January, February, March 2020
Each link below will take you to the original Hong Kong-focused startup news article for that headline, gathered from online Hong Kong tech news coverage across the first quarter of 2020 – the months of January, February and March of 2020.
Our quarterly Hong Kong startup news listings provide a one-page at-a-glance listing of the startup headlines for Hong Kong as a quick reference on HK’s early-stage startup scene primarily and, where applicable, as coverage of Hong Kong’s startups making an impact overseas.
Startup News Asia’s quarterly summaries can also be ordered online in hardcopy, printed, bound and delivered. Our hardcopy publications feature scan-able links to connect you from print to each headline’s online news article using the Startup News Asia mobile app, or any similar app you already have on your device.
January 2020 | February 2020 | March 2020
Hong Kong: January 2020
- Hong Kong: MioTech fintech startup continues growth, with AI-driven service to evaluate ESG investments for fund managers
- Hong Kong: StartMeUpHK Festival set for February 10-15
- Hong Kong: Betatron startup investment firm to boost funding to $500K per startup in next round of accelerator program
- Hong Kong: Betatron opens applications for accelerator cohort 6, closing March 18th
- Hong Kong: Grand Theft Auto V becomes latest tech front in Hong Kong protests, with avatars being customised as protesters and police
- Hong Kong: ZA Bank digital-only bank offers introductory rate of 6% or higher for deposits, beating offerings from HSBC and Standard Chartered
- Hong Kong: Two Prime aims to leverage token sale model to back investments in real-world assets, using ‘Continuous Token Offering’ approach
- Hong Kong: Applications for The STILE Initiative Cohort 2 close March 31st, open to all startups tho with a program specialty focus on proptech, fintech and ‘living tech’
- Hong Kong: Klook Travel Technology aims to beat travel-tech rivals with experience-oriented approach to online travel booking, combined simply with better tech
- Hong Kong: Google removes WhatsGap mapping app from app store, citing ‘sensitive’ nature of pro-demonstration retailer listings
- Startups backed by University of Hong Kong’s HKU DreamCatcher 100K seed fund take gold and silver awards at 2nd Asia Exhibition of Inventions
- Hong Kong: StartmeUp x Asia Society Hong Kong Center Pitch-a-thon set for February 12th, connecting international startups with strategic investors in Asia
- Hong Kong: WorkTech coworking space operator secures $15M
- Hong Kong: Business Angel Programme applications close February 2nd, a British Chamber of Commerce in HK initiative
- ICYMI: UN migration agency to use blockchain-based IRIS-SAFER in effort to stamp out illegal fees charged to migrant workers in Hong Kong
- China suspends planned cross-border listings partnership between Shanghai and London Stock Exchanges amid political tensions over Hong Kong protests
- IFTA FinTech Achievement Awards applications close January 20th, spanning 26 categories in financial innovation
- ICYMI: e27’s Echelon Roadshow runs from February 18th to April 2nd, visiting 11 cities across APAC
Hong Kong: February 2020
- Hong Kong: A look at Pay-a-Vegan app – users eat a vegan meal and submit the receipt to the app to receive $1 credit to redeem in partner restaurants
- Hong Kong: Pawnhub crypto-lending startup becomes HK’s first fully-licensed and insured digital currency lender, adding to offices in UK, Switzerland, Thailand and Taiwan
- Tech giants including Google, Facebook seek alternatives to Hong Kong as global data hub due to security concerns around China partner firm
- Hong Kong: 5 winners unveiled from the recent Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund/HSBC Jumpstarter 2020 pitch competition
- Hong Kong: Snapask tutoring app gains $35M with on-demand tutor matching and one-on-one assistance, with sights on Vietnam entry and Singapore for regional HQ
Hong Kong: March 2020
- Hong Kong: We Are Social and Hootsuite’s Digital 2019 in HK report – an overview of internet, social media, mobile and e-commerce usage
- Hong Kong’s First Digital Trust gains $3M backing from Taiwan’s Nogle venture studio, aiming for launch of a rapid settlement and clearing network for digital assets
- Hong Kong: How to Navigate Resources for Startups in Hong Kong 2020 event set for March 26th in Sheung Wan
- Hong Kong’s Green Monday partners Taiwan’s FamilyMart convenience store chain to launch Omnipork instant meals across 3600 locations in the country
- Hong Kong’s AMTD Digital to acquire Singapore’s PolicyPal insurtech startup, aiming to build a SE Asia-focused fintech platform HQ’d in Singapore
- Hong Kong: Government rolls out electronic tracker wristbands to ensure new arrivals under compulsory home quarantines do not stray
- Hong Kong: China’s ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance the first to launch in HK with virtual banking licence under Za Bank brand
- Hong Kong: Another look at Snapask, ed-tech startup that recently raised $35M with both online and offline tutoriing services
- IWD 2020: An intro to 11 of Asia’s female leaders in business, politics, activism and the arts