Together with Hong Kong Startup Brand, Microsoft ignites startup and SMB development
Hong Kong — November 5, 2015 — Hong Kong Startup Brand, a community committed to developing local entrepreneurship hosted their opening ceremony at Cyberport yesterday evening with the support from Microsoft and Cyberport. Seven entrepreneurs from seven prominent local start-up companies established ‘Hong Kong Startup Brand’ to create a platform to share entrepreneurial experience, advices and technological information in support of startups in Hong Kong.
The recently established Hong Kong Startup Brand is not an organization or a business group, but a community of passionate entrepreneurs looking to re-ignite Hong Kong’s entrepreneurial spirit. Many young entrepreneurs are deterred from following their aspirations due to a lack of expertise, funds and networking. In hopes to solve these issues, a fair and neutral platform is established for veterans to share their entrepreneurial and networking experience with aspiring entrepreneurs. With the mutual support offered by this community, the founders are hoping to drive local industry development and local startup companies are developed to become the pride of Hong Kong. Microsoft and Cyberport have always been committed to helping young entrepreneurs realize their startup dreams. These similarities in values, coupled with the growing need for enterprise cloud solutions has allowed this partnership to form. Microsoft also fulfills the community’s need for diverse professional advices to entrepreneurs from experts.
A lack of venture funding is a large pitfall in entrepreneurship. Hong Kong Startup Brand’s ideology is to “Utilize collective intelligence to maximize effectiveness whilst minimizing cost. Each individual entrepreneur will lend their strength to mutually benefit the group.” In addition to regular seminars and exchange of insights on forums, the Hong Kong Startup Brand team has gathered different businesses such as printing companies to issue publications for local startups to share their stories and to advertise their business with minimal cost. The community is also planning to establish a website and a mobile app to provide business consultations, accounting services and legal advice to SMBs. Cyberport will support the development of local brands by providing the group and startup companies with venues to host events.
Startups and SMBs are facing increasing demand to respond internally, and to customers with speed and flexibility. Cloud solutions can fulfill the demand for mobility and security, and allow startups and SMBs to be more competitive. As the platform’s key technology partner, Microsoft will provide advisory services through the group’s online platforms to offer SMBs the latest information on cloud solutions. Moreover, Microsoft will organize free IT workshops and seminars, and provide startup companies with technical and professional training. To help startup companies achieve their mobility and security needs, Microsoft will be offering an affordable monthly cloud solution package for startups and SMBs. The package includes Office 365 to enhance communication and productivity, Dynamic CRM to support sales and marketing, and Azure to improve cost management, mobility and customer reach. SMBs can also keep themselves abreast of the most up-to-date market intelligence.
Chris Chan, COO of E-Print and founder of E-Banner; Benny Yeung, founder of Choi Fung Hong; Kevin Shee, founder of SC Storage; Steven Lam, founder of GoGoVan; Ray Wong, founder of Flyer King Limited; Jacky Chan, founder of Isaken; Hamish Ho, founder of Ocean Three; Herman Lam, CEO of Cyberport and Hedy Ho, Sales Director, SMB and Distribution at Microsoft attended the opening ceremony to show their support. The community also invited prominent business leader Shih Wing-Ching and renowned writer Mr. Joe Nieh to attend the opening ceremony to share their experiences with hundreds of entrepreneurs and startup owners.
Chris Chan, COO of E-Print and founder of E-Banner said: “The ‘Lion Rock Spirit’ has been a fundamental belief of Hong Kong people through time, and it is something our community takes pride in. It shapes us to be unique, dares us to innovate, and helps us strive for success. We hope our community and platform can ignite local entrepreneurship, and allow different entrepreneurs to support each other. We are pleased to have Microsoft and Cyberport’s full support, and are delighted that we have an opportunity to share our success stories and experience in business and pass the knowledge on.”
Hedy Ho, Sales Director, SMB and Distribution at Microsoft said: “Microsoft Hong Kong is excited to partner with Hong Kong Startup Brand to help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. Cloud technology is the big trend in the business market and it provides a market advantage for startups and SMBs by affordably increasing mobility and customer base. Microsoft has always provided training programs for startups and SMBs. Using the newest and most secure cloud technology, Microsoft helps startups and SMBs explore new business model and opportunities in a mobile-first, cloud-first world.”
Herman Lam, CEO of Cyberport said, “Cyberport has been nurturing a new generation of tech innovators and entrepreneurs through our incubation programmes and creative fund in the past years. Among Cyberport incubatees, there are plenty of them like Gogovan, who is a strong team with exceptional talent, ambition, passion, determination and persistence. We hope this platform will encourage more people, who further local industry’s prosperity and diversity by combining creativity, cutting-edge technology and unique Hong Kong culture. With concerted effort from local industry, I am confident we will see more Hong Kong brands shine on international stage.”
As an extension to support the Hong Kong community, opening ceremony tickets are non-profit and all proceeds will go towards the Hong Kong Society for Community Organization (SOCO). In addition, all revenue from future networking events will be donated to different charities to help people in need.
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About Hong Kong Startup Brand
Team members include Chris Chan, COO of E-Print and founder of E-Banner; Benny Yeung, founder of Choi Fung Hong; Kevin Shee, founder of SC Storage; Steven Lam, founder of GoGoVan; Ray Wong, founder of Flyer King Limited; Jacky Chan, founder of Isaken and Hamish Ho, founder of Ocean Three.
- Hong Kong Startup Brand will provide a fair and neutral platform for startup companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. The team is partnered with businesses like printing companies to provide affordable print advertising in their own publications. In addition, the team intends to set up website and mobile application to provide business, accounting and legal advice.
- Hong Kong Startup Brand gives back to the community. All fees collected from regular seminars and networking events will be donated to different charities.
- Made in Hong Kong. Since the beginning of the eighties, Hong Kong businesses have shifted production lines towards Southeast Asia and China to minimize costs. The establishment of Hong Kong Startup Brand aims to re-ignite the development of local industries.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Hong Kong was established in 1991.
About Cyberport
Cyberport is a creative digital cluster with over 600 community members. It is managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With a vision to establish itself as a leading information and communications technology (ICT) hub in the Asia-Pacific region, Cyberport is committed to facilitating the local economy by nurturing ICT industry start-ups and entrepreneurs, driving collaboration to pool resources and create business opportunities, and accelerating ICT adoption through strategic initiatives and partnerships. Equipped with an array of state-of-the-art ICT facilities and a cutting-edge broadband network, the Cyberport community is home to four grade-A intelligent office buildings, a five-star design hotel, and a retail entertainment complex.
For further information, press only:
Hong Kong Startup Brand
Christy Chau (GC Communications)
Tel: (852) 2898 8283 / 9152 9615
Email: [email protected]
Microsoft Hong Kong Limited
Jocelyn Cheung
Tel: (852) 2804 4437
Email: [email protected]
