Stall Owner ApplicationsY.E.S. is inviting eligible members to become stall owners of "Chill Bazaar 2026". Successful applicants as selected by Y.E.S. will run their retail businesses at the temporary rent-free stalls set at Mira Place for two days.Purposesto provide free learning and practice opportunities to young persons who want to set up their own businesses for their handmade or creative products;to assist young entrepreneurs to extend client network and market as well as promote their products or services.Details of Chill Bazaar 2026Date: 31 October & 1 November 2026 (Saturday & Sunday) Time: From 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Venue: Mira Place 1 Atrium, Tsim Sha TsuiFree Training Course"Youth Entrepreneurship: Temporary Retail Stall Operation Training" will guide participants on using bazaar retail stalls as a strategic testing ground for their ventures, boosting their sales acumen, broadening their customer base, and exploring pathways for sustainable business growth. Participants will be able to master both the necessary knowledge and theories before applying them to the actual businesses.【Date and time of training course: 2 September 2026 (Wednesday) 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.】In "Practical Experience Sharing From Market Vendor", the speaker will talk about entrepreneurial journey, insights on running markets, experience on setting up stalls at overseas markets and the behind-the-scenes stories of cultural and creative markets.【Date and time of training course: 23 September 2026 (Wednesday) 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.】Professional ConsultantTo create good basis for future business paths of participants, Y.E.S. will invite a professional business consultant to provide individual professional consultancy services to participants before the event and round up with them after the event.Notes for ApplicationApplicants may participate in the programme on individual or team basis. Each team should comprise of not more than 4 persons;The team leader, i.e. the First Applicant, must be a Y.E.S. business member aged 18 to 29 and holder of a valid Business Registration Certificate (BRC);If you are not a Y.E.S. business member, please register as Y.E.S. member first, and send the copy of the BRC to Y.E.S. by email;If you are not a BRC holder, registered social worker of Y.E.S. will offer assistance to you. Eligible persons can also apply for exemption from payment of business registration fee and levy!

✓ Starting as a one-person company or scaling your SME, want to drive your global expansion with AI?✓ Want to pair AI with government funding to help your business grow faster and steadier?"SME ReachOut" presents a brand-new webinar series combining AI applications with government funding schemes, unpacking a complete roadmap to going global across four focused topics.Register now and seize your global market opportunity! 26 Aug | EP. 1 One-Person Company × AI: Funding-Fuelled Global ReachGuest Speaker: Mr Kelvin CHOY - Director, The Hong Kong General Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs      •  AI-Driven One-Person Company Operations      •  Cross-Border E-Commerce & Digital Marketing      •  BUD Fund × AI Application29 Sep | EP. 2 Cross-Border E-Commerce Leap: Funding Your Global PlayGuest Speaker: Mr Stanley LI - President, E-Commerce Association of Hong Kong      •  AI × Cross-Border Multi-Channel Growth      •  E-Commerce Upgrade Playbook      •  BUD Fund Tips29 Oct | EP. 3 Go Global with Funding: AI-Powered Brand Growth      •  Brand Positioning × Overseas Customer Trust      •  AI-Optimised Branding Strategy      •  AI Upgrade Funding 10126 Nov | EP. 4 Funding the Twin Engines:Smart Manufacturing × Green Logistics across the Value Chain      •  AI-Driven Data Production × Logistics Efficiency      •  Smart Manufacturing Funding: NIFS, Manufacturing+, TPLSP      •  ESG Tech × Value Chain Upgrades

With the growth of the global awareness of decarbonisation, consumers have been demanding green and low-carbon products and services.  At the same time, the relevant laws and regulations of the major markets of Hong Kong businesses have been kept on updating.  To assists the SMEs, the Trade and Industry Department has set up a one-stop thematic webpage, "Decarbonisation ‧ Business Action", under the "SME Link" portal to provide concise information on the requirements and regulations of Hong Kong and our trading partners; links to services about decarbonisation and carbon audit including self-assessment tools; resources on technological solutions and services provided by solution providers and market practitioners; as well as information on carbon reduction related government funding support.For more details, please visit the thematic webpage "Decarbonisation ‧ Business Action", or contact the Support and Consultation Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises at (852) 2398 5133 or by email ([email protected]).

According to the 2024 Startup Survey released by Invest Hong Kong, both the number of startups and their employees have reached record high—underscoring the ecosystem's vitality. Let’s take a closer look at the key findings:1. Record high in the total number of startupsThe total number of startups in Hong Kong soared to 4,694 in 2024, marking a 40% increase compared to 2020.2. Record high in the total numberof employees recruited by startups Startup hiring has been on the rise since 2021. In 2024, startups recruited 17,651 employees—a 65% jump from 2020.3. Continuous growth in locations of co-working spaces/incubators/acceleratorsSince 2020, the number of co-working spaces/incubators/accelerators grew by 18%, rising from 116 to 137 locations.4. Attraction of non-local talentsNon-local founders made up 28% of Hong Kong’s startup community in 2024. Among them, 40.3% originated from Mainland China.5. Most startups are engaged in the FinTech sectorThe FinTech sector ranks the top in terms of number of startups in 2024 with 619 such companies. Apart from the leading industries such as Infomration, computer & technlogy and E-commerce, noteworthy growth has been observed in Health & medical and Sustainable technology / Green technology, reflecting a heightened focus on personal health and sustainability.Interested in starting your own business in one of the fast-growing industries? Here below are some useful resources:GovHK - Starting a Business (Financing & Planning)Support and consultation Centre for SMEs of Trade and Industry Department website - Business Start-up Information ServiceWe Venture website SourcesStartmeupHK website - Hong Kong’s Startup EcosystemInvest Hong Kong’s 2024 Startup Survey

Celebrate 10 Years of Scaling Innovation for Evolving WorldInvest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced an exciting milestone for its two flagship events, the Hong Kong Fintech Week and the StartmeupHK Festival. Both events will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2025 and will be converged and held from 3 to 7 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and multiple venues across Hong Kong.The convergence of the two events will create an expanded platform dedicated to all facets of technology and business impact. It underscores Hong Kong's dedication to the digital economy by tapping into its strengths as a top international financial centre and a thriving start-up hub. Last year, the number of start-ups in Hong Kong grew by 10 per cent, with fintech being the biggest sector, featuring over 600 start-ups. The joint event will expedite innovation and foster growth in the region.Fintech & BeyondAs technology becomes ubiquitous across financial services and different sectors, the joint event will unveil a seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, greentech and healthtech within the globally acclaimed financial services sector and beyond. The event will offer an expansive canvas for innovation and collaboration, elevating the competitiveness of financial institutions and propelling them into the future. Start-up SuperhighwayStart-ups will embark on a journey where they will enjoy unparalleled access to a wealth of resources on a unified platform. From mentors to diverse funding opportunities and extensive market exposure across the expansive tech ecosystem, this platform serves as fertile ground for nurturing groundbreaking ventures and showcasing emerging success stories.　　 Stakeholder Synergy and Amplifying ImpactBy uniting fintech experts, tech entrepreneurs, a wide array of investors, strategic companies, small and medium enterprises, financial institutions, and policymakers, this event cultivates cross-sector dialogue. It creates a robust platform that optimises resources and maximises business impact for all participants. This synergistic environment catalyses innovation and collaboration, unlocking new opportunities for all stakeholders.Watch the following video to recap the exciting highlights of Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024!
Get ready for a transformative experience that will shape the future of technology and finance. For more details, please visit www.fintechweek.hk or www.startmeup.hk and follow via official social media accounts: LinkedIn: Hong Kong FinTech Week; StartmeupHK;YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/HongKongFinTechWeek;Facebook: Startmeup.HK

(The story is in Chinese only. Please refer to the Chinese version.)

(The story is in Chinese only. Please refer to the Chinese version.)

Start-up Express is Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)’s highly curated start-up development programme that targets start-ups offering innovative and tech products or solutions, as well as those with strong desire to enter the international market. The programme aims to assist local start-ups in building capability and connections, exploring markets, seeking business and funding partners, and enhancing brand awareness.The programme offers start-ups with unique opportunities to learn, grow and connect. Each year, 10 winners will be selected as the annual cohort who will be exposed to vigorous marketing activities and earned attention from investors, media and potential partners. Target Participants Start-ups incorporated for 5 years of less;Start-ups raising less than USD10 million in funding;Start-ups with a valid business registration in Hong Kong;Start-ups with a focus on technologies including but not limited to Edtech, Fintech, Health tech, Prop tech, Smart city, Sustainability.Registration is open till 7 May 2025. For further details on the programme and registration method, please visit the official website.Click here to view the details of the past winners.

(The story is in Chinese only. Please refer to the Chinese version.)

Unleash the potential for local young people and Small and Medium Enterprises in the thriving Greater Bay Area (GBA). Hong Kong Trade Development Council's  GoGBA one-stop platform offers comprehensive career and business information in the GBA. The GoGBA Go-to Guides for instance, hope to help entrepreneurs and businesses with the first steps of setting up a business, handling taxation and completing related procedures. Connect with business partners and access career information in the GBA with just few clicks！ Visit www.go-gba.com to know more!Stay connected with our GoGBA WeChat Mini-program for the latest updates.(Scan QR code in WeChat)