The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced the 10 winners of the ninth edition of Start-up Express following its Final Pitching Day on June 25, 2026. The competition, which began in 2018, aims to support Hong Kong start-ups by providing platforms to build capability, enhance visibility, and connect with investors and partners. This year's winners span sectors including smart city solutions, green tech, health tech, and med tech, reflecting the increasing diversity of innovation and technology applications in everyday life.
The 10 winning start-ups are Alpha AI Technology Limited, BioZein Technology Corporation Limited, GABES Limited, Hay-koze Limited, Homing Therapeutics Limited, Muuse Limited, O-Spheres Limited, PetWell HK Limited, PregnaSense Co. Limited, and Pyramid AI Limited. BioZein Technology Corporation Limited received the ESG Award for its commitment to sustainability and social impact, while Homing Therapeutics Limited was honored with the My Favourite Start-up Award. The winners will participate in a series of local and overseas business events organized by the HKTDC to explore markets, seek funding partners, and enhance brand awareness.
HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Anna Cheung stated, "When we launched Start-up Express in 2018, we had one simple goal: to help Hong Kong start-ups grow and flourish. Since then, we have supported 80 start-ups in building capacity, enhancing their visibility, making connections, finding new partners and investors and seizing opportunities and markets previously out of their reach." The HKTDC has long been committed to fostering start-up growth and promoting Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub.
The Final Pitching Day attracted over 200 industry participants, including investors and business leaders. Booths were set up to allow finalists to showcase their businesses and foster networking. One of the judges, Jimmy Tao, Chairman of the Hong Kong Startup Council, noted that the quality of start-ups continues to improve, with many integrating AI and other technologies into practical applications with strong commercial potential. He highlighted that Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem has flourished, with the number of start-ups reaching a record high of 5,221 last year, an 11% year-on-year increase.
Taranjit Singh, Chief Technology Officer of Entoptica, a winner from Start-up Express 2025, shared his experience: "Start-up Express provided valuable opportunities to connect with investors and industry mentors, helping us secure funding to advance clinical trials and expand production capacity." He added that participation in CES 2026, led by the HKTDC, enabled the company to establish connections with potential partners and sold two prototype products at US$100,000 each.
The HKTDC also runs Start-up Express International, launched in 2022, to attract overseas start-ups and help them establish a presence in Hong Kong. The fifth edition will be held during Entrepreneur Day in December 2026. More information is available at the Start-up Express website and the list of 20 finalists.
