Hong Kong, 9 June 2025 – The Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (TEC) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) celebrated the successful launch of the Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme and co-hosted the HKU Demo Day with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) Startup Council’s STARS Programme on 9 June 2025.
Empowering the Next Generation of Tech Entrepreneurs
The Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme is designed to empower young tech entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into viable businesses in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The programme provides seed funding, mentorship, and access to essential resources, equipping participants with the tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive startup ecosystem.
Supported by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) through the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Entrepreneurship Scheme), and administered under the Youth Development Fund (YDF) by the Youth Development Commission (YDC), Tech-Up is set to recruit a second cohort of emerging young tech entrepreneurs from HKU. This initiative builds on the legacy of HKU’s iDendron, which launched the ‘Gear-Up Incubation Programme’ in 2019—a three-year initiative that has already supported numerous young entrepreneurs and HKU startups in realizing their entrepreneurial dreams.
Officiating Guests and Keynote Speakers
The launch ceremony was graced by a distinguished lineup of officiating guests:
- Prof. Stephanie Ma, Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation), HKU
- Mr. Clarence Leung, BBS, JP, Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, HKSAR Government
- Hon. Duncan Chiu, Legislative Councillor (Technology and Innovation)
- Dr. Steve Chuang, Chairman, Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI)
- Professor Jimmy Tao, Chairman, Hong Kong Startup Council
- Ms Chan Wing Man, MH, Convenor, Action Group on Youth Development Fund and Programmes, Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB)
- Mr. Jason Chiu, Chairman, Versitech
- Professor Dr. Winnie Tang (鄧淑明博士), Chief Convenor, HKU Super Angel Network
- Dr Paul Wang, Director of HKU TEC
The event featured inspiring keynote speeches from two prominent HKU alumni:
- Mr. Harris Sun, CEO & Founder of RaSpect.ai, shared his entrepreneurial journey and vision for leveraging AI and robotics in infrastructure inspection.
- Mr. Albert Lam, Founder & CEO of Novelte Robotics, provided valuable insights into scaling a tech startup in the Greater Bay Area.
AI Robotic Inspection – In the era of Low Altitude Economy
Beyond BordersBuilding Startups in the GBA
HKU Demo Day x FHKI Startup Council’s STARS Programme
HKU Demo Day, co-organised with the FHKI Startup Council’s STARS Programme (Cohort 6 – Session 2), showcased a dynamic lineup of rapidly developing HKU startups engaged in fundraising for ESG & Advanced Tech, ICT, and AI sectors. This special edition event brought together innovative startups to pitch their business plans and latest progress to an audience of super angel network members, venture capital investors, and industry experts.
The event provided an exceptional networking opportunity, connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with industry leaders. FHKI Startup Council members also offered personalised one-on-one consultations, providing tailored guidance to help startups accelerate their journey to success.
STARS Programme Cohort 6 x HKU Demo Day: Schedule and Participating Startups
| Team | Category | Company Name (English) | Company Name (Chinese) | Academic PIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robotics | Exynergy | 类生科技 | Prof. Xi Ning |
| 2 (1st Runner Up) | Material Tech | DIAMNEX Limited | 钻耐科思有限公司 | Prof. CHU Zhiqin |
| 3 | ICT/AI & Big Data | Engram | 忆生科技 | Prof. Ma Yi |
| 4 | ICT/AI & Big Data | High Tech Technology Limited | 芯高科技有限公司 | Dr. David NG |
| 5 | Robotics | TreadCloud Tech | 踏雲科技 | Prof. LU Peng |
| 6 | ICT/AI & Big Data | SenseAI | 山海科技 | Prof. WU Chenshu |
| 7 | Robotics | Spatial Robotics | n/a | Prof. ZHANG Fu |
| 8 | Health Tech | E-Sense Innovation & Technology Limited | 溢生創新科技有限公司 | Prof. Desmond Yap |
| 9 | Fin Tech | FinSiliconX Limited | n/a | Dr. David NG |
| 10 (Champion -Outstanding Award) | Robotics | Shenzhen Stellar Robot Technology Co.,Limited | 星际光年 | Prof. Luo Ping |
Looking Forward
The successful launch of the Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme and the HKU Demo Day marks a significant milestone in nurturing the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and innovators. These initiatives continue to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government, driving technological innovation and entrepreneurial growth in the Greater Bay Area.
Tech-up GBA Innovators Programme
The Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme (Tech-Up) aims to empower young tech entrepreneurs to transform their concepts into viable business ventures in Hong Kong and/or the Greater Bay Area by providing seed funding, mentorship, and access to key resources.
Tech-up is organised by the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (TEC) of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and supported by Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) through the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Entrepreneurship Scheme), under the Youth Development Fund (YDF) administered by the Youth Development Commission (YDC).
HKU Demo Day X FHKI Startup Council’s Star Programme
HKU Demo Day, a dynamic showcase co-organised with FHKI Startup Council’s STARS Programme (Cohort 6 – Session 2). The pitching teams will mainly consist of rapidly developing HKU startups that are currently in fundraising activities in ESG & Advanced Tech plus ICT & AI sectors. This special edition event brings together innovative startups to pitch their business plans and latest progress to a distinguished audience of super angel network’s community, venture capital investors and industry experts.
This event offers an exceptional networking opportunity, connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with industry leaders. Additionally, FHKI Startup Council members will provide personalised one-on-one consultations, offering tailored guidance to help startups accelerate their journey to success.
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hkutec@hku.hk