STARS Foundation
STARS Foundation is a Hong Kong nonprofit that supports sustainable technology companies through a research-to-commercialization platform spanning technology fusion, IP support, fundraising, and a UN-SDG-aligned corporate awards program. It serves startups, corporates, financiers, and a network of 350+ research fellows and 200+ volunteers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersHong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What STARS Foundation does
STARS Foundation (S.T.A.R.S. Foundation 可持續科技研策基金會) is a Hong Kong-registered nonprofit organization founded in 2011 that supports and guides sustainable technology companies globally. Its name reflects five operational pillars: Sustainable-development, Technology-fusion, Application-cultivation, Research-integration, and Strategic-advancement. The Foundation's stated mission is to help researchers and innovators bring sustainable technologies to commercial viability in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It operates as a multi-sided community anchored by 350+ research fellows from universities worldwide and 200+ volunteers, supported by a small core staff of 1–10 employees.
The Foundation's core product is the STARS Platform, which delivers service modules including a Research & Technology Fusions Lab, IPR Coverage & ICM Development, Pilot Run & Prototype support, Startup Strategics & Resources, Accelerators Application, Technology Promotion & Announcement, and Fundraising & Investor Relations. The Sustainability Impact Corporate Awards (SISDGs) program offers a self-reporting questionnaire framework aligned with UN SDGs, assessed by SGS against ISO 10015 clauses, and confers a registered trademark to awardees. Additional offerings include the SDGs Task Forces (spanning Gut Microbiome, Northern Metropolis, Carbon Finance, Zero Waste, and Cognitive Multilingualism), certificate courses in ESG Financial Strategies and Listing Compliance, and an online shop for books and merchandise.
The business model is a hybrid community-and-service nonprofit. Most members (Research Fellows, Personal Members, Professionals) access the platform free or by invitation; paid revenue comes from Corporate Membership fees (HK$4,000/year), SISDGs award registration (HK$4,000), educational courses (HK$400–1,920 per module, with member discounts), and merchandise. Distribution is event-driven and partnership-driven, including co-organized events such as HEF6 (Hydrogen Economy Forum) with HKTDC, HKGSA, HAESCO, BEC, and HKEnvIA, plus affiliations with Chinese government-linked counterparts (CNOOC New Energy, China Energy Conservation, China Beijing Environment Exchange). Customer segments span research fellows, sustainable technology startups, corporates seeking ESG/SDG certification, financiers, and sustainability professionals.
STARS Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- STARS Foundation
- Legal name
- S.T.A.R.S. Foundation (可持續科技研策基金會)
- Website
- https://starsf.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- STARS Foundation is a Hong Kong nonprofit that supports sustainable technology companies through a research-to-commercialization platform spanning technology fusion, IP support, fundraising, and a UN-SDG-aligned corporate awards program. It serves startups, corporates, financiers, and a network of 350+ research fellows and 200+ volunteers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
STARS Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Sustainability Innovation Support
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
Keywords
Where STARS Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hong Kong
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
STARS Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Corporate Membership Fees: Annual corporate membership subscription providing access to STARS platform benefits, startup connections, and sustainability services.
- SISDGs Registration Fees: Sustainability Impact Corporate Awards for UN SDGs registration fee of HK$4,000 per corporate participant.
- Educational Courses: Certificate in Sustainable ESG Financial Strategies offered at HK$400/module or HK$1,920 for full 6-module course, with member discounts available.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of books (modern slavery awareness), branded merchandise (polo shirts), and educational materials through online shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Membership - Annual subscription for corporate members |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SISDGs Corporate Awards Registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Certificate in Sustainable ESG Financial Strategies - Per module |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Personal Membership - Free tier |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Research Fellow - Invitation only |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
STARS Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
STARS Foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates the STARS Platform to support and guide cutting-edge sustainable technology companies globally, helping researchers and innovators commercialize their technologies toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The platform provides integrated services including Research & Technology Fusions Lab, IPR Coverage & ICM Development, Pilot Run & Prototype, Startup Strategics, Accelerators Application, Technology Promotion & Announcement, and Fundraising & Investor Relations, supported by membership tiers and the SISDGs Corporate Awards program.
Product overview
STARS Foundation operates as a multi-module platform organization supporting cutting-edge sustainable technology companies globally. The core offering consists of the STARS Platform, which combines five strategic pillars — Sustainable Development, Technology Fusion, Application Cultivation, Research Integration, and Strategic Advancement — to guide startups toward UN Sustainable Development Goals. The platform is supported by service modules including the Research & Technology Fusions Lab, IPR Coverage & ICM Development, Pilot Run & Prototype, Startup Strategics & Resources, Accelerators Application, Technology Promotion & Announcement, and Fundraising & Investor Relations. The foundation also delivers specialized programs such as the Sustainability Impact Corporate Awards (SISDGs) for UNSDGs assessment, educational courses including the Certificate in Sustainable ESG Financial Strategies, an online Shop selling books and branded merchandise, and structured membership tiers spanning Research Fellows, Corporates, Financiers, Professionals, Start-ups, and Personal members. The organization coordinates SDGs Task Forces covering areas such as Gut Microbiome Research, Carbon Neutrality, Zero Waste, and the Northern Metropolis Loop development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 350 research fellows engaged globally
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use STARS Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
STARS Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
STARS Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance (HKGSA)coreCo-organizer of HEF6 (Sixth Hydrogen Economy Forum) 2025, joint event for hydrogen economy discussions and policy sharing in Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area.
- Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)coreStrategic partner for Eco Expo Asia 2025 and HEF6, providing platform for hydrogen and sustainability discussions with business matching activities.
- HAESCOcoreCo-organizer of HEF6 Hydrogen Economy Forum, contributing to hydrogen adoption discussions and environmental sustainability initiatives.
- Business Environment Council (BEC)coreCo-organizer of HEF6, supporting environmental sustainability forums and carbon neutrality discussions in Hong Kong.
- HKEnvIA (Hong Kong Environmental Industry Association)coreCo-organizer of HEF6 Hydrogen Economy Forum, contributing to environmental industry expertise and sustainability policy discussions.
- Social Impact Investment & Procurement Foundation (SIIP-UN)corePartnership for UN Sustainable Development Goals online platform registration, offering partnership services for corporates to register contributions on UN global registry.
- Sustainability Impact for UNSDGs (SISDGs)coreSISDGs organization provides sustainability impact assessment questionnaire and corporate awards aligned with UN SDGs, assessed by SGS with ISO 10015.
- China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection GroupmajorAffiliated counterpart providing connections to China's energy conservation and environmental protection sector.
- CNOOC New Energy Investment Co., LtdmajorAffiliated counterpart for new energy investment and hydrogen economy initiatives in China.
- China Beijing Environment ExchangemajorAffiliated counterpart for carbon trading and environmental exchange services.
- China Green Building CouncilmajorAffiliated counterpart under Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development for sustainable building initiatives.
- China Rural Technology Development CentermajorAffiliated counterpart under Ministry of Science and Technology for rural technology development.
- Gratia Christian College - School of BusinesscoreUNPRME Advanced Signatory Institute, organizer of Resilience Art Business Seminar, contributing academic expertise to sustainability education.
- WIT EnterprisesminorStartup acceleration project partner in Hong Kong.
- OM SciencesminorStartup acceleration project focused on sciences and technology commercialization.
- Biomed.hkminorBiomedical startup acceleration project partner.
- InvestHKcoreTechnical supporting organization for The Rise of Blockchain event, providing venue and support for blockchain infrastructure discussions.
- CEFARcoreCo-organizer of The Rise of Blockchain event covering blockchain infrastructure, STO and NFT topics.
- Penguin Random House SEAminorPublisher partner for book launches (Where Were You?, A Long Road to Justice) on modern slavery awareness.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
STARS Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- InvestHK: Hong Kong government department promoting FDI and supporting technology ventures. Listed as a STARS event partner; comparable in facilitating startup and sustainable-tech investment flows into Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC): Statutory body promoting Hong Kong trade and business matching, including Eco Expo Asia. Overlaps with STARS on sustainability event platforms and GBA business matchmaking, though HKTDC is far larger and broader in mandate.
- Cyberport Hong Kong: Hong Kong government digital and technology innovation hub providing incubation, funding, and accelerator programs. Overlaps with STARS in providing startup support services, though Cyberport is broader and better resourced.
- Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP): Hong Kong government's flagship technology incubation and acceleration platform serving startups across multiple verticals. Comparable as a Hong Kong–anchored startup support organization, though STARS focuses narrowly on sustainable technology and ESG alignment.
Direct peers
- Hong Kong Environmental Industry Association (HKEnvIA): Hong Kong industry association for the environmental sector. Co-organizes HEF6 with STARS and shares a corporate-membership, policy-engagement model focused on green industry development.
- World Green Organisation: Hong Kong–based nonprofit promoting sustainability and ESG practices among corporates and SMEs. Directly comparable as a Hong Kong NGO offering sustainability certification, training, and corporate awards.
- Business Environment Council (BEC): Hong Kong membership-based organization supporting environmental and sustainability practice among businesses. STARS co-organizes HEF6 with BEC and shares a similar corporate-membership, sustainability-events model.
- Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance (HKGSA): Hong Kong–based sustainability alliance co-organizing HEF6 with STARS. Directly comparable as a Hong Kong sustainability coalition engaging corporates and policymakers on green-economy themes.
- Social Impact Investment & Procurement Foundation (SIIP-UN): UN-registered partnership platform for corporates to register SDG contributions — explicitly listed as a STARS partner. Directly comparable as a UN-SDG-aligned impact registration and corporate engagement platform.
Emerging players
- Gratia Christian College – School of Business: Hong Kong academic institution and UNPRME signatory that co-organizes sustainability seminars with STARS. Comparable as a sustainability-education and research partner serving similar ESG-learning audiences.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
STARS Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceSTARS Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
STARS Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
STARS Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
STARS Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about STARS Foundation
What does STARS Foundation do?
STARS Foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates the STARS Platform to support and guide cutting-edge sustainable technology companies globally, helping researchers and innovators commercialize their technologies toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The platform provides integrated services including Research & Technology Fusions Lab, IPR Coverage & ICM Development, Pilot Run & Prototype, Startup Strategics, Accelerators Application, Technology Promotion & Announcement, and Fundraising & Investor Relations, supported by membership tiers and the SISDGs Corporate Awards program.
Is STARS Foundation a public or private company?
STARS Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was STARS Foundation founded?
STARS Foundation was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is STARS Foundation based?
STARS Foundation is headquartered in Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does STARS Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Corporate Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are SISDGs Registration Fees, educational Courses and merchandise Sales.
Who are STARS Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are InvestHK, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Cyberport Hong Kong and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). Direct peers are Hong Kong Environmental Industry Association (HKEnvIA), World Green Organisation, Business Environment Council (BEC), Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance (HKGSA) and Social Impact Investment & Procurement Foundation (SIIP-UN). Gratia Christian College – School of Business is listed as an emerging player.
Does STARS Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for STARS Foundation.
What industry is STARS Foundation in?
STARS Foundation's product category is Nonprofit Sustainability Innovation Support. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAC, Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.