Hong Kong Startup News Round Up - Jan 19

Trend Lab raises US$12.5M in angel round 

(Updated on January 21, 2018)

The new AI FinTech startup, Trend Lab said it has raised HK$100 million (US$12.5 million) in from angel investors. 

Trend Lab will focus on developments in Big Data and AI to provide high-end technologies for FinTech industries across the Asia Pacific. Meanwhile, Trend Lab will also become a strategic technology partner of EFT Solutions (HKSE: 8062) and 18 Financial Group Limited.

Tencent-backed startup to seek$17B valuation

Tencent-backed Chinese start-up Kuaishou is seeking to raise funds at about a $17bn valuation as it expands its video-streaming service to Southeast Asia.

The company is targeting around $1bn of financing. Its targeted valuation would be almost six times the $3bn it managed when it last raised funds in March. 

Tech giants from Tencent Holdings to Alibaba Group Holding are investing billions of dollars in video content because it’s proven highly effective at keeping ad revenue-generating users glued to their platforms.

The Cage accelerator programme opens for applications

The Cage, which claims the title of the “only retail ignition programme for tech startups in Asia” has opened applications for its 2018 incarnation. 

The incubator is looking for early-stage startups that focus on B2B tech designed to enhance the customer experience. Applicants require a consumer-tested prototype to be considered.

Past winners have hailed from across Asia and beyond, including New York’s self-checkout app QueueHop, India’s “visual Quora for fashion” SeenIt, Hong Kong’s AI chatbot maker Whatsquare and Mainland China's fashion marketplace app Whoolala.

Other accelerator programmes in Hong Kong are available HERE.

Temasek leads US$100M funding in Chinese robotics and AI startup Rokid

Rokid Corporation, a Chinese startup that makes an AI voice assistant and smart devices, has secured US$100 million in funding, led by Singapore’s state-owned Temasek Holdings.

The first tranche of this round came in back in 2016, when Rokid raised US$50 million led by Chinese VC firm Advantech, with participation from IDG Capital and Walden International.

Established in July 2014, Rokid specialises in robotics research and AI development. The firm essentially provides voice-interactive access to weather, smart home automation, music, radio, weather, and basic chat. Rokid devices are compatible with third-party apps. The firm is currently working on audio offerings, which include a range of in-depth educational options and chat capabilities.

StartMeUp Festival 2018 and what to expect from WHub

The StartmeupHK Festival is a week-long event that brings together startups, entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and students under one roof to exchange ideas on entrepreneurship and innovation.

WHub is a proud supporter of the festival and we are partnering with InvestHK and other community partners to host 2 events this year!

Un-Conference  February 1 (Thursday)

Join WHub for an #unconference on Feb 1 during #startmeup festival! WHub Un-Conference is an interactive gathering where you can meet like-minded entrepreneurs, gain practical insights and actionable takeaways on trending topics like big data, blockchain, machine learning, digital marketing, rapid prototyping and more in 1 day.  

WHub is excited to team up with Campfire Collaborative Spaces to give away 2-month hotdesking at one of their locations* to anyone who buys a ticket for the WHub Un-Conference.

If you have already purchased the ticket and are interested in this special promotion, please email us at events@whub.io

*The location (Wong Chuk Hang, Quarry Bay or Kennedy Town) is subject to availability. The start and end date should be 1st February to 31st March 2018.

HK Tech & Startups Job Fair #9   February 2 (Friday)
Interested in joining a Hong Kong startup? Join us at the job fair for free! We are happy to partner with InvestHK for the job fair, which gathers undergraduates, graduates and seasoned professionals exclusively for startups.

Joining us this time at the job fair:

WHub's Job Fair is a part of Internet of Life (IoL) Summit, organized by Brinc and The Mills Fabrica. IoL is the leading consumer IoT conference and designed as a platform to experience the future of tech. Join IoL for the inspiring keynotes and panels with global innovators, meet the companies driving exponential change and connect with influencers, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Job Fair attendees can access Startup Village, VR room and networking areas free of charge. To get access to the main stage, please purchase the ticket here. *Get a 30% discount using the code WHubJF30.

We are also a keen supporter of the following events:

Next Money Asia 2018 Fintech Finals  January 30-31 (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Use promo code "WHUB25" to enjoy 25% discount!

Retail Cutting Edge January 31 (Wednesday)  
Use promo code "WHub20OFF" to enjoy 20% off tickets!

HealthTech O2O Summit  February 1 (Thursday)
Use promo code "WHub20" to get 20% discount!