A total US$5 million in venture funding and US$210,000 in cash prizes available plus business matching and investment opportunities
HONG KONG–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today kicked off its seventh global Elevator Pitch Competition 2023 (EPiC 2023), by inviting tech startups around the world to enter one of the largest elevator pitch events in Hong Kong.
HKSTP will shortlist the top 50 semi-finalists as contestants to deliver a 60-second elevator pitch to international investors and corporate partners at the EPiC 2023 event which will be held in Hong Kong in April 2023. All the semi-finalists will have the golden opportunity to secure up to US$5 million investment from the HKSTP Venture Fund and market expansion support in Asia and beyond, plus the chance to win the US$60,000 champion cash prize.
As global venture capital funding tightens, entrepreneurs worldwide are keen to capture genuine growth market opportunities. Hong Kong provides the ideal platform to expand into the vast Asian market, being a gateway to both Mainland China and Asia. As the largest I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong, startups joining EPiC 2023 can fully leverage HKSTP’s direct connection to over 1,000 investors and more than 300 corporate partners. The top 50 semi-finalists will reap the benefits from the HKSTP value-added services for six months, even after the competition. These include business matching, investment referral, exclusive membership of a city-wide and cross-industry virtual lab (STP Platform), access to co-working space as well as an extensive talent pool by reaching out to Hong Kong’s renowned universities, five of them being ranked in the world’s top 100 according to the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Organised by HKSTP, EPiC 2023 is now open for applications in the two competition tracks – FinTech and PropTech – from 26 October 2022 through to 29 December 2022. The finale will take place in April next year at the iconic sky100 venue atop Hong Kong’s tallest building, International Commerce Centre, to create a genuine elevator pitch experience for startups.
Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP said: “Asia is home to over half of the world’s consumers and Hong Kong is the ideal springboard for startups seeking expansion in this region rich in diverse growth opportunities. EPiC 2023 is a unique platform that connects entrepreneurs to investors, corporate partners and Hong Kong’s biggest innovation and technology ecosystem. By combining these critical factors, HKSTP is providing invaluable support to startups on their growth journey in Hong Kong, China’s Greater Bay Area and across Asia, which further reinforces Hong Kong as a leading international I&T hub.”
Last year’s EPiC attracted a record number of over 600 entries from over 40 countries and cities around the world, all converging with the brightest local talent. HKSTP aims to continue nurturing talent and providing a unique platform for local and international innovators to unlock growth and global opportunities.
Who can apply:
Tech startups that are less than 10 years old
Ideas should focus on one of the TWO technology tracks: FinTech and PropTech
Applications will close on 29 December 2022 at 23:59 (Hong Kong time).
Please visit the website (https://epic.hkstp.org/) for more information on EPiC 2023.
List of awards and prizes
The Top 50 semi-finalists all qualify for a chance to secure up to US$5 million investment by the HKSTP Venture Fund.
Award
Cash Prize (for each winner)
Champion
US$60,000
2 Tech Winners
(FinTech / PropTech)
US$20,000
Top 10 Finalists
US$10,000
Favourite Pitcher
US$10,000
About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has for 20 years committed to building up Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub to propel success for local and global pioneers today and tomorrow. HKSTP has established a thriving I&T ecosystem that is home to three unicorns and Hong Kong’s leading R&D hub with over 11,000 research professionals and over 1,100 technology companies focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies.
Established in 2001, we attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation and technology for entrepreneurs on their journey of growth in Hong Kong, to the Greater Bay Area, Asia and beyond. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern INNOPARKs in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three INNOPARKs are realising a vision of re-industrialisation for Hong Kong. The goal is sectors like advanced manufacturing, electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined for a new generation of industry.
Through our infrastructure, services, expertise and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish innovation and technology as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s international I&T hub status as a launchpad for global growth at the heart of the GBA innovation powerhouse.
More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.
Contacts
Media Enquiries:
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Sam Yan
Tel: +852 2629 6743
Email: sam.yan@hkstp.org / pr@hkstp.org
Edelman Public Relations
Vicky Lo
Tel: +852 2837 4786
Email: vicky.lo@edelman.com/
Edelmanhkstppr@edelman.com
