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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited:
The Cyberport Venture Capital Forum 2007 (CVCF 2007) has received an enthusiastic response from investment firms and companies in the information technology and digital media industries. About 300 entrepreneurs and professionals joined the forum today (December 4) to learn how a creative business can be both profitable and socially responsible.
After three years of success in bringing investors and entrepreneurs together, CVCF this year took on a different and challenging theme that is very relevant in today's business world. Entrepreneurs and investors who have real track records in building creative, financially sound and socially responsible businesses were invited to share their insights and experiences.
A recent survey by the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education showed that only about 8% of local businesses have written guidelines or mission statements on corporate social responsibility (CSR). A clear message from CVCF 2007 to Hong Kong's entrepreneurs and investors was that CSR should be built into a company's business model in a proactive and creative manner, in order to achieve long-term sustainability.
"It is a big joy to see so many entrepreneurs participating in this year's forum. I am quite sure they have been inspired by the distinguished speakers on how to creatively build a business to do good while doing well," said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Nicholas Yang. "In the future, we will see many more do-well and do-good businesses working together to create a society in which our future generations can live, work, enjoy and dream."
In line with the HKSAR government's policy to make Hong Kong a harmonious society with sustainable economic development and good corporate citizenship, CVCF 2007 presented two outstanding keynote speeches -- by Mr Kevin Jones, principal and founder of Good Capital, and by Mr Charles Woo, CEO, Megatoys Company Ltd., who shared their successful experiences in creating for-profit and socially responsible enterprise. Mr Jones focused on the issue of sustainability from the viewpoint of an investor, while Mr Woo talked about ways to build a balanced business that delivers both economic and social returns.
Apart from the two keynote speakers, there were presentations by a Venture Capitalist Panel, a Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Panel, and a Investor-Investee Dialogue session. The invited panellists and expert moderators brought fresh ideas, innovative insights and creative visions on how to do-well and do-good in business.
The CVCF 2007 was co-organised by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and Monte Jade Science and Technology Association of Hong Kong. It was strongly supported by its key sponsor, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Other prestigious sponsors included Centaline Property Agency Limited, Fortune International, and Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited.
The line-up of CVCF 2007 speakers included:
Keynote speakers
Kevin Jones, principal & founder of Good Capital, an investment firm dedicated to social venture funding, and founder and former CEO of Net Market Makers, a successful business-to-business Internet commerce portal.
Charles Woo, CEO of Megatoys, a Hong Kong immigrant entrepreneur who founded a successful toy business in the US which helped to transform a section of a downtown Los Angeles slum into a flourishing toy business district.
VC panel speakers
- Peter Lewis, principal, Gramercy Venture Advisors
- Eduardo Rallo, managing director, Pacific Community Management
- Denis Tse, associate director, venture investment team, HSBC Private Equity (Asia) Ltd
Socially Responsible Entrepreneur panel speakers
- Mark Dwight, founder & CEO, Rickshaw Bagworks
- Robert Hayes, managing director, Asia Pacific, Glu Mobile Limited
- David Murphy, president & CEO, Better World Books
- Andrew Pang, CEO & managing director, PlayMotion HK Limited
Other speakers and expert moderators
- Hal Josephson, president, MediaSense
- Robyn Meredith, senior editor, Asia, Forbes
- Kien Pham, vice chairman, VietNamNet Media Group
- Richard Roque, executive director, Prism Group (HK) Limited
For enquiries, please call the CVCF 2007 hotline at 3166 3838 or e-mail cvcf@cyberport.com.hk.
About Cyberport
Cyberport - Hong Kong's IT and digital entertainment flagship - is a US$2 billion (HK$15.8 billion) landmark project managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and wholly owned by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The project is being developed on a 24-hectare site at Telegraph Bay in the southern district of Hong Kong Island. It comprises four office buildings, a five-star hotel, a retail and entertainment complex and a deluxe residential development, aimed at creating an interactive environment that will be home to a strategic cluster of about 100 companies and 10,000 professionals in IT and digital entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.cyberport.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:30
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