Start-up Express – an entrepreneurship development programme that has served as a launchpad for some of Hong Kong’s brightest tech innovators – has announced the 10 winning entries for its 2025 cohort, after holding a final pitching round earlier this week.
The 10 winners, listed in full below, were selected from a pool of more 200 applicants, which were narrowed down to 20 finalists who took part in the last pitching day.
Jimmy Tao, one of the Start-up Express judges, pointed to the high quality of this year’s competition.
“We are pleased to see the new generation of start-ups continue to break new ground in innovation and technology,” observed Mr Tao, who is also Chairman of the Hong Kong Startup Council within the Hong Kong Federation of Industries.
In alphabetical order, this year’s winners – covering AI, green tech, healthtech and more – are:
- ACTuwise, a mental health training and support system for professionals and parents of children with special needs
- Albacastor Technology, which offers smart ventilation to F&B, property management and manufacturing companies
- AniTech, which has developed a platform to assist with drug development and disease screening
- CELLmeric, a biotech firm which has devised a cell-based treatment for immunotherapy
- Decennium Platforms, which is working on a global pet care ecosystem for vets and pet owners
- Digitoe, which has created a smart insole to help improve foot health for children
- Entoptica, an eye health specialist with a device that can detect early-stage retinal diseases
- Firefilm, a digital marketing company that has developed an optimisation tool for AI-generated video
- Green Vigor, which has designed a green hydropower system for water tanks in urban buildings
- RT HealthTech, which leverage brain-computer interface tech for rehabilitation and sports science
An additional ESG Award, recognising the best sustainable and socially impactful solution on final pitching day, went to Green Vigor.
AniTech landed a My Favourite Start-up Award, which was chosen by a live audience poll.
Start-up Express, now in its eighth year, is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
The winning start-ups will participate in local and overseas business events organised by HKTDC to help them expand and strengthen their networks, explore new markets and connect with potential business and funding partners.
Start-up Express has helped 70 promising tech ventures from Hong Kong scale up since the first edition was held in 2018.
“Many of these start-ups have achieved remarkable success, earning global awards, securing significant investments and forming key business partnerships,” noted Iris Wong, the HKTDC’s Director of Merchandise Trade & Innovation & External Relations.
Libpet Tech, a 2024 Start-up Express winner, has recently secured US$3 million in seed funding for technology upgrades and international market expansion.
“Participating in Start-up Express has given us more exposure and enhanced our brand awareness, as seen from the increased attention from potential customers and investors,” commented Jojo Xu, Libpet Tech’s CEO.
Meanwhile, the next edition of Start-up Express International will return in December during Entrepreneur Day, the HKTDC’s anchor event for start-ups.
The HKTDC will help Start-up Express International winners set up their businesses in Hong Kong and explore the mainland and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area markets.
Start-up Express International was launched in 2022. The past three editions have attracted participants from around the world, including Australia, Asia, Europe and North America.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s start-up scene continues to go from strength to strength.
A survey from InvestHK, the Hong Kong SAR Government department overseeing foreign direct investment, showed that there were 4,694 start-ups in Hong Kong last year, a record high for the city.
