The Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund’s annual startup event is back again this year and open for applications to companies in Southeast Asia from now until November 28th.
This year, HSBC is the title sponsor of the event, which is now named Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund/HSBC JUMPSTARTER 2022 Global Pitch Competition. AEF and HSBC will be working closely together to promote the event to startups worldwide including those in Southeast Asia, and encourage interaction and experience sharing among entrepreneurs.
The top 100 entrants will be selected by the judging panel and enter the pitching phase in December. The top 10 will participate in the finals early next year, competing for a total of up to USD4 million investment and other various awards. Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, co-organizers of the event, will take part in a joint investment to provide further support to fuel the growth of startups.
The top 10 finalists of JUMPSTARTER 2022 will have the opportunities to participate in exchange programs and/or market research activities managed by AEF in Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area (“GBA”) of China. In addition, JUMPSTARTER 2022 will arrange industry experts to share their experience, helping startups to understand more about the market environment in the GBA and expand their business network, so as to identify opportunities for future growth.
Meanwhile, the top 100 of JUMPSTARTER 2022 will take part in the Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program. The quota is increased from the top 20 last year to the top 100 this year, as a way to provide network and resource support, apart from capital, for the startups.
“Since onset of the pandemic, like other startups, Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund has never slowed down its pace and continued to respond to market change in a swift and active manner. Noticing the rapid development of the startup ecosystem and market, JUMPSTARTER 2022 caters to the current trend and focuses on five sectors including Fintech, Deep Tech, Healthcare, Art Tech and Sustainability,” Cindy Chow, Executive Director of Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund.
“It hopes to act as a bridge to connect the startups, facilitating them to learn more about the latest trends in the market. AEF believes that JUMPSTARTER 2022 can encourage and support the startups to further develop, injecting new impetus into Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA.”
JUMPSTARTER 2022 is open to startups that have been operating for less than five years and plan to expand into Hong Kong or other cities in the GBA.
Another highlight this year is the four online sharing sessions in early November that will target startups from cities in Mainland China, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asia. Successful startups and experts from a variety of industries will be invited to share their experiences during their entrepreneurial period, such as how to solve problems, the reasons for choosing Hong Kong or other cities in the GBA to develop business, analyze the business environment in the region, and the development opportunities of multiple emerging industries.
The JUMPSTARTER 2022 is now open for applications for interested parties via www.jumpstarter.hk/tc and for more information.
Source: Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund