Press Release

Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum 2026: Scaling in a Changing World: Winning the Next Competitive Cycle

Two-Day Event to be Held on 4-5 November. Bringing Together Global Investors and Entrepreneurs to Explore New Frontiers in Agentic AI, One-Person Companies (OPCs), and Hong Kong’s Role as an International Innovation, Funding, and Technology Hub

Updated

October 30, 2026 9:22 PM

Hong Kong, 26 October 2026 – As the global venture capital market evolves amid economic shifts, investment flows are increasingly concentrated, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), which continues to drive significant momentum. The annual flagship event, Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum (CVCF), will take place on 4-5 November 2026 at Cyberport. Themed “Scaling in a Changing World: Winning the Next Competitive Cycle”, this year’s CVCF will unite influential global investors and entrepreneurs to explore key themes including Enterprise and Agentic AI, One-Person Companies (OPCs), frontier technologies, and spotlight Hong Kong's unique position as a strategic gateway connecting Chinese Mainland, ASEAN, the Middle East, global innovation and funding networks. The forum aims to empower start-ups and investors to break through financing and market expansion barriers, seizing new market opportunities.

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Dr Rocky Cheng, CEO of Cyberport, said, “As global innovation and capital markets undergo accelerated reshaping, AI, data technology, and emerging industries have become crucial engines driving economic growth. CVCF is dedicated to building a bridge between innovation and capital. This year’s forum focuses on new trends such as AI, digital assets, and One-Person Companies (OPCs), exploring emerging market opportunities and global expansion strategies. It decodes how enterprises can drive scalable growth with speed and resilience in a rapidly changing market. Through our investor matching activities, we aim to facilitate the commercialisation of innovations and cross-regional collaboration. Cyberport will continue to leverage its role as Hong Kong’s digital tech flagship and AI accelerator to foster a thriving I&T ecosystem and inject new momentum into building Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub.”

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Cyberport Community Raised HK$74.5 Billion in Funding, with AI and Agentic Economy as Market Focus

Cyberport’s start-ups have demonstrated robust fundraising performance over the past year. With 481 companies joining the community during this period, Cyberport start-ups have raised over HK$74.5 billion in funding. During the year, 19 Cyberport companies successfully listed, alongside the addition of 2 new unicorns. Recent high-value fundraising rounds include Finloop, Qupital, Premialab, and Buy&Ship, many of which leverage AI, blockchain, and digital assets - reflecting sustained market confidence in these emerging technologies and underscoring Cyberport's success in fostering their development.

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Hendrick Sin, Chairman of Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) Steering Group; Co-Founder of CMGE Technology Group Limited; Chairman of China Prosperity Capital, said, “Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) has come to its 9th anniversary this year, and our network of over 240 global investors has successfully facilitated more than HK$6 billion across over 133 project matchings, representing an increase of over 19 projects compared to last year. Simultaneously, the Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF), alongside co-investments, has directed HK$2.7 billion into high-potential ventures, with a co-investment ratio of 1:9:3., reflecting strong investor confidence in Cyberport companies. Through dedicated initiatives and our targeted investor matching sessions, CVCF continues to bridge high-growth ventures with institutional co-investment partners, public-private funds and foster collaboration across government, industry, academia, research, investment, and users, propelling enterprise scale across regional corridors.”

As Hong Kong’s digital tech hub, AI accelerator and key incubator, Cyberport leverages the Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) to attract influential investment units from around the world to connect with high-potential Cyberport enterprises to accelerate their development. Since its inception in 2017, the total investments facilitated by CIN have reached over HK$6 billion across a cumulative total of 133 project matchings. CIN’s investment units have surpassed 240, with 15% from the Greater Bay Area and 14% from the Asia-Pacific region, alongside continuous expansion into the Middle East and ASEAN, successfully aggregating global venture capital.

Another key financing channel, Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF), continues to invest in high-potential start-ups while enhancing their fundraising capabilities. As of September 2026, CMF has invested in 30 start-up projects, with the total investment, including co-investments, exceeding HK$2.7 billion, with a co-investment ratio of 1:9.3 — meaning every HK$1 invested by Cyberport attracts an additional HK$9.3 in co-investment. Further augmenting ecosystem liquidity, Cyberport, BOCHK Asset Management, and BOC Group Investment have formed a strategic partnership in May 2026 around a completed venture capital fund to back promising Hong Kong I&T start-ups. This demonstrates Cyberport’s sustained ability to attract and secure capital in a challenging environment.

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Driving Innovation Financing and Supporting Enterprise Growth

Cyberport companies have recently achieved remarkable success across venture capital fundraising, advanced technology commercialisation, and international market expansion. Among them, leading Cyberport community members, including global Web5 wealth technology platform Finloop, independent fintech and data analytics platform Premialab, and cross-border fintech platform Qupital, shared their insights on navigating capital cycles, deploying next-generation financial architectures, and scaling from Hong Kong into regional and global markets. ‍

Zhao Yang, Deputy CEO of Finloop, said, “While originating from an established corporate background, we strategically chose Cyberport as the ideal launchpad to spin off our project and scale our vision. Cyberport has been an indispensable catalyst for Finloop’s growth as we develop our AI-driven, one-stop Web5 wealth technology and RWA issuance platform, delivering AI-native liquidity solutions to institutions and SMEs. Beyond providing a vibrant community of innovators, Cyberport’s dynamic ecosystem provides an invaluable springboard for us with leading commercial banks, brokerages, and External Asset Managers (EAMs) across Hong Kong and Singapore, accelerating our mission to build compliant and institutional-grade infrastructure that unlocks new liquidity and value flows across the region.”

Pierre Trecourt, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Premialab, emphasized the growing importance of advanced data analytics in multi-asset investing, “In an increasingly complex and volatile market environment, institutional investors need greater transparency and sophisticated analytics to construct resilient portfolios, benchmark systematic investment strategies, and manage risk. Hong Kong’s unique position as a global financial hub, combined with its exceptional talent pool and Cyberport’s extensive ecosystem, provides an ideal environment for fintech companies to innovate, expand internationally, and scale their businesses.”

Winston Wong, Co-Founder and CEO of Qupital, discussed their milestone achievements in digital economy lending and underscored Cyberport’s long-standing backing throughout their journey, “Cyberport has played an integral role throughout Qupital’s journey from a homegrown startup to a profitable Series C fintech company. Under the support of Cyberport’s investor networks and platforms, we are proud to have become the first platform in Asia to securitise e-commerce merchant loans while sustaining industry-leading credit performance and profitability. Our journey truly reflects how Cyberport empowers homegrown fintech pioneers to scale sustainable cross-border supply chain financing across the Greater Bay Area and global markets.”

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Connecting Investors and Start-ups, Showcasing Cutting-Edge Innovations

Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum 2026 will feature opening remarks by Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and bring together venture capital leaders, including representatives from Taara, Gobi Partners, Alumni Ventures, Rasmal Ventures, Primavera Capital, Draper Dragon, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Plug & Play and more to discuss the latest technology and market focus:

  • Mega Trends & AI Frontiers: Decoding compressed innovation cycles and global capital shifts in the age of AI, with sessions exploring how enterprises turn AI into a foundational capability, from agentic workflows to advanced computing infrastructure, to build defensible moats and scale in the next competitive cycle.
  • Regional Market Focus & Global Corridors: Analysing the way to unlock high-growth cross-border expansion across the Middle East, ASEAN, and Central Asia, and leverage the integrated Hong Kong-GBA launchpad as a strategic financial and innovation gateway to scale seamlessly across Pan-Asia through panel discussions.
  • Market Focus & Strategic Capital Dynamics: Highlighting the navigation of venture capital realignments and valuation scrutiny to separate market hype from sustainable enterprise value, while mobilising strategic co-investment across public-private joint funds, Corporate Venture Capital (CVC), and corporate liquidity management to de-risk growth-stage ventures.

CVCF 2026 will continue to feature the popular “Investor Matching” session, offering face-to-face and online interactions to pair investors with start-ups based on their technological focus and investment preferences, enhancing collaboration efficiency. Additional highlights include over 80 physical showcase booths, funder power pitches, start-up clinic & workshop, providing attendees with practical insights and strategic advice. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremonies between Cyberport and international partners including Gobi Partners and Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA) will also be held on the day.

The Agentic Economy Summit, a key highlight of the forum, will feature a keynote speech from Mr Joseph CHAN, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, bringing together AI pioneers, regulators, and financial giants to examine how digital identity, institutional tokenisation, HKD stablecoin issuance, programmable payments and machine-to-machine commerce are building the financial rails of the future. Featured speakers will also include representatives from HashKey, Cobo, Unlimit, Anchorpoint, UBS, Monk’s Hill Ventures, and more. The summit will also be exploring the emerging phenomenon of One-Person Companies (OPCs), highlighting how AI agents enable lean entrepreneurial ventures to achieve unprecedented operational scale.

As Cyberport’s flagship venture capital event, CVCF connects investors and entrepreneurs in the global digital technology. In 2025, the hybrid event attracted over 2,700 participants, achieved more than 180,000 views and facilitated more than 500 deal flows, fostering partnerships and investment opportunities. For more details, please visit the website: http://cvcf.cyberport.hk/.

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The annual flagship event, Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) 2026, will take place on 4-5 November 2026 at Cyberport. Themed “Scaling in a Changing World: Winning the Next Competitive Cycle”, this year’s CVCF will unite influential global investors and entrepreneurs to explore key themes include Enterprise AI, One-Person Companies (OPCs), frontier technologies, and spotlight Hong Kong's unique position as a strategic gateway connecting Chinese Mainland, ASEAN, the Middle East, global innovation and funding networks. The forum aims to empower start-ups and investors to break through financing and market expansion barriers, seizing new market opportunities. Dr Rocky Cheng, CEO of Cyberport (third right), Hendrick Sin, Chairman of Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) Steering Group (third left); Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport (second right), and Cyberport community members, Zhao Yang, Deputy CEO of Finloop (second left), Pierre Trecourt, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Premialab (first right), and Winston Wong, Co-Founder and CEO of Qupital (first left), attended the media briefing.

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Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport introduced the speakers and highlights of the two-day Cyberport Venture Capital Forum 2025, as well as the Web3.0 Innovation Expo.

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Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport (first left) and Cyberport community members, Zhao Yang, Deputy CEO of Finloop (second left), Pierre Trecourt, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Premialab (second right), and Winston Wong, Co-Founder and CEO of Qupital (first right), shared investment insights and experiences in facilitating fundraising during the discussion session.

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Keep Reading

Hong Kong

Startup Funding in Hong Kong: University Programmes for Student Founders and Early-Stage Startups

If you are building a startup in Hong Kong, your first source of support may be closer than you think.

Updated

August 10, 2026 5:56 PM

Main Building of the University of Hong Kong. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

Across Hong Kong’s public universities, entrepreneurship is now part of the campus ecosystem. Many universities offer startup funding, mentorship, training, workspace, investor access and pathways into larger incubation programmes such as Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) and Cyberport.

For student founders, researchers and alumni, this can be a useful place to begin. You may be able to test an idea, build a prototype, form a company or apply for early funding through your own university before looking for external investors.  

The challenge is knowing where to start. Each university has its own startup programmes, eligibility rules and funding structure. Some are designed for student ideas. Others are built for research commercialization, deep tech ventures or startups already preparing to raise investment. Below is a practical guide to startup support and university startup funding at five major publicly funded universities in Hong Kong.

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The University of Hong Kong (HKU): Startup support for student founders, deep tech and research commercialization
The Centennial Campus of the University of Hong Kong. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

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HKU offers a wide range of entrepreneurship support through HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core, also known as HKU TEC. Its programmes cover early ideas, deep tech projects, Greater Bay Area (GBA) expansion, research commercialization and investor matching.

HKU is especially relevant for founders working with university research, intellectual property or technology-led business ideas. It also has entry-level support for students and graduates who are still testing an idea.

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HKU startup programme Who it is for Funding or investment Key eligibility points Main support
HKU SEED Programme Early-stage student and graduate startup ideas Opportunity to receive up to HK$100,000 through the HKSTP Ideation Programme The principal applicant must be an HKU member with at least 20% ownership. Open to individual, team or Hong Kong company applicants. Three-week entrepreneurship training, coaching, HKSTP Ideation pathway, iDendron membership for awardees, networking and competition nomination.
HKU DeepTech100+ Deep tech projects and research-backed startups Up to HK$1.39 million The person-in-charge must be an HKU member with at least 20% ownership, or the startup must be an HKU IP licensee. One-year HKU TEC and HKSTP co-incubation, training, HKSTP facilities, iDendron membership and fast-track route to HKSTP incubation.
Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme HKU-linked startups expanding into the Greater Bay Area Up to HK$600,000, including grant and interest-free loan components The startup team must include HKU linkage or HKU IP. Young entrepreneur rules (e.g. the PIC and core team members must be between the ages of 18 and 39) also apply. Up to two years of mentorship, GBA training, workspace in Hong Kong and Shenzhen/Qianhai, professional services and market access support.
TSSSU@HKU (Technology Start-Up Support Scheme for Universities) HKU technology startups moving toward HK$400,000 to HK$1.5 million per year, for up to three years under each track The applying startup must have at least two members. The PIC must be an HKU student, staff member or alumnus. HKU members must hold at least 20% ownership in total. R&D funding, business setup support, iDendron membership, networking and possible Qianhai grant matching.
HKU Entrepreneurship Engine Fund (EEF) HKU-linked startups raising seed to Series A capital Investment partners may invest US$0.5 million to US$5 million At least 20% ownership must be held by HKU members, or the startup must license HKU IP. Connection to EEF investment partners for independent evaluation.
iDendron@HKU HKU founders needing workspace and community support Not applicable HKU-linked founders and eligible startups. Co-working space, hot desks (HK$900 for six months), meeting rooms, mentoring, events and startup community access.

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Best fit: HKU works well for student founders, researchers and alumni who want a structured route from idea stage to technology commercialization.

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City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK): HK Tech 300 and a clear startup pathway
City University of Hong Kong. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

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CityUHK’s main startup platform is HK Tech 300. It is one of the clearest university startup pathways in Hong Kong because it is built in stages: training, seed funding, angel investment and access to external funding.

The programme is open to CityUHK students, alumni, research staff and members of the public using CityUHK intellectual property or technology.

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CityUHK startup programme Who it is for Funding or investment Key eligibility points Main support
HK Tech 300 Training Teams learning startup basics Sponsored training worth more than HK$10,000 per project team Open to eligible CityUHK-linked teams and external founders using CityUHK IP or technology. Startup basics, business plan development, pitching and team formation.
HK Tech 300 Seed Fund Early teams turning ideas into startups HK$100,000 per successful team Person-in-charge must show association with CityUHK. 6 to 12 months of funding support, product development milestones and preparation for Angel Fund application.
HK Tech 300 Angel Fund Startups ready to validate a business model Up to HK$1 million angel investment Usually for eligible teams after Seed Fund progress or equivalent readiness. Business model validation, MVP development, investor exposure and incubation support.
HK Tech 300 Launching Stage Startups ready for larger support Access to external funds of up to HK$10 million For eligible startups after the incubation phase. Referrals to ITC, HKSTP, Cyberport and other partner programmes.
HK Tech 300 International and National Startup Competitions Startups entering CityUHK’s ecosystem through competitions Competition-linked opportunities, including access to HK Tech 300 support Competition-specific rules apply. Pitching, exposure, business matching and possible funding pathways.

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Best fit: CityUHK is a strong choice for founders who want a step-by-step startup journey with clear funding stages.

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Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST): Startup funding for tech founders and research teams
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

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HKUST has a broad startup ecosystem with support for students, alumni, researchers and faculty. Its entrepreneurship pathway covers idea exploration, prototyping, MVP testing, research commercialization and investment.

The university’s startup support is especially strong for technology companies, deep tech projects and teams commercialising HKUST research.

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HKUST startup programme Who it is for Funding or investment Key eligibility points Main support
HHKUST IPIC Incubation - HKUST IPIC Incubation - Stage 1 Ideation (Through Entrepreneurship 101 Training or Entrepreneurship Bootcamp) Students, alumni, researchers and faculty across different startup stages Stage 1 includes HK$3,000 in-kind company registration support HKUST-linked founders. Structured pathway from ideation to prototyping, implementation and commercialization.
Stage 2 Prototyping (Through HKUST Dream Builder) Student-led teams building a proof of concept or MVP Up to HK$100,000 per startup team The main applicant must be a full-time current HKUST student. At least two full-time current HKUST students must play founder or co-founder roles. Funding, training, mentorship, workspace at theBASE and external outreach.
Stage 3 Implementation (Through HKUST x HKSTP Co-Ideation Programme) Early-stage HKUST-linked startups Up to HK$100,000 The team must include at least one HKUST member. HKUST members must hold at least 10% ownership if a company is formed. Six-month programme, three milestones, coaching, HKSTP training and preparation for HKSTP incubation.
Lo Kwee Seong Tech-Ship Fund Faculty-student teams commercializing HKUST research Extra support of up to HK$200,000 is listed through HKUST’s IPIC pathway Faculty research and student entrepreneurship collaboration. Commercialization support for faculty technologies and student startup teams.
Bridge Gap Fund HKUST researchers developing university IP for commercial use Typically up to HK$500,000 for 12 months Must use HKUST IP. PI must be full-time HKUST faculty. Prototype development, market research, customer discovery, IP development and DeepTech Incubation Programme access.
TSSSU@HKUST HKUST technology startups commercializing R&D Up to HK$1.5 million per year under TSSSU-O or TSSSU+ The applying company must be registered in Hong Kong. HKUST members must usually hold at least 10% ownership. Startup setup, R&D, manpower, equipment, promotion and marketing support
HKUST Entrepreneurship Fund(E-Fund) HKUST technology startups raising investment Initial investment up to HK$5 million per startup The applying startup must be at least 10% owned by HKUST faculty, staff, students or alumni and established for no more than seven years. Early-stage investment, co-investment model and long-term capital support.
HKUST Greater Bay Area Youth Entrepreneurship Fund Programme Young HKUST-linked founders building in Hong Kong or the GBA Up to HK$250,000 HKUST-linked founder requirements and youth entrepreneur rules apply. GBA startup funding, mentorship, product development and market expansion support
RAISe+ Scheme via HKUST Research teams with large-scale commercialization potential Scheme-level support can range from HK$10 million to HK$100 million per approved project Research commercialization teams with industry-matching requirements. Large-scale R&D transformation and commercialization support

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Best fit: HKUST is especially useful for tech startups, deep tech teams and founders who need a route from prototype to commercialization.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU): Startup funding for product, applied research and GBA expansion
Hong Kong Polytechnic University. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

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PolyU’s startup support is practical and product-focused. Its programmes cover early ideas, seed-stage teams, Greater Bay Area expansion, translational research and investment.

This makes PolyU a good fit for founders working on engineering, hardware, applied technology, social impact or commercialization of university research.

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PolyU Startup programme Who it is for Funding or investment Key eligibility points Main support
Ideation Funding Scheme Student teams with early ideas HK$5,000 basic prize, with possible nomination to other entrepreneurship programmes The team must be formed by PolyU students. The principal applicant must be a current student of the collaborating faculty or school. Early idea validation and entrepreneurship learning
PolyVentures Micro Fund Scheme Seed-stage teams preparing to form a startup or have incorporated companies within 24 months Up to HK$1.41 million in total support from PolyU and HKSTP Ideation or Incubation routes The principal applicant can be a current student, alumnus, staff member, translational startup postdoc or key owner-operator of a PolyU technology licensee. HK$20,000 cash prize for shortlisted teams, HK$100,000 PolyU Seed Fund for awardees, HKSTP pathway and mentorship
PolyU GBA Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Programme Young entrepreneurs entering the Greater Bay Area market HK$600,000 seed funding Funding is granted to the successful applicant’s Hong Kong limited company and released by milestones. Two-year incubation, mentorship, training, expert advice, Hong Kong and mainland co-working spaces and GBA network access
Translational Startup Postdoc Programme Recent PhD graduates commercializing PolyU research Annual remuneration of up to HK$348,000 and project support, including prototyping (a maximum of HK$50,000 per year) and outreach funding (a maximum of HK$15,000 per year) Applicant needs a PolyU academic supervisor and a recent or near-completed doctoral degree. Free workspace at InnoHub, mentorship, KTEO support, investor access and pathways to Micro Fund, Angel Fund and EIF
PolyVentures Angel Fund Scheme / TSSSU route Technology startups needing larger commercialization support Up to HK$800,000 matching fund of up to three years The applying startup team must include PolyU linkage and meet the scheme requirements. Startup setup, R&D, manpower, equipment, marketing and commercialization support
PolyU Entrepreneurship Investment Fund (EIF) PolyU-linked startups raising early-stage investment Up to HK$4 million The applying startup must have at least one PolyU member holding at least 10% equity or must license PolyU IP. Equity, convertible note or SAFE investment, co-investment support, R&D facilities, mentoring and industry networks
RAISe+ Scheme via PolyU (EIF) Research teams commercializing major R&D outcomes Scheme-level support can reach HK$10 million to HK$100 million per approved project Research commercialization and industry matching requirements apply. Large-scale research transformation and commercialization support
ASCEND Tech for Good Programme (EIF) Youth-led tech-for-good startups Up to HK$3 million per successful applicant Hong Kong-registered startup or company with youth-led requirements. Two-year incubation and support for digital equity and social impact ventures

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Best fit: PolyU is well suited for product-led startups, applied technology projects, GBA expansion and founders who want industry-facing support.

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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK): Startup support from idea stage to technology commercialization
Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

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CUHK offers support for student founders, researchers and alumni through the Pi Centre and the Knowledge Transfer Office. Its ecosystem covers pre-incubation, TSSSU funding, early translational research, social impact projects and Greater Bay Area entrepreneurship.

CUHK is especially useful for students who want to start with an idea and later move into funding, mentorship or external incubation.

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CUHK Startup programme Who it is for Funding or investment Key eligibility points Main support
PILOTS Lite x HKSTP Co-Ideation / Pi Centre CUHK students at the idea or pre-incubation stage Up to HK$130,000 Open to CUHK undergraduate and postgraduate students, full-time or part-time. The principal applicant must be a current CUHK student. Applicants must not already have registered a business for the project. One-year programme, seed funding, workshops, mentoring, networking, free co-working space and fast-track preparation for incubators
TSSSU@CUHK CUHK technology startups commercializing R&D TSSSU-O: up to HK$600,000 per year. TSSSU+: up to HK$1 million per year in matching funds. Both can run for up to three years The PIC must be a current full-time student, current full-time professor or alumnus who graduated within the last 36 months. Technology readiness requirements apply. Financial support, potential HKSTP incubation, investor access, industry partner access and mentorship
IdeaBooster Fund @CUHK CUHK researchers developing early translational projects HKD 100,000 – HKD 200,000 per project Mainly for full-time CUHK academic staff, eligible teaching or research staff and selected postgraduate research students case by case. Early project development, impact-focused research translation and fast-track interview opportunity with HKSTP Co-Ideation
Knowledge Transfer Venture Impact Fund Knowledge Transfer Venture Impact Fund (KT-VIF) @CUHK CUHK academic-led ventures with scalable social impact Up to HK$300,000 for two years Mainly for CUHK professoriate or research academic staff-led teams. Business development consultancy, publicity support and partnership liaison
Knowledge Transfer Impact Project Fund (KT-IPF) @CUHK Late-prototype research projects with social innovation potential Up to HK$200,000 Mainly for full-time CUHK staff on professoriate or research academic ranks. The venture must be CUHK-affiliated and have been incorporated for more than three years. Support for turning research-based prototypes into real-world social-impact solutions
Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurship Scheme / BESGO FoundRise CUHK students and young alumni building GBA-focused ventures Up to HK$600,000 per selected team Students and young alumni, with scheme-specific selection. Two-year funding and incubation, mentorship, expert guidance and GBA venture-building support
RAISe+ via CUHK Research teams with large-scale commercialization potential Scheme-level support can reach HK$10 million to HK$100 million per approved project University research commercialization teams. Large-scale R&D commercialization and industry matching
ASCEND Tech for Good Programme (EIF) Youth-led tech-for-good startups Up to HK$3 million per successful applicant Hong Kong-registered startup or company with youth-led requirements. Two-year incubation and support for digital equity and social impact ventures

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Best fit: CUHK is a good starting point for student founders who need pre-incubation support, and for researchers moving early-stage ideas toward commercial use.

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Which Hong Kong university startup programme should you choose?

There is no single best programme for every founder. The right choice depends on your stage, your university connection and the type of startup you are building.

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Founder stage Good starting points
You have an idea but no company yet HKU SEED, CityUHK HK Tech 300 Training, HKUST Dream Builder, PolyU Ideation Funding Scheme, CUHK Pi Centre
You are building a prototype or MVP HKUST Dream Builder, HKUST x HKSTP Co-Ideation, CityUHK Seed Fund, PolyU Micro Fund, CUHK PILOTS Lite
You are commercializing university research or IP HKU DeepTech100+, HKU TSSSU, HKUST Bridge Gap Fund, HKUST TSSSU, PolyU EIF, CUHK TSSSU
You want Greater Bay Area startup support HKU Tech-Up GBA, PolyU GBA Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Programme, HKUST GBA Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, CUHK GBA Entrepreneurship Scheme
You are ready for investment You are commercializing university research or IP HKU EEF, CityUHK Angel Fund, HKUST E-Fund, PolyU EIF

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The bottom line

Hong Kong’s university startup ecosystem is bigger than many founders realize. If you are a student, alumnus, researcher or university-linked founder, your campus may already offer a route into funding, mentorship, workspace and incubation.

The key is to choose a programme that matches your current stage. Some founders should start with idea validation. Others may be ready for seed funding, TSSSU support or investment.

Before applying, check the latest deadline and eligibility rules on the official university page. These programmes change often, and some funding rounds open only once or twice a year.