Hong Kong Startup News Round Up - Nov 17

Robin8 acquires Hong Kong's KOL marketplace Launchpilots

Shanghai-based KOL marketplace acquired Hong Kong-based influencer marketing platform, Launcgpilots.

Founded by Miranda Tan in 2015, Robin8 launched a social influencer search engine and marketplace with over 30 million KOLs and influencers, the search engine covers the 5 major social platforms in China. Robin8 acquired Launchpilots, another platform that focuses on influencer marketing headquartered in Hong Kong.

Through the acquisition, Robin9 has a network of influencers across 15 countries, Launchpilots' database of 25,000 influencers will be incorporated into Robin8's database.

Hong Kong schoolgirls win international tech contest with healthcare mobile app

A team of five pupils from Diocesan Girls’ School (DGS), beat over 1,100 junior teams globally and won the Grand Prize (Junior Division) at the Technovation World Pitch Summit, an international technology entrepreneurship challenge for schoolgirls aged 10 to 18.

Young Makers & ChangeMakers, a non-profit platform promoting STEM skills in Hong Kong introduced the global competition to Hong Kong. It reached out to nearly 300 schoolgirls in Hong Kong, gathered over 100 mentors to help 22 teams ideate, prototype, create and pitch their app solution. Participants also attended a boot camp at the University of Hong Kong.

The DGS team developed a healthcare mobile application, named Dementia Care Companion, to provide solutions to families with members suffering from dementia. The app includes features like alarm, location tracking and interactive game.

Social Ventures Hong Kong promotes social enterprises with moving showroom

Social Ventures Hong Kong launches a moving showroom which showcases 3 social missions. The exhibition car showcases interactive projects include Beyond Vision Projects and 2 other projects to let the general public experience and understand the life of the disadvantaged group through these interactive showcases.

Beyond Vision Projects is a social enterprise that aims to enhance the quality of life of the visually impaired and elderly, stressing social inclusion, social equality and social participation.

Cyberport University Partnership Programme supports 12 FinTech Teams with Seed Funding

Cyberport University Partnership Programme revealed the 12 winning teams at a Demo Day, where 21 university teams showcase their FinTech ideas. The top 12 teams each won a seed funding of HK$100,000 and opportunity for a fast-track interview to the Cyberport Incubation Programme.

Qualcomm invests in SenseTime

Qualcomm announced an investment in SenseTime, a Hong Kong-based artificial intelligence company that specialises in facial recognition. Qualcomm did not disclose the size of the investment.

SenseTime has raised US$410 million in July in a Series B round led by CDH Investments and Sailing Capital, currently valued at over US$1.47 billion. SenseTime and Qualcomm announced a collaboration in October 2017 to drive development in AI.