HKSTP Crowns Overall Champion Skyland Innovation at EPiC 2023 Pitching Competition Beating Over 610 Global Startups
28.4.2023 18:11:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today successfully held its 7th Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC), naming Hong Kong startup, Skyland Innovation, as the overall 2023 champion, beating over 610 startups from 55 economies around the world. The signature event has partnered with the city’s leading corporations: Cathay, HSBC, MTR Lab, plus global accelerator Plug & Play, to become a true iconic mega event that has hit a global scale.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230428005353/en/
Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (Centre), alongside EPiC 2023 Top 10 overall finalists. (Photo: Business Wire)
As Hong Kong’s flagship and largest pitching contest, 50 Grand Finale semi-finalists joined the city’s most eagerly anticipated pitch event this year at sky100 at the top of the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon to re-create a real-life 60-second elevator pitch experience.
The EPiC 2023 judging panel of the region’s top entrepreneurs, investors and innovation ecosystem leaders selected Skyland Innovation from Hong Kong, as this year’s overall champion. The winner of the grand prize of US$ 90,000, helps property owners and contractors to coordinate and communicate seamlessly on construction sites through the use of robotics and AI. The local proptech is also a spinoff from the Hong Kong Center for Construction Robotics (HKCRC) within the HKSAR Government backed AIR@InnoHK research cluster located at Hong Kong Science Park.
Along with all 50 semi-finalists, Skyland Innovation also qualifies to be considered by the HKSTP Venture Fund for additional investment deals. If selected, each company can potentially receive up to a maximum investment of US$5 million.
EPiC 2023 competitors were split across the two themes of FinTech and PropTech with FinCrime Dynamics from the UK named as the overall FinTech category winner, and Skyland Innovation Company Ltd named the overall PropTech winner from Hong Kong. This year, Canvasland, a FinTech startup from Hong Kong was also voted by the public as the “My Favourite Pitcher" winner, taking away US$10,000 and 200,000 Asia Miles. The top 10 overall finalists also won US$10,000 each (Full winners and finalists list below).
Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR, said: “Hong Kong has a strong, thriving startup ecosystem with 4000 startups, up more than 50% from 2018. Hong Kong is also a natural gateway to the GBA, which offers tremendous growth opportunities. Successful products and services will surely have an edge in the GBA, the whole of the nation and around the world. I am truly excited to be here at EPiC 2023 where startups strive to make their 60-second pitch truly count. I congratulate all the EPiC 2023 winners and invite startups from all over the world to join us in Hong Kong where the future is built.”
Sunny Chai, Chairman, HKSTP, said: “EPiC 2023 showcases the most exciting innovations from the world’s star-studded next-generation global tech ventures. Together with the Hong Kong Government's solid commitment, as reinforced by the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint, our city provides the ideal platform to expand into the vast Asian market. Hong Kong is also Asia’s world city and a bridge between the mainland and the world, making us a magnet for global innovation talent and enterprises.”
Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP, said: “This year’s EPiC competition features a record international turnout and shows Hong Kong is truly back with a strong show of unicorns and soonicorns from around the world among this year’s finalists. But EPiC is more than just a competition, it is a prime example of Hong Kong’s unique ability to help startups grow fast and go beyond by providing a network of global investment opportunities and innovation talent to turn cutting-edge science, technologies, and ideas into game-changing solutions."
A magnet for global investors and innovation talent
EPiC 2023 surpassed all expectations, attracting over 610 entries from 55 countries and cities across five continents. Over 75% of contestants come from overseas, a record high proportion of overseas contestants and economies participation since 2016. Startups joining EPiC 2023 can fully leverage the largest I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong and HKSTP’s direct connections to over 1,000 investors and more than 300 corporate partners.
In addition to the EPiC final pitching contest, the 50 semi-finalists have also taken part in the "Grow Beyond Hong Kong" Immersion Programme. This exclusive 2-day programme ran from 25-26 April, immersed the EPiC 2023 semi-finalists directly into 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.
Winners List:
|
Overall Champion |
Skyland Innovation Company Ltd. |
||
|
“My Favourite Pitcher” Winner |
Canvasland Limited |
||
|
FinTech Winner |
FinCrime Dynamics |
||
|
PropTech Winner |
Skyland Innovation Company Ltd. |
||
|
Top 10 Overall Finalists |
FinTech Finalists:
FinCrime Dynamics Homebase Ultipa VoiceAI Technologies
PropTech Finalists:
I2Cool Limited
Mimicrete VoltSafe, Inc. Skyland Innovation Company Ltd. |
Contestants Breakdown:
|
Category |
|
|
No. of applicants |
|
PropTech |
|
|
266 (43%) |
|
FinTech |
|
|
352 (57%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. of applicants |
|
Overseas |
|
|
465 (75%) |
|
Hong Kong |
|
|
153 (25%) |
A record high proportion of overseas contestants and economies participation since 2016.
For more information on EPiC 2023, please visit: https://epic.hkstp.org/
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 13,000 research professionals and over 1,300 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.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230428005353/en/
Contact information
Media Contact:
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Betsy Leung
Tel: +852 2629 2300
Email: betsy.leung@hkstp.org
Edelman Public Relations
Lisa Tse
Tel: +852 3756 8632 / 6347 2009
Email: Lisa.Tse@edelman.com / Edelmanhkstppr@edelman.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Multi-Color Corporation Announces Recapitalization to Reset Balance Sheet and Position Company for Long-Term Growth and Investment27.1.2026 23:09:00 EET | Press release
Multi-Color Corporation (“MCC” or the “Company”), a global leader in prime label solutions, today announced strategic actions to further position the Company for long-term growth and investment to best serve its customers. MCC has entered into a restructuring support agreement (the “RSA”) with holders of approximately 70% in amount of MCC’s secured first lien debt and its equity sponsor, CD&R, on the terms of a comprehensive financial restructuring. The transactions contemplated by the RSA will significantly deleverage MCC’s balance sheet, reducing its net debt load from approximately $5.9 billion to approximately $2.0 billion. The Company’s annualized cash interest will also be reduced from approximately $475 million to $140 million in 2026, a reduction of over $330 million, with long-term debt maturities extended to 2033 following consummation of the restructuring transactions. To implement the transactions contemplated by the RSA, MCC has launched a solicitation for votes in support
Logitech Announces Q3 Fiscal Year 2026 Results27.1.2026 23:05:00 EET | Press release
SIX Swiss Exchange Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR — Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) today announced financial results for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2026. Sales were $1.42 billion, up 6 percent in US dollars and 4 percent in constant currency compared to Q3 of the prior year. GAAP gross margin was 43.2 percent, up 30 basis points compared to Q3 of the prior year. Non-GAAP gross margin was 43.5 percent, up 30 basis points compared to Q3 of the prior year. GAAP operating income was $286 million, up 22 percent compared to Q3 of the prior year. Non-GAAP operating income was $312 million, up 17 percent compared to Q3 of the prior year. GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1.69, up 28 percent compared to Q3 of the prior year. Non-GAAP EPS was $1.93, up 21 percent compared to Q3 of the prior year. Cash flow from operations was $481 million. The quarter-ending cash balance was $1.8 billion. “We delivered another quarter of excellent financial performance,” sai
Mobileum Launches GlobalRoamer® Connectivity Package for the FIFA World Cup 2026 to Assure Seamless Roaming and 5G Voice Performance Across North America27.1.2026 22:45:00 EET | Press release
Mobileum Inc. (“Mobileum”), a leading global provider of analytics and network solutions, today announced a Special GlobalRoamer® package for the FIFA World Cup 2026, designed to help mobile network operators (MNOs) validate roaming readiness and maintain high-quality connectivity during one of the world’s most demanding network events, where service performance directly impacts roaming revenue, customer retention, and brand reputation. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will place unprecedented pressure on mobile networks across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as millions of fans, teams, media, and officials rely on mobile services to stream, share, and communicate in real time. Sudden spikes in data, voice, and roaming traffic can degrade performance precisely when customer experience is most visible. Mobileum’s FIFA World Cup 2026 package builds on the GlobalRoamer® end-to-end active testing ecosystem used at major global events, including roaming quality campaigns conduc
Tacton Named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for CPQ Applications for the Fourth Consecutive Year27.1.2026 19:00:00 EET | Press release
Tacton, a global leader in Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) solutions for manufacturers of complex, configurable products, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for CPQ Applications. This marks the fourth consecutive year Tacton has been recognized as a Leader in the report. Among the 16 vendors evaluated, Tacton placed highest in the quadrant on Completeness of Vision and for the second consecutive year is positioned highest in Ability to Execute. Tacton CPQ is designed to support manufacturers selling highly configurable products by helping them: Ensure accurate configuration so every quote reflects valid options and constraints Quote faster with confidence across high-variance portfolios without relying on manual engineering checks Maintain pricing and margin control through consistent configuration and pricing logic This approach supports manufacturers as they manage complexity while meeting buyer expectations for speed and accuracy. “We
CSG Recognized in Multi-Category Trusted Analyst Reports for CPQ, Monetization, and Digital Partner Management27.1.2026 18:05:00 EET | Press release
Communication service providers (CSPs) are under pressure to simplify complexity, monetize new services, and deliver experiences customers trust with speed and accuracy. To succeed, they need partners who can turn quote-to-cash and digital monetization into a competitive advantage, not just a back-office function. Over the past year, CSG® (NASDAQ: CSGS) has achieved multi-category recognition from leading analyst firms for doing exactly that. To CSG, these recognitions reinforce a role as a go-to partner for CSPs looking to move faster, unlock new revenue streams, and modernize their core with AI-powered, telco-specific platforms built for real-world complexity. CPQ Leadership for Complex B2B and B2B2X Monetization CSG Quote & Order continues to stand out for CSPs that need to configure complex offers, quote with confidence, and move from deal to revenue without friction. With Quote & Order, CSG is named: A Challenger in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Configure, Price & Quote Ap
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom