Hong Kong, 15 May 2018 | Seedstars World, the global seed-stage startup competition for emerging markets and fast-growing startup scenes is coming to Hong Kong for the 5th time. With the support of local partner Tuspark Global Network and the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, Seedstars will be holding a dynamic pitch event on June 7th, at 17:30 at venue host HKTDC.
The companies selected to pitch at the Seedstars Hong Kong event need to be less than 2 years old, have raised less than USD 500,000 in funding and built a minimum viable product, ideally with existing traction. The Seedstars team is searching for one additional criterion – the startup’s regional and global scalability. With a strong network of international partners, such as BBVA, Merck, SPECo and Enel (amongst others) the competition organisers are looking for smart startups that tackle regional issues and develop profitable and sustainable products for the global market.
The applications are open until May 28th and startups are invited to apply at http://bit.ly/SSW18HongKong. After a careful screening, the Seedstars team will shortlist 8 of the best seed-stage startups in Hong Kong to pitch on June 7th for the opportunity to compete at the Seedstars Summit, that annually takes place in Switzerland.
“At Seedstars, we believe talent and good ideas are everywhere. We see ourselves as a platform connecting investors to the next generation of startup entrepreneurs in places where normally people wouldn’t think startup ecosystem have such traction, growth and buzz. We are very excited to be in Hong Kong, highlighting such a bustling entrepreneurship ecosystem”, explains Rosie Keller, Regional Manager for Asia at Seedstars, “We’re impressed by what we have seen in the region so far and cannot wait discover the innovative solutions coming out of the Hong Kong ecosystem this year.”
It’s Seedstars’ goal to place the spotlight on entrepreneurs from emerging markets, especially targeting solutions that align with UN Sustainable Development Goals. With that in mind, Seedstars World is travelling to more than 65 countries to identify the most innovative seed-stage startups, awarding them the opportunity to win up to USD 1 million in equity investment and network with investors and mentors from around the world at the global Seedstars Summit in Switzerland, and at their Regional Summits. Previous Seedstars participants have raised over USD 92M collectively, providing employment to more than 2,100 employees worldwide.
The eight startups selected will give a five-minute pitch in English, in front of a jury made up of local startup heavyweights. Members of the public and press are welcome to come join the fun and should register on the above Seedstars Hong Kong website as well!
ABOUT SEEDSTARS
“They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.” – Mexican proverb
Seedstars is a Swiss based group with the mission to impact people’s lives in emerging markets through technology and entrepreneurship. Seedstars connects stakeholders, builds companies from scratch with public and private partners and invests in high growth startups within these ecosystems. Through different activities, that range from startup scouting to company building and acceleration programs, the team has built the most powerful network of entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, corporations and government officials from 65+ fast growing economies around the globe. Seedstars group includes Seedstars World, a worldwide startup competition, sourcing the top talent in technology and entrepreneurship in emerging markets; Seedstars Growth, a three month virtual acceleration program; Seedspace, a network of coworking and co-living spaces now in 35+ countries and Seedstars Academy, a six months intensive training for aspiring local entrepreneurs on how to build sustainable businesses. Some of Seedstars main partners are Enel (Energy), School of Management Fribourg (HEG Fribourg) & TRECC – Transforming Education in Cocoa Communities (Education), BBVA (Finance), Tag Heuer (Entrepreneurship and Innovation), Merck (Health) and Continental (Mobility).
ABOUT SEEDSTARS WORLD
Seedstars World is the first global startup competition focused on emerging and fast-growing markets. For five years now, it has built a network in 65+ countries, with the teams traveling the world to source innovative startup investment opportunities. We run 80+ local competitions to identify the best seed-stage startups and host an inspirational set of disruptive tech and networking sessions. We also organise 5 regional Summits, reuniting all local winners of each region to network with speakers, investors, corporates, incubators, accelerators, governments and all other relevant stakeholders. Finally, Seedstars Summit, the competition’s final, is our exciting flagship event filled with breakout sessions, panel discussions, specialized workshops and the best minds from emerging markets, where local winners compete to be crowned the Seedstars World Global Winner and win up to $1M in investment.
