Hong Kong – StartmeupHK Festival 2024 wraps up: championing technology across industries and empowering global start-ups for future of infinite opportunities (with photos)

     The StartmeupHK Festival 2024 concluded on October 25, following an exciting week filled with engaging events, networking opportunities, and pitch competitions.

     The flagship startup event set the stage for over 200 visionary speakers and attracted over 3 400 participants, including industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, tech enthusiasts, and government officials from 49 territories. The Festival also welcomed six delegations from Canada, Mainland China, India, the Philippines, Thailand and the United Kingdom, highlighting the diversity of Hong Kong’s international start-up ecosystem.

     For the first time, a series of 15 roadshow events have been held across eight economies, successfully expanding the Festival’s international influence. These events attracted over 1 400 participants, connecting them with Invest Hong Kong. These impressive figures once again augment the city’s great potential and aspirations in becoming a global start-up and innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

     Under the theme “A Future Unlimited”, the Festival featured a range of hot topics in the tech sector in particular, including artificial intelligence (AI), web3, GameFi, responsible tech, healthtech, sustainability, and more.
     
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government strongly committed to nurturing vibrant startup ecosystem in Hong Kong

      Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong said at LOUDER Connect that by connecting the dots for responsible tech the Hong Kong Government is dedicated to fostering a robust start-up ecosystem that promotes innovation while ensuring responsible technology use. He highlighted that a significant milestone was the establishment of the Digital Policy Office (DPO) in July, pivotal in advancing data-driven, user-centric, and outcome-oriented digital policies across government and various sectors. 

     During the Asia Health Innovation Summit, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, emphasised that Hong Kong is well positioned to become an international I&T centre as well as a health and medical innovation hub. It is home to five of the world’s top 100 universities, two world top 40 medical schools, eight state key laboratories and 16 InnoHK research centres which are life and health-related, offering world-class research and development (R&D) capabilities.

      The Director-General of Investment Promotion for Invest Hong Kong, Ms Alpha Lau, spoke at the JUMPSTARTER Ignition Gala, stating that cross-sector government support, combined with a comprehensive stakeholder ecosystem, has made Hong Kong an ideal destination for start-ups to thrive. “There is a record high of over 4 200 startups operating in Hong Kong, employing over 16 000 staff. Twenty-six per cent of these start-ups have founders from outside of Hong Kong, demonstrating the dynamism of our startup ecosystem,” she said.

AI and sustainability: driving innovation across industries

     The JUMPSTARTER Ignition Gala kicked off the Festival with a dynamic showcase of cutting-edge ideas and technologies. Industry leaders and experts gathered for thought-provoking discussions focusing on AI’s future and its impact on diverse markets. Sessions explored the challenges of adapting AI technologies to meet the needs of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as global trends and ethical considerations.

     In a keynote session, the Founder and CEO of Redcoat AI, Mr John Whaley, said that humanity is currently at a pivotal moment in history with the rise of generative AI and foundational models. While their full potential remains largely unexplored, their significance is widely acknowledged and has the potential to change humanity for the better.

     At Game On! 2024, a standout moment was the inspiring story of Cheng Yip-kai, the 16-year-old Pokémon GO world champion. His journey to the top demonstrated the dedication and quick decision-making needed in this fast-paced game, like speed chess, with only a few players able to consistently excel at the global level. Cheng sees Olympic gold medalist Cheung Ka-Long as his role model, as he aspires to become a world champion for the second time, just like him. 

     At LOUDER Connect, industry leaders and experts debated the importance of responsible tech and its role in shaping a sustainable future. The event also introduced for the first time pitch debates on the iconic Star Ferry, which challenged student founders by placing them in the dynamic and competitive context of pitching against their peers.

     The 1.5°C Summit – The defining decade for impact with tech brought a sharp focus to climate change and technological solutions. This unique event gathered industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how technology can revolutionise industries and foster a more sustainable future. Through keynotes and panel discussions, participants shared insights on critical actions needed to reduce emissions over the next decade.

Innovative pitching formats and an array of community events

     The StartmeupHK Festival 2024 also showcased innovative pitching formats that connected startups with investors, and a wide range of community events that fostered meaningful discussions among investors and startup founders. Highlights included exclusive breakfast sessions organised by Hupo for business leaders, and dynamic events hosted by Rock & Run, which combined a hike to Victoria Peak with a jog along the Hong Kong Harbourfront, allowing investors and founders to connect in a relaxed, scenic setting.

     “We are thrilled to celebrate another successful year of the StartmeupHK Festival, which has facilitated deeper engagement between start-ups and investors. Bringing overseas attendees to our festival not only enhances the vibrancy of our start-up ecosystem but also fosters invaluable connections that drive innovation and collaboration. As we continue to engage with the world, we unlock new opportunities that are essential for our growth as a leading innovation hub,” said the Head of Startups, Invest Hong Kong, Ms Jayne Chan.