10 Start-ups Awarded in HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Start-up Competition Fostering Innovation & Entrepreneurship Beyond Boundaries
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) held the Award Ceremony for its HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Start-up Competition (HK Tech 300 SEA Competition) on 27 June 2024. 10 start-ups from five countries across the Southeast Asia region and Hong Kong topped over 100 teams in the region, and were awarded Angel Fund investment of up to HK$1 million each from the University’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, HK Tech 300.
CityUHK launched the HK Tech 300 SEA Competition in Kuala Lumpur in May 2023. Its aim is to support Southeast Asian start-ups to expand their business to Hong Kong and the mainland, help Hong Kong start-ups explore opportunities in SEA, and attract overseas tech talent to the city. Over 100 start-ups, joined the competition through the partnering universities and incubators in the region.
Presiding over the Award Ceremony were Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Mr Lester Garson Huang, SBS, JP, CityUHK Council Chairman; and Professor Freddy Boey, CityUHK President.
Mr Chen Yulin, Director of Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, and Mr Victor Hui, Acting Consul General of Singapore in the HKSAR also attended the ceremony.
Photo credit: City University of Hong Kong
“Hong Kong is always one of the best destinations for global start-ups to thrive. With the interactive collaboration between the Government, industry, academic and research sectors, we have introduced a series of initiatives to create a vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and a favourable business environment over the past years. That makes it a golden opportunity for global start-ups to start or expand their business in the city,” said Professor Sun. He also recognised the contribution of HK Tech 300 in supporting and nurturing tech start-ups and talents in Hong Kong and the region.
Mr Huang expressed his congratulations to the 10 outstanding start-ups. “The competition attracted some of the most inspiring innovations and young entrepreneurs in the region. This reinforces our vision of cultivating talent and shaping a society driven by I&T advancement beyond boundaries,” said Mr Huang. “This is also aligned with the national strategy and the Government’s aim to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub.”
President Boey said he was delighted to witness the winning start-ups utilising CityUHK technology to advance their tech products and services. He pointed out that CityUHK is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and remains committed to fostering inspirational, interactive, and innovative education, enabling CityUHK to make a significant contribution to the world by generating ground-breaking research and innovative solutions to address pressing global challenges.
He also expressed his heartfelt thanks to CityUHK’s partners in making the competition a success. “The Competition presents a unique opportunity to foster collaboration among top academic institutions and incubators in the region,” he said. We will continue our efforts to create a thriving I&T ecosystem through more cross-discipline, cross-sector and cross-region collaboration.”
The 10 winning start-ups, from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong, are experts in advanced technology fields, such as fintech, deep tech, biotech & health, and ICT & AI. These promising start-ups provide cutting-edge solutions for a wide range of industries, including digital healthcare, energy sustainability, green materials, digital assets and real estate.
Together with the angel funding, the awarded start-ups will receive extensive support. This includes professional services and business matching for potential co-investment opportunities in the HK Tech 300 ecosystem. They will also gain access to CityUHK’s world-class research achievements and intellectual property for advancing their technologies. This comprehensive support will provide a significant boost on their entrepreneurial journey.
The HK Tech 300 SEA Competition was held in partnership with universities and incubators in the region, including Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Chulalongkorn University from Thailand, Universitas Gadjah Mada from Indonesia, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC), Sunwah Innovation Center from Vietnam, and various chambers of commerce. It helps start-ups enter Hong Kong and the mainland markets by leveraging the city’s unique advantages and resources. It also promotes the University’s technology transfer and commercialisation, fostering closer ties between the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Hong Kong and the region.
The 10 winning start-ups (in alphabetical order):
| From | Start-up | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | Apping Technology Sdn. Bhd. Representative Mr Wong Wei Ther, CEO |
Apping Technology is a thriving company with over 45 employees across Hong Kong, Malaysia and India, disrupting recruitment and revolutionising how companies find and retain top talent with AI.
Apping Technology is building not just a platform, but the future of talent acquisition by disrupting the recruitment industry and creating a seamless talent ecosystem for the AI era. CityUHK Patent Used：Method for Use in Optical Imaging, A System for Using in Optical Imaging and An Optical SystemInventors：Shen Yajing, Lu Haojian |
| Malaysia | CoKeeps Sdn. Bhd. Representative Ms Suhanna Binti Husein, CEO |
CoKeepsCoKeeps is an infrastructure provider offering end-to-end institutional-grade compliant solutions for digital assets. Its mission is to bridge the gap between the crypto world and the regulated market, serving individual and organisation clients involved in digital assets and blockchain technology, such as family offices, banks, corporations and government agencies. Its core proprietary tech, CoKeeps Wallet, ensures secure storage of assets using a decentralised security architecture. It provides single- and multi-signature features for the storage solutions, including cold wallet and hot wallet with API access, tokenisation through smart contract solutions, and custodial services. CoKeeps also offers regulatory compliance features, such as Know-Your-Transactions (KYT) and the Travel Rule. CoKeeps focuses on security, particularly against insider theft, a major concern in the industry. CoKeeps Wallet eliminates the need for users to store private keys, mitigating the risks associated with private key storage. As the first and only Digital Asset Custodian licensed by the Securities Commission of Malaysia, CoKeeps has demonstrated its capabilities in cybersecurity and cryptography for safeguarding digital assets. Its CoKeeps Wallet is already commercialised and being used by initial clients. It received a Cradle grant in 2022 and is registered as Malaysia Digital company. CityUHK Patent Used：System and Method for Updating, Modifying and Managing Engineering and Construction Contracts in a Blockchain Network Inventors：Or Siu-hong, Kwok Ho-yin, Fung Wing-hong |
| Singapore | E3A Healthcare Pte Limited Representative Mr Harry Chen, CFO |
E3A Healthcare is at the forefront of innovation in medical devices for newborn and women’s healthcare. Established in 2019 on the campus of the National University of Singapore (NUS), its headquarters is in Singapore, with offices in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Its expertise lies in biosignal processing and biosensors, enabling it to develop first-in-class devices that enhance the accessibility and reliability of critical healthcare services. Since its inception, it has raised over US$8 million, served over 250,000 families globally, and saved the lives of hundreds of newborns. Its esteemed investors include the NUS, Enterprise Singapore, Hong Kong X Fund (Sequoia China), Capital Asia Investments, and City University of Hong Kong. CityUHK Patent Used：Radiative Cooling Interface for Wearable Electronic Device Inventors：Yu Xinge, Lei Dangyuan, Li Jiyu, Fu Yang |
| Thailand | PJJ Solutions Company Limited Representative Mr Lau Kwok Fui, Head of Operations |
PJJ Solutions, founded in 2023 by university students in Thailand, provides pioneering sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions for behind-the-meter applications, focusing on Central-Based Energy Storage Systems (C-BESS) and Virtual Management Platform (VMP). C-BESS tackles the intermittent nature of solar power by efficiently storing energy and stabilising the grid. It discharges energy during high-demand periods and stores excess energy when demand is low. C-BESS is seamlessly integrated with existing grid infrastructures, enhancing reliability, optimising real-time energy distribution to ensure efficient delivery to meet consumer demand, and reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based power plants. This scalable solution supports global decarbonisation goals and improves the economic viability of renewable investments. Since its establishment, PJJ Solutions has made significant progress, consulting and networking with energy specialists in Thailand and abroad. It received a partnership offer from Sandisolar, a prominent solar energy firm in China. Its current focus is on integrating its technology into Thailand’s grid system. It aims to establish a research institution to further enhance, test and optimise its solutions, and promote the wider adoption of renewable energy solutions in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. CityUHK Patent Used：Method for Manipulating an Energy Storage Device Inventors:Zhi Chunyi, Yang Qi, Guo Ying, Tang Zijie |
| Thailand | Portex Innovation Company Limited Representative Mr Bunyasit Fang, CEO |
Portex Innovation is a visionary start-up that aspires to shape the future of human-computer interaction. It focuses on revolutionising how people interact with technology. Its goal is to develop the input device of the future – a portable, split keyboard that is attached to the user’s legs, promoting a healthier computing experience. This innovative input device seamlessly integrates with emerging technologies, like extended reality (XR) and spatial computing, enabling users to input data in a more natural and ergonomic way. By eliminating the constraints of traditional keyboards, it aims to unlock new possibilities in productivity, creativity and accessibility. What sets Portex Innovation apart is its commitment to open-source principles and customizability. Its modular technology allows users to tailor the input experience to their specific needs and preferences, fostering collaboration and innovation within the tech community. Currently in the prototype stage, Portex Innovation has already garnered interest from many testers. It plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in Q4 2024 to make its transformative input device available to the masses. CityUHK Patent Used：Rechargeable Polyacrylamide Based Polymer Electrolyte Zinc‐Ion Batteries Inventors：Zhi Chunyi, Li Hongfei |
| Indonesia | PT Inspirasien Srikandi Indonesia Representative Ms Astriani Dwi Aryaningtyas, CEO |
Inspirasien Srikandi Indonesia, Ltd. (Inspirasien) is a health support and patient advocacy platform founded by chronic disease survivors with various health professional backgrounds who are committed to supporting other patients. We are licensed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. We have 40 patient advocates who are health specialists and caring individuals help enhance patients’ quality of life by providing more healthcare information. As a global patient advocacy provider, Inspirasien assists chronic disease patients and caregivers by providing comprehensive health services through:
Inspirasien's website，supported by an AI health assistant system, helps healthcare workers make clinical diagnoses. It is enhancing the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) to help patient advocates make quick and accurate diagnoses based on the patient’s (vital signs) condition and monitoring the status through video conferences integrated with electronic medical records. Its services using technology were recognised by the Gadjah Mada University Startup Grant Program – Asian Development Bank in 2023. CityUHK Patent Used：Wearable Three‐dimensional Auricular Multi-point Acquisition, Health Status Monitoring, And Bio‐stimulation DeviceInventors：Li Wenjung, Huang Qingyun, Chan Ho-yin |
| Malaysia | Qmed Asia Representative Dr Kev Lim, Founder & CEO |
QueueMed Healthtech Sdn. Bhd. (also known as Qmed Asia), founded in 2019 by medical doctors and AI experts, aims to revolutionise healthcare delivery through digital health solutions and streamline and enhance the patient journey with an integrated AI-driven healthcare experience. It offers three main product lines: Qmed Journey, Qmed Connect and Qmed AI. Qmed Journeyprovides end-to-end patient journey solutions, including online appointments, queue management, self-registration kiosks and teleconsultation.Qmed Connect integrates medical devices, supporting teleradiology and cloud PACS solutions for radiology devices, such as ultrasound and X-ray machines.Qmed AI develops AI tools to enhance diagnostics and clinical decision-making, enhancing precision and efficiency in healthcare. Its technology seamlessly integrates with existing healthcare systems, making adoption easy. For example, its AI Triage Chatbot, Qmed Nora, combines multiple functions, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. It works with over 4,000 healthcare providers, benefiting more than 4 million patients, and has partnered with Malaysia’s Ministry of Health and MOSTI and expanded into big hospitals and clinic chains. It plans to grow in Southeast Asia, with ongoing projects in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is also exploring the Hong Kong market and seeking partnerships with leading healthcare providers and academic institutions. CityUHK Patent Used： Medical Image Compression and/or Reconstruction Inventors： Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Liu Xiangrui, Wang Meng, Wang Shiqi |
| Vietnam | Smartos Joint Stock Company Representative Ms Trang Hanh Tran, Founder & CEO |
Smartos is a one-stop platform for the rental real estate industry, whose aim is to revolutionise the industry with property intelligence, helping property owners, managers and tenants make appropriate financial decisions.
Its customisable software provides a strategic, cost-effective solution for businesses of any size to enter or expand in the real estate technology market. Inventors：Antoni Bert Chan, Rynson Lau WH, Pang Xufang, Cao Ying |
| Hong Kong | Super Bamboo Limited Representative Mr Andy Ong, Co-founder & CEO; Research Assistant of CityUHK Department of Mechanical Engineering |
Super Bamboo is a green material science start-up that designs advanced augmented bamboo materials to help save the earth. The company combines nature’s friendliest resource with innovative engineering to enable what was previously considered impossible. Their current core technologies are Super Bamboo™ and Porous Biochar™. Super Bamboo™ is an award-winning material that is three times stronger than regular bamboo with a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel. It uses a breakthrough manufacturing method utilising no formaldehyde, toxic glue or other toxic chemicals. Porous Biochar™ is a fully biobased bamboo fire-retardant material that can withstand fire beyond 1,000°C for over an hour. These materials can be used in green buildings and construction in the future. Super Bamboo has received numerous awards, including the Gold Medal in the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days, the Merit Award in the Innovation Award, by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Industry’s Pick Award, by the HK Startup Council, and the Best Deep Tech Pioneer Award, by Y-LOT Foundation. Currently, Super Bamboo is working and seeking support to scale up and set up pilot manufacturing, with the goal of launching its first panel and fire-rated building products by the end of 2024. CityUHK Patent Used：A Method of Forming a Composite Material and a Composite Material Inventors：Lu Yang, Fan Rong |
| Hong Kong | Syngular Technology Limited Representative Mr Louis Sze Kwan-yik, Co-founder & CEO; Alumnus of CityUHK College of Business |
Founded in 2021, Syngular focuses on developing mixed reality (MR) based surgical assistance software to convert medical scan data into holograms that can be visualised in a headset with ultra-low latency by surgeons during operations. It can also provide live video streaming with immersive remote interaction. Currently, surgeons rely on 2D screen images (such as X-rays) or 3D physical models to plan the entire surgical procedure and depend on assistants to open the relevant computer files during the operation. Considering the ageing population and shortage of healthcare professionals, there is huge market potential to improve surgical performance and efficiency to shorten operating times and reduce the number of revision surgeries. The “Syngular Mixed Reality Platform” can be applied in surgical planning, navigation, and remote collaboration and training. Surgeons can experience “X-ray vision” through the MR headsets – using 3D visualisation images overlaid on the patient’s surgical part to locate surgical incisions and placement implantation. They can also search and retrieve predefined surgical step files through hand gestures or eyeball movements, enhancing surgery efficiency. CityUHK Patent Used：Unsupervised Domain Adaptive Model for 3D Prostate Zonal Segmentation Inventors：Yuan Yixuan, Guo Xiaoqing |