HKSTP Reveals Startup Semi-finalists for Annual Global EPiC Pitch Competition

Hong Kong is open to all and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) is ramping up its seventh Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC 2023) by unveiling its 50 Grand Finale semi-finalists, selected from 618 entries and 55 economies across the world.

EPiC 2023 -- backed by innovation-driven partners Cathay, HSBC, MTR Lab, plus world-leading accelerator Plug & Play -- is the city’s most eagerly anticipated pitch event each year and will take place on 28 April 2023 (Friday) at the summit of Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre. The annual event is a unique, worldwide competition for mid to late-stage startups in the FinTech and PropTech sectors who seek to expand their footprints into Asia and beyond, while leveraging Hong Kong’s biggest innovation ecosystem at HKSTP.

EPiC provides the best available platform for startups to make real business impact through connections with the Science Park network of 1,000+ investors and 300+ corporate partners.

This year, three quarters of the entries are from overseas, with the proportion of overseas contestants and the number of economies participating hitting a record high since 2016. A total of 50 contestants representing 14 different economies entered the semi-final round.

All 50 semi-finalists have a golden opportunity to be considered for direct investment of up to US$5 million from the HKSTP Venture Fund, as well as market expansion support across Asia and beyond, plus the chance to win a cash prize of US$90,000 if crowned overall champion.

Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP, said: “EPiC is an iconic mega event that has hit global scale, as record turnout from international startups further demonstrates Hong Kong’s advantages as an international I&T hub. Hong Kong is diversified, vibrant and attracts the very best entrepreneurs, investors and corporate innovators. Grow fast and go beyond is the theme for EPiC this year, and we welcome talents from around the world to explore Hong Kong’s unlimited investment and innovation opportunities.”

The EPiC Grand Finale on 28 April will be hosted at Hong Kong’s iconic Sky 100 venue atop Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre. The 50 competing teams will pitch their world-changing ideas to a judging panel of renowned investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. The actual pitch will comprise of a 60-second elevator ride as participants compete for the title of overall EPiC Champion.

To propel EPiC to the broader public, HKSTP has launched for the first time, the "My Favourite Pitcher" public poll, which is open to all to vote for their favourite pitch video from the shortlisted 50 semi-finalists. The poll is now available at EPiC polling website (epic-voting.hkstp.org) and lasts until 28 April 2023 1pm (HKT). The semi-finalist with the highest number of votes will win the cash prize of US$10,000, plus 200,000 Asia Miles sponsored by Cathay.

HKSTP will also kick off the exclusive Immersion Programme for semi-finalists to experience Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem first-hand and unlock business opportunities through educational talks, business matching and networking with leading corporate partners and investors across the HKSTP ecosystem.

Contestants Breakdown:

Category	No. of applicants
PropTech	266 (43%)
FinTech	352 (57%)

Headquarter	No. of applicants
Overseas	465 (75%)
Hong Kong	153 (25%)

A record high proportion of overseas contestants and economies participation since 2016.

EPiC activities:

Now until 28 April 2023, 1pm (HKT)

"My Favourite Pitcher" Public Polling

• The top 50 semi-finalists' pitching videos is open for public online voting
• The semi-finalist with the highest number of votes will be crowned EPiC 2023's "My Favourite Pitcher" and win the cash prize of US$10,000 plus 200,000 Asia Miles sponsored by Cathay

25 – 26 April 2023

"Grow Beyond Hong Kong" Immersion Programme

• An exclusive 2-day programme for EPiC 2023 semi-finalists to experience HKSTP’s innovation ecosystem.
• Participants will unlock growth opportunities through educational talks, business matching and networking with leading corporate partners and investors in our ecosystem.

28 April 2023

EPiC 2023 Grand Finale

• Venue: Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck
• Top 50 Semi-Finalists will pitch their ideas within a 60-second elevator ride
• Top 10 Finalists will pitch their innovation ideas on stage to renowned investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders
• All 50 semi-finalists have the golden opportunities to be considered for direct investment of up to US$5 million from the HKSTP Venture Fund, plus the chance to win a cash prize of US$90,000 if crowned overall champion.

For more information on EPiC 2023, please visit: https://epic.hkstp.org/

For full list of the 50 semi-finalists see appendix below.

About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has for over 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 two unicorns and Hong Kong’s leading R&D hub with over 12,000 research professionals and over 1,200 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 new 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.

APPENDIX:

50 semi-finalists for the Grand Finale of EPiC 2023, with 26 from FinTech and 24 from PropTech:

FinTech

	Company Name (in alphabetical order)	Headquarter
1	AlgoBot Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
2	Amuro Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
3	Canvasland Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
4	Deland Labs	Singapore
5	Doconomy	Sweden
6	Dowsure	Mainland China
7	Endangered Wildlife OÜ	Estonia
8	FedML, Inc.	United States
9	FinCrime Dynamics	United Kingdom
10	Finema	Thailand
11	FINGREEN AI	France
12	PFY Healthcare Technology	Mainland China
13	Homebase	Vietnam
14	Leapstack	Vietnam
15	Miotech	Mainland China
16	Prometheus Technologies	United States
17	Redkik	United States
18	Revix	United Kingdom
19	Sensor data	Mainland China
20	Health Exchange Technology Service Group	Mainland China
21	Speedlegal	United States
22	Taos Technology LLC	United States
23	Ultipa	Mainland China
24	VoiceAI Technologies	Mainland China
25	Vymo	United States
26	Wequity	Belgium

PropTech

	Company Name (in alphabetical order)	Headquarter
1	Archifiction	Mainland China
2	Bridge5 Asia	Singapore
3	Collov, Inc	United States
4	Dfocus	Mainland China
5	Doratoon	Singapore
6	EGG Lighting	United Kingdom
7	Firefly Dimension, Inc.	United States
8	FLX Solutions	United States
9	I2Cool Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
10	IronYun	United States
11	Kodifly Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
12	Layer Construction, Inc.	United States
13	Llewellyn and Partners Company Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
14	Mimicrete	United Kingdom
15	PassiveLogic	United States
16	Photinique Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
17	Rootie	Israel
18	SKYLAND INNOVATION COMPANY LIMITED	Hong Kong SAR China
19	Structure Pal	Israel
20	Swiss AI	Switzerland
21	Tensorflight, Inc.	United States
22	Umi Coating New Material Technology Co., Limited	Hong Kong SAR China
23	Visionaries 777	Hong Kong SAR China
24	VoltSafe Inc.	Canada

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Contact information

Media:

H ong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Betsy Leung
Tel: +852 2629 2300
Email: betsy.leung@hkstp.org

Edelman Public Relations
Sonia Leung
Tel: +852 2837 4775 / +852 9684 9460
Email: Sonia.Leung@edelman.com/ Edelmanhkstppr@edelman.com