shares the real moments—like having his passport stolen, being misunderstood by the police, sleeping outdoors, or dealing with a lack of resources. Instead of creating the image of a “perfect life,” he shows how difficulties are faced and solved.
He once stood at a crossroads: continue maintaining a familiar and stable work path, or step into the more uncertain road of entrepreneurship and creative work. He chose the latter. For him, long-term control over his life matters more than short-term security.
Many viewers have told him that these honest moments are what gave them courage. Through his own journey, he hopes to remind people that they can step outside their comfort zone and try the more difficult path—one that is closer to their true values.
For Jacob, Taiwan is not just a place to pass through, but a base where he can experiment with ideas, build a brand, and accumulate stories. Entrepreneurship and content creation intertwine into a path that continues moving forward—and one he chooses to keep walking.
Original article here:
【百人百聲】放下伸展台，美國創作者 Jacob在台灣的創業路
【百人百聲】放下伸展台，美國創作者 Jacob在台灣的創業路
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