The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced the 10 winning start-ups of the ninth edition of Start-up Express at its Final Pitching Day on June 25, 2026. The competition, which aims to foster the growth of Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem, selected winners from sectors including smart city solutions, green tech, and health tech, underscoring the increasing diversity and practical application of innovative technologies in the city.
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.
HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Anna Cheung highlighted the program's impact: "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 winning start-ups will participate in a series of local and overseas business events organized by the HKTDC, which provide opportunities to build capability and connections, explore markets, seek business and funding partners, and enhance brand awareness. The HKTDC has long been committed to fostering the growth of start-ups by actively providing platforms that help them raise market visibility and expand into Chinese Mainland and international markets.
Jimmy Tao, Chairman of the Hong Kong Startup Council and one of the judges, noted the improving quality of participating start-ups: "Many of this year's finalists have successfully integrated artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies into practical applications, demonstrating strong commercial potential. Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem has continued to flourish in recent years, with the number of start-ups reaching a record high. Last year, the total increased 11% year-on-year to 5,221."
Taranjit Singh, Chief Technology Officer of Entoptica, a winning start-up from the 2025 edition, 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 in the United States, a trip led by the HKTDC, enabled the company to establish connections with potential partners from Shanghai, Japan, and the United States, and successfully sold two prototype products at US$100,000 each.
In addition to promoting local ventures, the HKTDC is committed to strengthening exchanges between Hong Kong and overseas start-up ecosystems through Start-up Express International, launched in 2022. The fifth edition will be held during Entrepreneur Day in December 2026, providing winning overseas start-ups with support to establish a presence in Hong Kong and leverage the city as a gateway to explore opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and international markets.
