- 20 leading technology companies selected for the grand finale in Hong Kong, with an investment target of US$45 million to be held, up to US$5 million in HKSTP venture capital funding and US$240,000 in cash prizes
- EPiC goes global to attract top startups, with Lion City joining other semi-finalists in Silicon Valley, Stuttgart in Germany and Hong Kong
- The first EPiC Asia-Pacific Semi-Final in Singapore connects startups from across South Asia to the I&T ecosystems of North Asia’s Hong Kong, GBA and China.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – February 23, 2024 – The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has successfully completed the first Elevator Pitch Competition 2024 (EPiC) regional semi-final in Singapore on February 22-23, 2024. A total of 222 of the brightest startups from the Asia-Pacific region battled for 20 semi-finalist spots at the grand finale of EPiC 2024 in Hong Kong on April 26, 2024. All candidates for EPiC 2024 are aiming for an investment of $45 million to be organized[1]qualify for a chance at up to $5 million in investment from the HKSTP Corporate Venture Fund (CVF), $240,000 in cash prizes, as well as partnership opportunities.
As Hong Kong’s largest incubator, HKSTP integrates high-growth companies directly into its innovation ecosystem and seamlessly up to HKD 2.827 billion (USD 362 billion).[2] an economic opportunity in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China encompassing Guangdong and the even larger mainland China market and beyond. Guangdong province is China’s largest provincial economy and projects GDP growth of 5% in 2024.[3]. Located in Hong Kong, EPiC provides a critical growth launchpad that positions Asia Pacific innovators at the heart of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) innovation powerhouse and connects growing investment and market potential of the world, mainland China and beyond.
Eric Or, Head of Partnerships at HKSTP, said: “This first-ever EPiC Asia-Pacific Semi-Final in Singapore is another major milestone in our mission to take EPiC to a global scale. By connecting top SEA startups to Hong Kong’s largest innovation ecosystem, HKSTP, EPiC is now creating a truly pan-Asia growth platform connecting entrepreneurs from South Asia and North Asia.
The Singapore regional semi-final took place at the Plug and Play office in the Great Room Centennial Tower, with 94 participants in the FinTech stream, 65 in PropTech and 63 in MobilityTech. FinTech and PropTech innovations are presented on day 1, while MobilityTech innovations are presented on day 2.
Hosting the first-ever EPiC Asia-Pacific Semi-Final in Singapore is a key milestone in EPiC’s mission to attract top startups from around the world. The 222 semi-finalists competed fiercely in the fields of FinTech, PropTech and MobilityTech while presenting their innovative ideas and business models during a strict eight-minute period with a two-minute question-and-answer session in front of a jury professional. The 20 shortlisted startups will join the other semi-finalists in the Silicon Valley Semi-Final which took place on January 18 and 19, 2024, with further rounds in Hong Kong (February 29, 2024) and Stuttgart in Germany (4 -March 5, 2024). , with a total of 72 semi-finalists selected for the grand finale at the iconic Sky100 venue, atop Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre.
Photo 1: HKSTP successfully completed the first-ever semi-final of the Asia-Pacific Elevator Pitch Competition 2024 (EPiC) on 22-23 February 2024, with 20 of Singapore’s brightest innovators selected to fly to Hong Kong Kong on April 26, 2024 for EPiC. Grand Final 2024.
Photo 2: Eric Or, Head of Partnerships, HKSTP, said: “This first-ever EPiC Asia-Pacific Semi-Final in Singapore is another major milestone in our mission to take EPiC to a global scale. By connecting top SEA startups to Hong Kong’s largest innovation ecosystem, HKSTP, EPiC is now creating a truly pan-Asia growth platform connecting entrepreneurs from South Asia and North Asia.
Photo 3-5: The featured startups presented FinTech, PropTech and MobilityTech innovations on days 1 and 2.
[1] Aim to arrange $45 million investment: Investors (including funds managed by HKSTP CVF, Beyond Ventures, BitRock Capital, Gaw Capital, HKX, InnoAngel, Jafco Asia, Mindworks Capital and Radiant Tech Ventures) will consider invest in candidates (subject to terms and conditions). to be agreed between the parties)
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