Cherry, Author at HKU TEC

For Immediate Release
18 September, 2025

Hong Kong – In response to growing concerns over health and environmental impact, a Hong Kong-based beverage start-up, The Beverage Code, is challenging traditional norms by redefining how drinks are made and consumed. Formerly known as Sodaz, the company embraces the motto “From Pulp to Seed, Nothing Wasted” reflecting its commitment to sustainability and wellness through every step of its product lifecycle.

The Beverage Code, co-founded by Alex Pang, Aaron Pang and Kethena Tang, was established with a desire to offer healthier alternatives to the market. “Many beverages are high in sugar and contain chemical additives so we wanted to provide a healthier choice,” said Alex Pang, who is an alumnus of the University of Hong Kong (HKU). This guiding principle has led to beverages emphasizing low sugar, functional benefits and natural fruit flavors.

Sustainability is woven deeply into The Beverage Code’s operations. “The company has succeeded in reducing water and energy use by 40%,” said Tang. It is implemented by replacing single-use plastics with recyclable aluminum cans and cartons. Their innovative use of raw materials distinguishes them further with fruit peels being repurposed into natural dyes, tea leaves are turned into paper and leftover fruit and pulp are processed into fertilizers. Even surplus or imperfect fruits are upcycled into nutrient-rich teas, sparkling drinks and cocktail infusions using proprietary extraction technology. This approach ensures that every part of the fruit retains its nutritional value and avoids waste.

The Beverage Code’s product development follows a structured three-step approach which are market research, insight gathering and trend analysis allowing the company to align its innovations with consumer demands. They have integrated advanced technologies such as precision tea aroma extraction modulation, FractoOrganoleptic Engineering and Extended Shelf-Life Technology to improve taste and prolong shelf life while maintaining health benefits.

Support from the HKU iDendron program, an initiative aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, has been instrumental in the company’s growth. “We are very fortunate to be accepted into the HKU iDendron program which provided us some funding,” Alex Pang explained. The program, part of HKU’s Techno-Entrepreneurship Core, provides resources and venture funding to promising start-ups, helping to fuel local and international economic development. The Beverage Code won the Rosewood Foundation Entrepreneurship Award in 2025 earning $100,000, according to the website of HKU idendron.

Beyond product innovation, building a distinct brand philosophy is essential. “Consumers don’t just buy products, they buy the brand philosophy,” Aaron Pang added. In an increasingly competitive market, The Beverage Code is carving out a niche by championing health and sustainability as core values.

Try their signature Sage Tea to experience nutrient-rich flavors: The Beverage Code Sage Tea

Director & Editor: Bonnie Leung, Year 3, HKU Business School
Journalist & Cinematographer: Margo Wong, Year 3, Journalism

We are thrilled to announce the seven teams that have advanced to the Grand Finale of the 2025 HKU International Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge. These finalists were selected after a successful Closed Door Regional Pitching event held on 16 August 2025 at the University of Hong Kong. Out of the numerous talented startups that participated in the competition, five teams from the start-up division and two teams from the growth division have been selected to move forward to the Grand Finale. We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the following teams:

成長組 Growth Division   

Dynano Semiconductor Technology Company Limited 大乙半導體科技有限公司

Dynano Semiconductor Technology is a high-tech company founded by Professor Huang Mingxin of HKU and incubated by HKU. Based on the technological breakthrough of HKU in the field of metal materials, Dynano Company has developed the latest sintering materials, processes and related equipment for the pain points such as heat dissipation and failure of high-power semiconductors. The headquarters of Dynano Company is currently registered in the Hong Kong Science Park, and has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Qianhai-Shenzhen.

Team Leader: Huang Mingxin

Qingdao Sino-Cell Biomedicine Co., Ltd. 青島華賽伯曼醫學細胞生物有限公司

Qingdao Sino-Cell Biomedicine Co., Ltd. established in March 2019, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative cell therapies. Considering the unmet clinical needs, the company is committed to developing globally innovative and leading cell therapies, focusing on TIL therapies targeting solid tumors.

Team Leader: Gao Qing

https://www.sino-cellbiomed.com/

初創組 Start-up Division 

DiamNEX Limited 鑽耐科思有限公司

DiamNEX is a high-tech company focusing on the research, development, production and commercialization of diamond thin films, and is committed to becoming a technology leader and standard setter in the diamond semiconductor field. With its unique technology, DiamNEX breaks through the bottleneck of large-size, high-quality, transferable diamond film preparation, and provides new solutions for large-scale commercial production. Its vision is to promote the industry through technological innovation, realize efficient production and wide application, and become the industry benchmark.

Team Leader: Lu Yuxi

https://www.diamnex.com/

Nordia Biotech & Pharmaceuticals HK Limited 周易生物醫藥科技（香港）有限公司

Nordia Biotech & Pharmaceuticals was founded in Dec 2023. Nordia Biotech targets on the unmet medical needs, specifically the diabetes mellitus, with functional islet organoids generated from stem cells through a self-developed unique patented method enabling spontaneous formation of 3D structure of islets. The islet organoids will be transplanted into the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle of patients, for long-term control of blood glucose levels by steady insulin secretion. Other products include biomaterial scaffolds to encapsulate islets organoids to increase the transplantation efficiency. The company offers islet-based contract research services and islet products. 

Team Leader: Zhou Zhongjun

BiomOrgan Research (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. 比幹生物研究（深圳）有限公司

BiomOrgan Research (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a life science company by a group of top-tier organoid scientists from HKU Medicine led by Prof. ZHOUJie. BiomOrgan is at the forefront of transformative technology, leveraging their proprietary respiratory organoid platform and scientific expertise to develop cutting edge organoid culture products and organoid-based services for both academia and industry.

Team Leader: Zhang Yong

https://www.biomorgan.hk/

ReGen Technology Limited 雨生科技有限公司

ReGen Technology Limited is a sustainable and innovative solution in afforestation and agriculture, focused on increased plant growth and agricultural productivity, enhancing crop diversification, and soil health improvement. It also involves controlled salinity and control of nutrient concentration in water, supporting a sustainable process of regeneration of land. Additionally, it enhances agricultural resilience and impacts the microclimate, contributing to food security and land value by stabilising food supply and food security.

Team Leader: Julian Gaertner

https://regen.technology/

InnoScreen Research Limited 量子藥選研究有限公司

InnoScreen Research Limited, is a small-molecule drug discovery platform based on Quantum Chemistry and AI. It offers advanced tools to accelerate drug discovery and preclinical trials, enabling faster discoveries and significant cost savings. The core technology includes AI-driven Drug Design (AIDD) tools that integrates Quantum Chemistry and AI to enhance and accelerate the drug discovery process.

Team Leader: Yin Zhenyu

https://hkqai.com/

The shortlisted startups have truly impressed us with their innovation and creativity, and we firmly believe that they have the potential to make a significant impact in the field of technological innovation. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to the seven teams advancing to the Grand Finale of the 2025 HKU International Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge, and wish them all the best of luck in the final round. We eagerly anticipate seeing them showcase their innovative ideas on the grand stage. Scheduled to take place on January 17, 2026, at the University of Hong Kong, the Grand Finale of the 2025 HKU International Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge will provide a platform for the brightest minds to present their innovative ideas through on-site roadshow presentations. Esteemed industry experts, renowned entrepreneurs, venture capital institutions, and other professionals have been invited by the organizing committee to evaluate the participating projects. The final scores will determine the award-winning teams in both the startup and growth divisions, with corresponding prizes for the champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up. Following the intense competition and the announcement of the winners, an award ceremony will be held to celebrate the achievements of these pioneering techno-entrepreneurs. We extend our deepest gratitude to all participants who applied for the challenge, as your active involvement in this initiative plays an essential role in fostering collaboration, promoting technological innovation and industrial development, enhancing international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, and accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

More information about this challenge, please visit: https://icb.hku.hk/en/innovalley

HKU EntrepreneurshipResource Hub

Author: Cherry

HKU TEC | iDendron Startup : The Beverage Code – Advances Innovation in Health and Sustainability with New Beverages

Announcement of Finalists Advancing to the Grand Finale of the 2025 HKU International Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge