Developing connections, markets and brand awareness for
start-ups
|
A press conference today, organised by the HKTDC, introduced
the 2019 Start-up Express development programme and featured some
of the winners from the 2018 event. Pictured (L-R) are Toby So,
founder of Film Players Limited; Louisa Lui; Deputy Executive
Director of the Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF); Raymond Yip,
Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC; Rain Lee, CEO of RainsOptics
Limited; and Jordan Cheng, founder and CEO of MAD Gaze. The OHKF is
the official partner of Start-up Express. |
HONG KONG, Mar 28, 2019 - (ACN Newswire) -
Start-up Express, a development programme launched by the Hong Kong
Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in 2018, is set to return for a
second time to assist local start-ups in building networks,
marketing their business and enhancing brand awareness. Each of the
10 companies selected through a pitching competition is entitled to
join power meet-up sessions with successful business leaders, visit
a high-potential start-up hub as part of an exploratory mission,
and engage in marketing and trade promotions in Hong Kong and
overseas.
"Start-ups are a powerful growth engine for the economy, and the
HKTDC is committed to supporting them and helping to take their
businesses to the next level," said Raymond Yip, HKTDC Deputy
Executive Director. "In 2018, Start-up Express received high praise
and strong support from the community. Some of our winners even won
creative awards at international exhibitions, and went on to pursue
new markets in the United States, Europe and Japan, which in turn
helped to attract new investors and partners. This year, we aim to
offer more start-ups the chance to step into international markets
through a series of curated activities and workshops that will form
a key component of Start-up Express 2019."
This year's Start-up Express programme includes:
- Induction Workshop: Help equip start-ups with essential business
skills and market intelligence;
- Power Meet-ups: Join successful leaders and entrepreneurs in
intimate settings to learn their secrets to success;
- Exploratory Mission: Take part in study missions to visit a
start-up hub in Mainland China or Asia to explore new business
opportunities and connect with potential partners;
- Marketing, Business Matching and Building Connections:
Participate in relevant HKTDC exhibitions or overseas trade events
to connect with buyers, investors, potential partners and
international media outlets;
- Resource Platform: Become an alumnus of the HK Startup Society
and enjoy access to the platform's resources and benefits for elite
start-up founders or co-founders.
Local start-ups invited to join Start-up Express
Start-ups that have been established for less than five years, that
have their core or substantial operations in Hong Kong, and have
raised less than US$10 million in funding, are eligible to join
Start-up Express. Applications close on 8 April. Please visit:
http://info.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/index.html for details. A
total of 40 start-ups will be shortlisted for a closed-door
pitching session, with 20 finalists selected to join the Pitching
Contest during the HKTDC Entrepreneur Day on 17 May. A total of 10
winning start-ups will be chosen.
The Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF) is the official partner of
Start-up Express. OHKF Assistant Executive Director Louisa Lui
said: "In a competitive global landscape, innovation has
increasingly become the driver of economic development. Start-up
Express supports Hong Kong startups to give full play to their
advantages and help to promote Hong Kong as an international
innovation centre."
Participating in trade promotions, study missions and more
The 10 top-performing start-ups will enjoy a series of power
meet-ups, study missions and the opportunity to take part in trade
promotions, including exhibitions and conferences organised by the
HKTDC that have a dedicated start-up zone such as the Asian
Financial Forum, Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring & Autumn
edition), and Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair.
They can also join HKTDC overseas flagship events such as the Think
Asia, Think Hong Kong mega event that will take place in Los
Angeles in the US later in 2019.
In addition, winning start-ups will also have the opportunity to
join the Hong Kong Pavilion at international exhibitions such as
the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA and the
Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, to gain first-hand
market information. "Start-up Express is like an express railway
for business development. It helps start-ups quickly penetrate the
real world of business, build global business connections and enjoy
extensive publicity by participating in world-class events. Local
start-ups can network and learn from entrepreneurs from across the
globe," said Mr Yip.
Hong Kong's advantage in exploring new markets
Representatives from the winning start-ups in the inaugural
Start-up Express, including Toby So, founder of Film Players
Limited, Jordan Cheng, founder and CEO of MAD Gaze, and Rain Lee,
CEO of RainsOptics Limited, attended a press event today to share
their experiences taking part in the programme, learning from
business leaders and exploring different markets. They also
discussed the advantages local start-ups enjoy in Hong Kong, across
Mainland China and in overseas markets.
Film Players Limited has developed Smart Film, a flexible film that
can also be cut like a piece of plastic. When applied to glass or
any other surface, the film transforms that surface into a "smart
glass" using a mobile application (app) or sensor. In November last
year, the company participated in Think Global, Think Hong Kong, a
large-scale promotional campaign in Tokyo, Japan, organised by the
HKTDC. They also joined the Hong Kong Technology Pavilion at MWC
Barcelona, the world's largest exhibition for the mobile
industry.
"We met a number of clients from Japan and Europe at these
exhibitions, including internationally renowned construction and
transportation companies," said company founder Toby So. He
believes that European and Asian markets are actively looking for
smart city solutions, opening up new opportunities for Hong
Kong-based start-ups. Mr So said that taking part in trade
exhibitions can be of significant benefit to local start-ups
looking to build a stronger, more diverse network.
Another of the last year's winning companies, MAD Gaze, developed
innovative augmented reality (AR) glasses three years ago. Since
then, the product has been able to stand out from competitors with
its multi-functional system and cost-effective sales model,
becoming one of the world's top three smart-glasses brands. During
a meeting arranged through the HKTDC with Antony Leung, Group
Chairman and CEO of Nan Fung Group and a judge at Start-up Express
2018, Jordan Cheng, founder and CEO of MAD Gaze, was advised on how
crucial it was for the brand to constantly seek breakthroughs in
order to enhance the company's competitiveness. He said that Hong
Kong's talented IT community has forward-thinking vision and a pool
of innovative ideas, which have helped his company gain a strong
foothold in the international market.
A third winner from the 2018 programme, RainOptics, developed
OphthoLens, a pocket-sized adaptor lens that becomes a high-quality
fundus camera when connected to a smartphone, helping detect eye
diseases through retina imaging captured by the lens. The company
is currently developing an artificial intelligence platform to
allow doctors to carry out real-time diagnosis.
RainOptics CEO Rain Lee said the company gained useful exposure by
participating in the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare
Fair organised by the HKTDC, with orders received from clients in
Mainland China, India and the Philippines even before mass
production has begun. Through Start-up Express, Ms Lee visited the
cities of Nanshan and Dongguan in Guangdong province, giving her a
better understanding of the business environment and the potential
of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
HKTDC opens up opportunities in Greater Bay Area
Raymond Yip said that Hong Kong is a vibrant hub where start-ups
can tap into extensive expertise and experience across different
industries, in addition to well-connected networks that have been
enhanced following the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong
Express Rail Link. The development of the Greater Bay Area will see
the opening up of new opportunities for Hong Kong businesses,
particularly in the area of innovation and technology.
"Through Start-up Express and Entrepreneur Day, as well as our
exhibitions and overseas business missions, the HKTDC empowers
start-ups by giving them the opportunity to connect with investors,
buyers and potential business partners in the Greater Bay Area,
enabling them to pursue competitive development opportunities," Mr
Yip said.
Photo Album: https://bit.ly/2CEK3JW
About HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
(HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for
Hong Kong's businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 on
the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform
for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than
50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international
exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide
companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the
mainland and in international markets, while providing business
insights and information via trade publications, research reports
and digital channels including the media room. For more
information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on
Google+, Twitter@hktdc, LinkedIn.
Source: HKTDC
Contact:
Ruder Finn Asia:
Ivy Chan
Tel: +852 2201 6475 / +852 6686 9106
Email: Chani@RuderFinnAsia.com
Charlene Wan
Tel: +852 2201 6438 / +852 6189 9495
Email: Wanc@RuderFinnAsia.com
HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Angel Tang
Tel: +852 2584 4544
Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
Copyright 2019 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
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