My Journey from Taiwan to Founding BLIVE GLOBAL

Morris Liao, founder and CEO of BLIVE GLOBAL, shares his journey from Taiwan to the US and how it inspired him to help international businesses enter the US market. He highlights the challenges these companies face and how BLIVE GLOBAL offers comprehensive solutions. Morris emphasizes the importance of branding and strategic planning for global success.

Welcome to BLIVE GLOBAL! I am Morris Liao, the founder and CEO. Today, I want to share with you why I founded BLIVE, the opportunities I see, and my vision for bridging the gap between different markets.

I am a first-generation immigrant from Taiwan, arriving in the US at 19 for college after completing high school and military service in Taiwan. My goal was to excel academically at a community college, transfer to a top university, and explore the myriad of opportunities that the US offers. The “American Dream” captivated me—the belief that with vision, hard work, and the right mindset, you can achieve anything. This value, however, can be challenging, especially for international students facing numerous obstacles. Nevertheless, I embraced the journey, learning about the culture, people, and market while studying at UCLA.

After graduating, I started my career in software development, aligning with my computer science degree. Although I had a comfortable job with a good salary and flexible hours, I felt unfulfilled. I questioned whether I wanted to be in the top 1% of software developers or if I wanted to dedicate my life to programming. Realizing the answer was "no" to all these questions, I knew I needed a change.

One evening, I received a call from a family friend in Taiwan, which changed my life. He owned a company that produced green energy products, medical devices, and home protection items. Despite multiple attempts, he had struggled to penetrate the US market. He offered me a partnership opportunity—start a company in the US, manage a small warehouse, and handle product shipments. I would receive a small base salary and a 15% commission on sales. Eager to explore my entrepreneurial aspirations and leverage my Taiwanese background, I accepted without hesitation and founded EcoMart LLC.

In the early days of EcoMart, the whole team moved into my house, and we worked together closely.

Initially, EcoMart was a part-time venture. With few orders coming in, I applied my software development skills to optimize the website and enhance our social media presence. I also ventured into Amazon FBA to boost sales. However, I soon realized that these task-based approaches, while helpful, were not sustainable long-term solutions.

Collaborating with a team in Taiwan, I often found their standards didn’t meet my expectations. Determined to build a stronger team, I hired a friend as a part-time UI/UX designer and a social media manager. As things started improving, I was laid off from my software development job. Faced with a choice—return to tech or go full-time with EcoMart—I chose the latter. I had support from an investor, saw potential in bridging Taiwanese companies to the US market, and was passionate about business.

I focused on identifying the pain points Taiwanese companies face. While they excel in R&D and produce high-quality products, they often neglect marketing and branding, essential for success in the competitive US market. I realized I could educate and add value to these companies, helping them achieve profitability.

EcoMart grew rapidly, expanding to a six-member team handling marketing, sales, strategic planning, branding, business development, customer relations, warehouse management, and fulfillment. We understood that marketing and sales are interdependent, and success in one department benefits the other. Effective branding requires consistency across company culture, product design, and marketing materials. By investing in branding and marketing, we attracted more business, addressing a primary concern for Taiwanese manufacturers.

I applied the agile methods I had learned from my tech background to streamline our daily operations.

In March 2024, I launched BLIVE GLOBAL with the vision of helping more international companies enter the US market. We offer end-to-end solutions, significantly reducing the costs associated with starting a company, hiring employees, renting office space, and marketing. By partnering with BLIVE, companies can leverage our resources and strategic expertise to rapidly advance their business and establish their brand in the global market.

At BLIVE GLOBAL, we believe in connecting all the dots for success. We emphasize the importance of branding and maintaining a healthy revenue stream. By integrating Marketing and Business Development, we ensure holistic growth and success in the US market.

We invite you to follow BLIVE GLOBAL for more insights into the US market and tips for global expansion. We are not just a service provider but your partner in the US, committed to our mutual success. If you want to learn more, please contact us through our contact form. Global is where we begin! We look forward to connecting with you soon.