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.)

報名時間：即日起至7月31日 (Chinese version only)

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)  

The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) has appointed four organisations as the third batch of intermediaries in 2023 to run a new round of innovative programmes to provide support for more social entrepreneurs. By promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship, it enables more social entrepreneurs to address social needs through innovative ideas, products and services, and assists the Government in formulating targeted poverty alleviation initiatives. The four intermediaries appointed are Fullness Social Enterprises Society Ltd, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, MakerBay Foundation Limited and Oxfam Hong Kong.The four intermediaries are knowledgeable and experienced organisations in the social innovation field. They aim to nurture and support social innovators and organisations to develop innovative projects with diversity and impact through the following innovative programmes. Individuals and organisations with innovative ideas in addressing poverty issues and wish to seek financial support to implement innovative projects may learn more by clicking the below logos and approach the intermediaries running innovative programmes directly and submit applications under their funding schemes.Wish to compare the four innovative programmes in one go? Do not miss the Programme at a glance, a clear comparison table highlighting the eligibility, amount of grant and uniquite features of the prorgammes. Innovator FarmImpact IncubatorImpact Innovation LabGrant for Good

The Cyberport University Partnership Programme (CUPP) supported by Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF) is a life-changing experience to unleash participants’ full potential and gain insights into the global market!This financial technology (FinTech) focused entrepreneurship programme with boot camp, mentorship and competition that aiming at nurturing young FinTech talents for Hong Kong since 2015. The nominated students have unique chance to participate in Overseas Entrepreneurship Boot Camp and receive mentorship from local and international industry elites. The winning teams will receive HK$100,000 grant from CCMF. ​The Programme offers- A series of FinTech pre-camp nurturing sessions in Hong Kong- An Entrepreneurship Boot Camp by a prestigious overseas university- Mentorship and insight from FinTech industry elites, both local and overseas- Opportunities to pitch innovative FinTech business ideas to investorsAdmission Requirement- The project must be rooted in digital tech- Applicants must be nominated by CUPP co-organising university partners- Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive) at the time of the nomination deadline- Applicants must be undergraduate or postgraduate students from CUPP co-organising university partners, either currently enrolled university students or graduated - Applicants must have a good command of English- Team members could be a mixture of students from different CUPP co-organising universities- Each team could have up to 5 membersPrizesWinning teams will receive a grant of HK$100,000 from Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF).Apply nowCUPP is nomination-based. Interested applicants should contact CUPP co-organising universities for nomination.

Visit cyberhub.hk for free training to avoid being the victim of cyber risks!Want to avoid being the next victim of cyber risks? Train up your staff to mitigate potential risks from the source.The changes in the digital era, such as digital transformation, work-from-home and e-commerce, bring not only convenience but also potential cyber risks. According to data from Hong Kong Police Force Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB), corporate email scams have caused losses of more than HKD 1.5 billion in 2021.Lack of cybersecurity training will lead to employees relying on their own experience to work without any awareness of cyber risks and hence exposing the company to cybersecurity risks!Cybersec Training Hub Cybersec Training Hub is a complimentary self-learning platform initiated by Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC), which aims to lower the threshold for organisations to provide cybersecurity training to employees, particularly for SMEs with limited resources. The vision of HKIRC is to join hands with the community to build Hong Kong into a healthier and safer cyber-smart city by enhancing cybersecurity awareness among different industries and employees as well as reducing cybersecurity risks from the source.How to Start- Bookmark the website of Cybersec Training Hub (cyberhub.hk)- Schedule the training for your employees flexibly. Induction training for new joiners is highly recommended.- Employees will receive an e-certificate after completing the 20-minute online self-training- Send the e-certificate to HR/managers as a training record Benefits of the Programme- Professional training content provided by well-known Big-4 cybersecurity consultancy firms- User-friendly, interactive, and ready-to-use- Available in Traditional Chinese and English- Introduce cyber risks in a real-life working scenario- Training targeting different job positions (e.g. HR, Finance, etc.)- Complimentary and easy to use for all SMEsVisit cyberhub.hk to start your free training NOW!For enquiry, please email to HKIRC Cybersecurity Team: [email protected]

InnoCell is a smart living and co-creation space designed for I&T talents to spark collaboration within Hong Kong Science Park. All of the spaces are designed with a well-considered balance between aesthetics and functionality. InnoCell’s vision is to develop an I&T co-creation community where its values and structures align with its residents’ needs. At InnoCell, a new way of living has been created with a focus on a genuine sense of community, where the use of shared spaces and smart living technologies helps to build greater personal interaction and collaboration — resulting in a network of likeminded talents who inspire one another and have a positive impact.Eligibility CriteriaThe 17-storey InnoCell provides over 500 beds. Apart from the Science Park's company founders, Mainland or overseas employees, it is also open to visiting academics, scientists and technology talents. InnoCell’s monthly rent is set up to around 60% of the market price of a similar property in the neighbourhood. The maximum lease period is one year.Experience Innovative Smart Living with Four Types of UnitThere are four types of units: THE SOLO, THE TWIN, THE SUITE and THE POWERHUB. THE POWERHUB, with eight individual studios plus a private working area, is an ideal space for a project team to assemble and brainstorm. It is not all work and no play at InnoCell. There is an approximately 30,000 sq ft common area that includes meeting rooms, a library area, and a gym, etc., offering tailored communal facilities for the residents. For admission and more information about InnoCell, please visit the website of HKSTP and InnoCell.

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