The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced the 10 winning start-ups of the ninth edition of Start-up Express following the Final Pitching Day held today. The winners span sectors including smart city solutions, green tech, and health tech, underscoring the increasing diversity and practical application of innovative technologies in Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem.
Among the winners, BioZein Technology Corporation Limited received the ESG Award for its commitment to sustainability and social impact, while Homing Therapeutics Limited was honored with the My Favourite Start-up Award. The winning start-ups will now participate in a series of local and overseas business events organized by the HKTDC, aimed at building capability and connections, exploring markets, seeking business and funding partners, and enhancing brand awareness.
HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Anna Cheung said: "When we launched Start-up Express in 2018, we had one simple goal: to help Hong Kong start-ups grow and flourish. Since then, we have supported 80 start-ups in building capacity, enhancing their visibility, making connections, finding new partners and investors and seizing opportunities and markets previously out of their reach." She emphasized the program's role in connecting Hong Kong's brightest start-ups to the world to scale and succeed.
This year's Final Pitching Day attracted more than 200 industry participants, including investors and business leaders. Booths were set up to allow finalists to showcase their businesses, fostering networking and collaboration. The 20 finalists presented their ideas to a judging panel, with 10 emerging as winners: Alpha AI Technology Limited, BioZein Technology Corporation Limited, GABES Limited, Hay-koze Limited, Homing Therapeutics Limited, Muuse Limited, O-Spheres Limited, PetWell HK Limited, PregnaSense Co. Limited, and Pyramid AI Limited.
Judge Jimmy Tao, Chairman of the Hong Kong Startup Council, commended the quality of participants: "Many of this year’s finalists have successfully integrated artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies into practical applications, demonstrating strong commercial potential." He noted that Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem continues to flourish, with the number of start-ups reaching a record high of 5,221 last year, an 11% year-on-year increase.
The HKTDC has long been committed to fostering start-up growth and promoting Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub. Since its launch, Start-up Express has supported 80 start-ups. The program also includes Start-up Express International, launched in 2022, which attracts overseas start-ups to establish a presence in Hong Kong. The fifth edition of Start-up Express International will be held during Entrepreneur Day in December this year.
Taranjit Singh, Chief Technology Officer of Entoptica, a winner of Start-up Express 2025, shared his experience: "Start-up Express provided valuable opportunities to connect with investors and industry mentors, helping us secure funding to advance clinical trials and expand production capacity." He added that participation in CES 2026, led by the HKTDC, enabled the company to establish connections with potential partners and successfully sold two prototype products at US$100,000 each.
The HKTDC's efforts underscore Hong Kong's growing appeal to global entrepreneurs and its position as an ideal destination for business and investment. For more information on Start-up Express, visit the official page at https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/. Details on the top 20 finalists can be found at https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/s/Top-20.
