May-Jul 2021 “Hong Kong Industrialist”

在 展 示 日 上，參與計劃 的初創企業透 過五分鐘的投 資者簡報，向 嘉賓講解其創新 科技產品、市場走勢 及商業企劃等。多間初創 的業務都在計劃期內大有進展，由初時只是 概念原型的產品，經過不斷測試、改良和用 家回饋，現已開始進入量產及零售的階段， 部份更藉著「初創飛昇計劃」的推廣支援獲 得一定品牌知名度。 在公眾票選中獲得「最受歡迎初創大獎」 的水耕細作 (Farmacy) 聯合創辦人兼行政總 裁麥嘉晉，特別感謝導師對水耕細作的支 援。其研發的全環控智能移動水耕種植機在 去年底成功投產，更與餐廳聯乘合作，讓消 費者近距離觀看及體驗到蔬菜食材。他提 到，在疫情下消費者更關心食品的安全和健 康，成就了公司加速發展的好時機。 而在現場投資者投票中獲勝得到「投資者 之選初創大獎」、研發軟餐食品的華瓏有限 公司（吞嚥易），亦藉著計劃聯繫到重要的合 作夥伴。聯合創辦人張美然博士指，雖然疫 情令他們難以到長者院舍進行產品演示，但 最終產品成功在去年年末的樂齡科技博覽亮 相，獲得不少消費者關注。他們亦正在申請 政府的社創基金，期望在香港擴充生產線， 成為「香港製造」品牌，其零售產品亦已投 入市場，成績令人鼓舞。 協會主席趙子翹及協會副主席兼第四屆 「初創飛昇計劃」召集人朱亮之在活動後表 示，「初創飛昇計劃」是香港少有以工業化為 目標的加速器項目，計劃中成為導師的工業 家或投資者都曾經創業，深切了解當中的困 難，亦能為初創提出最務實的建議。在展示 日上，初創企業創辦人們表現了對技術的熱 誠和敏銳的市場觸覺，更展示了在新冠肺炎 疫情下的強韌意志，相信為投資者留下了深 刻印象。 新一屆的「初創飛昇計劃亦即將展開，以 「房地產科技」為主題，參與計劃的初創將以 創新科技應對房地產業的行業痛點，助社會 安居樂業。有關計劃詳情將於下半年度在協 會網站 (www.startup.org.hk ) 公布。 Each of the participating startups gave a five-minute elevator pitch on-stage to explain its breakthrough technology, market trends and business plans to the guests. Many of the startups have shown notable growth during the programme period. Starting from preliminary ideas and prototypes in the inception stage, the startups spared no effort in testing and enhancing their prototypes with user feedback, where some of them have even commenced mass manufacturing and making sales. The startups have also built up brand presence through the marketing support of the STARS programme. Raymond Mak, Co-Founder & CEO of Farmacy who received the “The Most Popular STARS” award from public online voting was especially thankful for the support from his industry mentor. Farmacy has started manufacturing its key product, Smart Mobile Farm, near the end of last year. For more, Farmacy collaborated with a local restaurant where customers can see and experience the vegetable produce they consume. Raymond also mentioned that last year has been a fruitful year for Farmacy’s development as consumers are generally more aware of the safety and health of the food sources under COVID-19. The “Investors Choice STARS” award, voted by the investors attending the Demo Day, went to Carewells Limited (Senior Deli) who develops soft meals for people with swallowing difficulties. The company has been able to reach important business partners through STARS Programme. Dr Abellona U, co-founder of Carewells, said that although they were unable to demonstrate products at elderly homes because of COVID-19, their products eventually debuted in the Gerontech and Innovation Expo last year and have received much attention from consumers. Their retail products have been well received by the market since launch and they are now applying for the government’s SIE Fund to support its establishment of local production line. Council Chairman Jason Chiu and Vice Chairman Paul Chu (cohort lead of the 4 th STARS Programme) pointed out that the focus on industrialisation distinguished STARS Programme from other accelerators in town. All of the industrialist and investor mentors were once entrepreneurs with the firsthand experience in starting a business, allowing them to give practical advise to the mentees. On the Demo Day, the investors have been deeply impressed by the startup founders’ strong passion on their technology, business acumen as well as their remarkable resilience under COVID-19. The next cohort of STARS Programme, to commence in the second half of this year, will focus on property technology and encourage tech startups to address the pain points of the property industry and living needs of the wider society. Stay tuned on www.startup.org.hk . 5-7/2021 | 49