What StartmeupHK does

StartmeupHK is an initiative of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Foreign Direct Investment promotion arm of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, launched in 2013 to promote Hong Kong as a leading startup destination and connect overseas founders, investors, and corporates with the local ecosystem. The initiative operates as a public-sector ecosystem platform rather than a commercial technology business: it is free to access, generates no revenue, and is staffed by 51–100 InvestHK employees operating from 24/F East Exchange Tower, Mong Kok. Its core offerings are the annual StartmeupHK Festival (a week-long startup and innovation conference), the co-branded Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK (which scaled to 45,000+ attendees from 120+ economies in its 2026 edition), an online Events Calendar, a Startup Resources Portal covering incubators, government funding schemes, co-working facilities, and investor networks, a News section, a Media Hub, and a year-round StartmeupHK Salons community programming series.

The underlying technology stack is a conventional web-based portal and event management system with no proprietary AI/ML or advanced technical components disclosed. The platform integrates with social media channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), email newsletters, and PR/media partnerships to drive distribution. The business model is non-commercial: InvestHK funds the initiative through HKSAR Government resources with the explicit strategic objective of attracting overseas innovative startups, investors, and corporates to set up or expand in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Customers are not billed; instead, 'paying' stakeholders are the HKSAR Government (funder) and the broader ecosystem participants (investors, corporates, accelerators, and government support bodies such as Cyberport, HKSTP, HKPC, FSTB, and CEDB) who benefit from a deeper startup talent and capital pool.

Customer segments span three primary groups: overseas innovative startups seeking to set up or expand in Hong Kong; investors (angel, VC, CVC) sourcing deal flow; and corporates/industry leaders seeking innovation partnerships and GBA market entry. Go-to-market is event-driven: flagship festivals, year-round salons, ecosystem conferences (Connected Cities, Startup Impact Summit, Ecosystem Summit, Lifestyle Tech Conference, Connected Retail Experiences, HKFIA Forum), webinars, and matchmaking serve as the primary demand-generation mechanisms. Headline ecosystem outcomes recorded are a record 5,221 Hong Kong startups in 2025 (up 11% YoY, employing 19,753 people) and 11,070 overseas parent companies in Hong Kong (up 11% YoY, employing 509,000 people). Strategic leadership is led by Jayne Chan, Head of StartmeupHK, InvestHK.

Name

StartmeupHK

Legal name

StartmeupHK

Website

https://startmeup.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

StartmeupHK is a free government initiative under InvestHK (HKSAR) promoting Hong Kong as a startup hub. It connects overseas founders, investors, and corporates via the annual StartmeupHK Festival, Hong Kong FinTech Week, ecosystem events, and a resource portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Development Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem platform
• Startup events directory
• Government startup support
• Startup resource portal
• Startup networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Central

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

StartmeupHK operates a free online portal and flagship annual conference (the StartmeupHK Festival) that promote Hong Kong as a startup destination and connect overseas founders, local startups, investors, and corporates with ecosystem resources, events, and partners. The initiative curates an Events Calendar, a Startup Resources Portal (incubation programmes, funding schemes, networks), a News section, and a Media Hub, and co-hosts the annual Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK. It is operated by InvestHK under the HKSAR Government.

Product overview

StartmeupHK is an initiative by InvestHK (a department of the Hong Kong SAR Government) that operates as an informational portal and event platform rather than a traditional software product. The core offering is the StartmeupHK Festival, an annual flagship startup and innovation conference, supplemented by an Events Calendar listing startup ecosystem events, a Startup Resources Portal providing information on funding, incubation programmes, and networks, a News section for ecosystem updates, and a Media Hub containing press releases, videos, interviews, and case studies. The platform also co-hosts the annual Hong Kong FinTech Week. Together, these components form an ecosystem support platform designed to promote Hong Kong as a leading startup destination and connect overseas companies with the local startup community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• StartmeupHK Festival Flagship annual startup and innovation conference event in Hong Kong, curated by InvestHK to showcase and connect Hong Kong's startup ecosystem to overseas founders, investors, and corporates.
• Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Annual flagship fintech conference jointly organised with FintechHK and HKSAR Government bureaux, bringing together global leaders, speakers, sponsors, and startups from over 120 economies.
• Events Calendar Online directory listing upcoming startup and innovation events in Hong Kong, including conferences, seminars, workshops, webinars, and networking activities for startups, investors, and corporates.
• Startup Resources Portal
• News Section
• Media Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• Record-high 5,221 startups in Hong Kong in 2025 (up 11% YoY); 11,070 overseas parent companies in Hong Kong (up 11% YoY)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK)coreOthers · 1 January 2013StartmeupHK is an initiative of InvestHK, the Foreign Direct Investment promotion arm of the Hong Kong SAR Government. InvestHK operates the StartmeupHK platform and provides staff, resources, and policy backing to run the initiative.
• Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKSAR GovernmentcoreOthersCo-organiser of the Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 event, representing the policy-making arm of the Hong Kong Government for financial services.
• Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, HKSAR GovernmentcoreOthersCo-organiser of the Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 event.
• FintechHKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organiser of the Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026, representing Hong Kong's fintech brand and ecosystem.
• Hong Kong FinTech WeekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartmeupHK partners with Hong Kong FinTech Week as an annual co-branded flagship event. The 2026 edition expects 45,000+ global attendees from 120+ economies.
• KPMGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised the Connected Cities Conference as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020. KPMG served as the core event organiser for the smart city themed conference.
• WHub / WHG LimitedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised the Startup Impact Summit 2020 as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020. WHub is a Hong Kong startup ecosystem platform.
• The Mills FabricacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the Ecosystem Summit as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020, focusing on ways to foster and grow the startup ecosystem in Hong Kong and globally.
• Jumpstart MediacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the Lifestyle Tech Conference as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020, providing insights into the startup ecosystem with trends from startups, investors, and corporates.
• Bailey CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised Connected Retail Experiences as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020, a conference for retailers and brand owners focusing on retail technology and innovation.
• Sina FinancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised the HKFIA 2020 Forum as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020, a financial industry forum.
• Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited (HKEX)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organised community events such as the webinar 'A Greater Horizon for Indonesian Companies in Hong Kong' as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020.
• Asia Society Hong Kong CentersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised the Mentorship Hacks community event as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020, featuring startup founders and mentorship discussions.
• Zuhlke Engineering Hong KongsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised a community event on Fostering Winning Partnerships in the Open Banking Ecosystem as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020.
• Agorize AsiasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised the Open Innovation 4 Good webinar as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020 community events.
• Finstep Asia LimitedsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised the community event 'How Will Chinese and Indian Fintech Ecosystems Evolve post COVID-19?' as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020.
• Silicon DragonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised Silicon Dragon Online Hong Kong 2020 as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020 community events.
• Startup Grind Hong KongsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganised the community event 'Growing Internationally – Investing Internationally' as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020.
• Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company LimitedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCyberport is a key government partner providing co-working facilities, fintech community support, and hosting events including the Web 4.0 & Agentic AI Innovation Summit and FinTech Innovation Lab Asia-Pacific.
• Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHKSTP is a key government partner operating science parks and providing incubation, acceleration, and R&D support. Co-organises events including Hong Kong Techathon+.
• Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHKPC provides technology, productivity, and innovation support services. Hosts seminars and workshops on new industrialisation and sustainable innovation.
• CyberportcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganiser of the Web 4.0 & Agentic AI Innovation Summit 2026, a flagship event at Cyberport bringing together industry leaders and next-generation entrepreneurs.
• Indonesia Fintech AssociationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organised the community event connecting Indonesian fintech companies with Hong Kong capital market and listing opportunities as part of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• SGInnovate: Singapore government-linked deep-tech investor and ecosystem builder. Comparable as a state-affiliated entity running programmes, events, and investment activities to attract overseas startups, but Singapore-focused.
• Startup SG / Enterprise Singapore: Singapore's flagship government startup ecosystem brand and platform. Closest regional peer given its mandate to promote Singapore as a startup hub for overseas founders via events, grants, and matchmaking.
• e27 (Echelon Group): Southeast Asia-focused startup media, community, and events platform. Comparable as an ecosystem content and events business targeting founders, investors, and corporates in Asia, though primarily Southeast Asia-focused.

Direct peers

• MassChallenge: Global non-profit accelerator running large cohort-based programmes with corporate and government sponsors. Comparable as an open, government- and corporate-supported startup acceleration and convening platform.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global startup accelerator and corporate innovation platform operating flagship events, accelerator programmes, and corporate-startup matchmaking. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder convening platform connecting corporates, VCs, and founders.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator operator running industry-specific programmes with corporate and government partners. Comparable as a programme-driven ecosystem platform with a strong events and convening layer.
• Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP): HKSAR Government operator of science parks and incubation/acceleration programmes. Direct peer as a publicly funded Hong Kong ecosystem builder co-organising events like Hong Kong Techathon+ with StartmeupHK.
• Hong Kong Cyberport: Government-backed digital tech hub and incubator operating co-working, fintech sandboxes, and acceleration programmes. Highly comparable as a state-affiliated Hong Kong ecosystem builder that co-runs flagship events with StartmeupHK.
• WHub / WHG Limited: Hong Kong's leading private startup community platform and co-working operator. Directly comparable as an ecosystem connector; already partners with StartmeupHK on events such as the Startup Impact Summit.

Emerging players

• Tech in Asia: Asia-focused media and events company covering the startup ecosystem with a content platform, conferences, and data products. Comparable as an event-driven ecosystem platform serving founders, investors, and corporates across Asia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StartmeupHK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/investhk
• Facebookfacebook.com/startmeuphk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/47657267

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments7 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about StartmeupHK