iKala CEO Sega Cheng Elected TiEA Chairman to Drive Taiwan's AI and Digital Industry Growth
The Taiwan Internet and E-commerce Association (TiEA) held its first general assembly and "Digital Taiwan: Reshaping the Future with AI" forum for the 5th board on March 25, officially announcing the election of iKala Co-Founder and CEO Sega Cheng as the new Chairman. The event gathered leaders from government, industry, academia, and startups to discuss how AI can accelerate Taiwan's digital economy and connect with global trends and opportunities. As a leading provider of AI, cloud, and digital marketing solutions in Asia, iKala shared various AI implementation successes and expressed its vision to partner with TiEA in upgrading Taiwan's digital industry ecosystem.
Sega Cheng Assumes Chairmanship of TiEA to Strengthen Industry Connectivity
With a strong background in AI technologies and cloud services, Sega Cheng has led iKala since its founding in 2011 to deliver innovative digital transformation solutions across Taiwan and Asia. Upon assuming his new role as the Chairman of TiEA's 5th Board, he stated:
"It's a great honor to take on this role. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by industry peers, and I hope to contribute to Taiwan's AI transformation. Over the past decade, under the leadership of past chairpersons—including PChome Chairman Hongzhi Zhan, Taiwan Mobile's Jamie Lin, Bahamut Founder Sega, and 91APP Chairman Steven Ho—TiEA has grown into Taiwan's largest platform for internet, software, and e-commerce industries. It has brought together top local and international companies and worked closely with the government to drive the growth of the digital economy.
Now entering the AI era, we face both immense challenges and opportunities. TiEA will continue to serve as a communication platform, positioning AI as a new engine to link the government with private enterprises, foster cross-sector innovation, support digital transformation for member companies, and ensure Taiwan's digital industry progresses alongside the global market."
He further highlighted three key focus areas for TiEA going forward:
- Public-Private Collaboration:
Issues such as AI governance, data management, and cybersecurity are increasingly critical. A balanced path between regulation and innovation is urgently needed. TiEA will continue acting as a platform for dialogue and advocacy, working closely with the government. In addition, Taiwan's top internet companies are entering a new phase of growth, and with the government relaxing IPO regulations, TiEA will work alongside the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the Taipei Exchange to drive a wave of IPOs for the new economy. -
AI Upgrades Across All Industries:
AI presents opportunities not only for software industries but also accelerates digitalization and intelligence in sectors like semiconductors and hardware manufacturing. Taiwan's robust hardware capabilities and engineering talent make software-hardware integration a key advantage. TiEA aims to foster more partnerships between edge AI and cloud-native providers to create tangible business opportunities. -
Global Connectivity:
Taiwan must position itself as a global player. With the growing importance of AI and ongoing U.S.-China decoupling, companies like TSMC have brought Taiwan into the global spotlight. Leveraging Taiwan's unique talent density and industrial structure, its AI solutions should seize this prime moment for global exposure. TiEA plans to connect with partners and organizations in Japan, the U.S., Southeast Asia, and other regions to unlock more international business opportunities.
TiEA Driving Taiwan's AI-Driven Digital Industry Growth
Founded in 2010 by several prominent companies in the internet and e-commerce space, and officially registered in 2011, TiEA now boasts over 400 members across diverse sectors, including e-commerce, cloud services, digital advertising, fintech, and emerging digital industries. Since its inception, TiEA has played a crucial role as a bridge between the government and industry, promoting the elevation of Taiwan's digital software and e-commerce fields to the level of national strategic industries.
In response to the global surge in AI and digital economies, TiEA continues to cultivate local enterprises and talent. Through international collaboration and technological innovation, the association strives to position Taiwan as a leader in AI applications. As global demand for AI services continues to rise, TiEA is committed to promoting cross-sector partnerships and driving a virtuous cycle of innovation, technology, and talent—ultimately strengthening Taiwan's digital economy and international competitiveness.