The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced the 10 winning startups of its ninth edition of Start-up Express at the Final Pitching Day on June 25, 2026. The winners span sectors including smart city solutions, green tech, and health tech, reflecting the increasing diversity of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. The ESG Award was presented to BioZein Technology Corporation Limited for its commitment to sustainability, while Homing Therapeutics Limited received the My Favourite Start-up Award.
The 10 winning startups will participate in a series of local and overseas business events organized by the HKTDC, which provides opportunities to build capability and connections, explore markets, seek business and funding partners, and enhance brand awareness. HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Anna Cheung said: “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.”
This year's Final Pitching Day attracted more than 200 industry participants, including investors and business leaders. Booths were set up to enable finalists to showcase their businesses, fostering networking and collaboration. The 10 winning startups 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.
Judge Jimmy Tao, Chairman of the Hong Kong Startup Council, commented: “The quality of participating start-ups continues to improve year after year. Many of this year’s finalists have successfully integrated artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies into practical applications, demonstrating strong commercial potential.” He noted that Hong Kong's startup ecosystem has flourished, with the number of startups reaching a record high of 5,221 last year, an 11% year-on-year increase.
Taranjit Singh, Chief Technology Officer of Entoptica, a winner in 2025, shared that Start-up Express provided valuable opportunities to connect with investors and industry mentors, helping secure funding for clinical trials and production capacity expansion. He added that participation in CES 2026, led by HKTDC, enabled the company to establish connections with partners from Shanghai, Japan, and the United States, selling two prototype products at US$100,000 each.
Since 2022, the HKTDC has also run Start-up Express International, attracting startups from around the world. The fifth edition will be held during Entrepreneur Day in December 2026, providing support for overseas startups to establish a presence in Hong Kong and explore opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. For more information, visit the Start-up Express website and the HKTDC Media Room.
