InvestHK announces 2013 StartmeupHK Venture Programme finalists
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     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) is pleased to announce today (October 11) the 12 finalists of its 2013 StartmeupHK Venture Programme.

     They include five ventures from the US, two each from India and Canada, and one each from New Zealand, Hong Kong and Israel. Their businesses range from opthamology solutions to biomedical data research and the recycling of oil-based waste for clean fuel (see table below).

     Each venture was chosen by the assessors for the scale of the problem or opportunity being addressed, the effectiveness of the solution and its impact, the venture's viability, sustainability and scalability, and the economic benefit to Hong Kong in terms of knowledge and skills, job creation, social and environmental value and more.

     The 12 finalists will take part in StartmeupHK Week from December 2 to 7 in Hong Kong. At the culmination of this year's programme, the Venture Forum on December 5, three Grand Award Winners will be chosen by the judges and forum attendees.

     The 2013 StartmeupHK Venture Programme was launched in July as part of InvestHK's global initiative to encourage start-ups to set up business in the city. The department received 384 entries from 39 countries and cities including the US, Israel, the UK, Canada, India, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and others.

     InvestHK's Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Simon Galpin, said that the StartmeupHK Venture Programme should help to put Hong Kong on the global start-up map. "It is important for Hong Kong to seize the opportunities brought by start-ups and to grow the city's start-up ecosystem. I believe that the StartmeupHK Venture Programme is a terrific way to focus attention on this fast-growing segment of our economy," he added.

     Mr Galpin added that the upcoming StartmeupHK Week is a collaborative effort by InvestHK and the broader start-up community in the city to generate awareness of Hong Kong's potential as the regional hub for entrepreneurs. He anticipates that more than 500 people in the local and overseas start-up communities will gather in Hong Kong between  December 2 and 7 for various events on the city's start-up environment and its opportunities.

     "The week-long programme will connect entrepreneurs with investors and business mentors in one of the largest events of its kind ever staged in Hong Kong," Mr Galpin said.

     Details of the StartmeupHK Venture Programme 2013 are available on the dedicated website www.startmeup.hk. The site offers a one-stop portal to the city's start-up community, and is the first such Hong Kong Government portal on start-ups. It also lists the latest start-up events and signposts users to various government incentive and incubation schemes.

InvestHK 2013 StartmeupHK Venture Programme finalists

Name of Company    Origin       Business
---------------    -------      --------
D'Arcy Polychrome  New Zealand  Polychromatic dry  
Ltd                             granulated pigment

Forus Health Pvt   India        Mass-screening
Ltd                             opthamology solution

Global Spatial     Canada       Air and maritime
Technology                      traffic data
Solutions                       management

Hanson Robotics    US           Humanoid robot
                                manufacturing

IT Central         Israel       Social media platform
Station                         for enterprise
                                technology

J Plus             Hong Kong    Sports coaching
Corporation                     application
Ltd

Phoenix Depot      Canada       Recycling of oil-
International                   based waste for
Inc                             clean fuel

Pinnacle Engines   US           Energy-efficient
                                engines

Sanguine           US           Biomedical data
Biosciences,                    research
Inc

VajraSoft Inc      US           Intellectual property
                                management solution

Wifinity Ltd       India        IoT (Internet of
                                Things) semiconductor

Zimfly, Inc        US           Mobile Building
                                Information Modelling
                                (BIM) system

About InvestHK

     InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As at September 2, 2013, InvestHK has completed 3 000 investment projects creating 33 950 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and over HK$78.6 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, October 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:37

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