PolyVentures Seminar Research-based Startup Series – Professor in Startup: Why and How?

PolyVentures Seminar Research-based Startup Series named “Professor in Startup: Why and How?” was held by Institute for Entrepreneurship on 30^th Jun 2021.  PolyVentures Seminars: Research-based Startup Series is specially designed for PolyU academics to guide them through their entrepreneurial journey.

Prof. Philip Chan (Senior Advisor to the President, Emeritus Professor (Electronic and Information Engineering, PolyU) was the first speaker and his topic entitled “From academic research to a sustainable technology company – a personal experience”.   Firstly, Prof. Chan briefed how he started from ITF project to develop a flip-chip technology and obtained 4 patents.

Then he briefed their Flip-chip LED technology and its advantages included easier to scale to higher power light, brighter, better heat dissipation and more compatible.

In early days, he joined the university’s entrepreneurship program and licensed the patents from university for equity in the company. His PhD student became the full time CEO and he was the director. And then he shared their early difficulties included lack of manufacturing capability, sales person, convincing business plan and fundraising.

After that he shared prime start the manufacturing and said “Strategic investor brining complementary know-how is more important than just cash!”  Their company then moved to Nansha towards sustainability that they established foothold in the GBA.  The CEO and a few technical people learned how to sell because their product is highly technical!  They grow with large customers that high quality demands and lower the cost.   The company today was briefed.

Finally, Prof. Chan concluded that Deep Tech is most difficult to establish and to sustain. Key partnership (included customer and supplier) are significant.  Succeed in the market-place is the key for survival and sustainable.

Mr. Kelvin Wong (Deputy Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship, PolyU) was second speaker and his presentation named “Resources and Support at PolyU”.

In the beginning, Mr. Wong explained Why and Why Not about technology venturing through academic-led Startups. We do it because of impact, control, ownership and funding.  We didn’t try because of lacking such knowledge, risk, not enough funding and time to market.

Then Mr. Wong briefed their Knowledge Transfer at PolyU from Basic/exploratory research to technology transfer to commercialization (Market). In technology transfer, it included “Collaborative Research”, “IP Licensing / Assignment”, “Consultancy” and “Spin-off/Startup”.

Some key considerations in Market, Technology, IP Management, Support/Funding and Partnership were discussed.  There are four critical factors to success and they are “Competitive edge of Technology”, “Advantage in Channel / Customer relationship”, “Distribution Network” and “Manufacturing Resource”.  Key components such as business model, offering and team/company establishment, as well as, startup cycle were also mentioned.

After that Academic-led Startups Policy and Support in PolyU were introduced.

Finally, Mr. Kelvin Wong briefed different programs and funds in PolyU to assist startups such as Market Pathway Programme (Lean Launchpad Programme), Fundings (e.g. Micro Fund, Maker Fund, Tech Launchpad Fund & Entrepreneurship Investment Fund), PolyU InnoHub (HK & SZ), GBA Startup Postdoc Programme.  The whole process was described as following diagram.

Reference:

PolyU Institute for Entrepreneurship - https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ife/corp/en/index.php

Previous Prof. Philip CHAN’s talks about LED:

20090221: PCB and Packaging Technologies - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2009/02/pcb-and-packaging-technologies.html

20120516: HKIE Electronics Division Annual Dinner 2012 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2012/05/hkie-electronics-division-annual-dinner.html

 

HKQF the 12th TIC-ITAC Meeting

The 12^th meeting of Industry Training Advisory Committee for Testing, Inspection & Certification Industry (TIC-ITAC) under Hong Kong Qualification Framework (HKQF) was held on 25^th Jun 2021.  After one year Covid-19 pandemic, we all wear face mask for the meeting. 

It is ten year anniversary of TIC-ITAC and Mr. Felix Chan our chairman represented whole team to attend ceremony under Covid-19 pandemic on 25^th Mar 2021.

All committee members had a souvenir for memory.

A trial assistant technician / technician vocational training and its career path for construction testing were proposed so as to fill the need of manpower in TIC industry.

I took a photo with Mr. Dominic Lam (COO, CMA Testing) and introduced CityU HK Tech 300.

After the meeting, we had a tea and discussed future cooperation between CityU and CMA Testing.

Reference:

Testing, Inspection and Certification Industry Training Advisory Committee (ITAC) - https://www.hkqf.gov.hk/tic/en/home/index.html

Members of Testing, Inspection and Certification Industry Training Advisory Committee (ITAC) at https://www.hkqf.gov.hk/tic/en/itac/index.html

CityU HK TECH 300 - https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/

20200609: HKQF the 11th TIC-ITAC Meeting - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/06/hkqf-11th-tic-itac-meeting.html

20160908: HKQF the 7th TIC-ITAC Meeting - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2016/09/hkqf-7th-tic-itac-meeting.html

20150602: HKQF the 6th TIC-ITAC Meeting - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/06/hkqf-6th-tic-itac-meeting.html

20130206: HKQF the 3rd TIC-ITAC Meeting - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2013/02/hkqf-3rd-tic-itac-meeting.html

20111130: The 2nd meeting of TIC ITAC - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2011/11/2nd-meeting-of-tic-itac.html

20101007: Testing, Inspection and Certification – Industry Training Advisory Committee - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2010/10/testing-inspection-and-certification.html

CityU HK Tech 300 - Seed Fund Interview

I was honor to lead two mentees (AP undergraduate) from College of Science Mentorship Programme to join HK Tech 300 program.  The Seed Fund Interview was performed on 26^th Jun 2021.  There are only 5 min presentation and 10 min for Q&A.

Before the interview, two teammates had a quick lunch in student canteen.

And then we were ready in the waiting room.  We took a photo in front of the meeting room for memory.

Our duties separation in the interview that I presented the project, Jason Lee counted the timer and Alex Cheung showed the speech notes.  My one liner is “My company named Deep Question. It is developing board game for innovation to help primary & secondary school students to study innovation method funny and friendly with Extenics (China original new Innovation Method).” And our mission is “Everybody can innovate!”

Our presentation sequence is “Problem”, “Solution”, “Product”, “Business Model”, “Market”, “Projected Growth”, “Deliverables & Milestones”, “Competition”, “Team”, and “The Ask Fund”. Finally Q&A for panelists.

It is a very good experience to lead mentees and joined HK Tech 300.  Whatever the seed fund success or not, my students learnt how to transfer idea into business proposal and I hope that they will join using their own idea in next time.

Reference:

CityU HK TECH 300 - https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/

Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) - http://www.cityu.edu.hk/kto/

HK Tech 300 related activities:

20210612: CityU HK Tech 300 - Training Tips for SEED Fund - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/06/cityu-hk-tech-300-training-tips-for.html

20210602: CES Meeting with Office of the Vice-President (Research and Technology) for supporting HK TECH 300 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/06/ces-meeting-with-office-of-vice.html

20210529: CityU HK Tech 300 Webinar – Intellectual Property & Startup - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/05/cityu-hk-tech-300-webinar-intellectual.html

20210504: CityU HK Tech 300 – Introduction - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/05/cityu-hk-tech-300-introduction.html

20210423: City I&T Grand Challenge Online Briefing Session - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/04/city-i-grand-challenge-online-briefing.html

20210407: Meeting with student mentees in CityU College Mentorship Program - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/04/meeting-with-student-mentees-in-cityu.html

20210323: CityU HK Tech 300 – Launching Ceremony - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/03/cityu-hk-tech-300-launching-ceremony.html

20210309: CityU KTO – CityU Tech Ventures Info Talks - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/03/cityu-kto-cityu-tech-ventures-info-talks.html

20210305: CityU College of Science - Mentorship Programme Kick-off Ceremony - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/03/cityu-college-of-science-mentorship.html

20190910: Lunch with Prof. Raymond Chan and Prof. CS Lee in CityU for College of Science’s Mentorship Programme - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/09/lunch-with-prof-raymond-chan-and-prof.html

HKSQ & HKQAA - TID Project Meeting for Progress Report

 HKSQ applied the Trade and Industry Department (TID) Funded project named “Feasibility Study on the Quality of Hong Kong Start-up Development for Supporting the Sustainable Business Growth” and HKQAA is our implementation agent. Since COVID-19 pandemic, our project had been postponed for a year.  We met with new team members of HKQAA for this project and discussed the progress report on 24^th Jun 2021.

(Left: I, Ms. Meico Cheong (GM, Intelligence Business) and Ms. Yubo Ho (Account Manager))

We had discussed the startup survey and data analysis as well as revitalize the Hong Kong Registration Scheme – Startup through CityU HK TECH 300 program. We would like to assist HKQAA to reconnect HKSTP, Cyberport and FHKI – HK Startup Council.

After this short meeting, I had lunch with Dr. KS Chin to report our discussion and making appointment with HKQAA top management for meeting. (The whole project development history since 2015 is showed in the reference.)

Reference:

HKSQ - www.hksq.org

HKQAA - http://www.hkqaa.org/

TID SME Development Fund (SDF) - https://www.smefund.tid.gov.hk/english/tsf/sdf_background.html

One of my relevant publication about startup named “Implementing the Quality Startup Management System model in Hong Kong: a case study” and posted at https://jqualityinnovation.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40887-017-0013-x .

HKQAA Hong Kong Registration - Start-ups:  http://hkqaa.org/en_regservice.php?catid=13

HKSQ TID Funded Project website - https://hksqstartup.hkqaa.org/

20200929: HKSQ & HKQAA Promotion Seminar on Feasibility Study on the Quality Start-up Development in HKSTP - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/09/hksq-hkqaa-promotion-seminar-on.html

20200708: HKSQ & HKQAA Promotion Seminar on Feasibility Study on the Quality Start-up Development - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/07/hksq-hkqaa-promotion-seminar-on.html

20200525: HKSQ & HKQAA - TID Project Kick off Online Meeting - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/05/hksq-hkqaa-tid-project-kick-off-online.html

20200303: TID Project Briefing Meeting for HKSQ & HKQAA - Project of Feasibility Study on the Quality Start-up Development - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/03/tid-project-briefing-meeting-for-hksq.html

20200117: HKSQ & HKQAA - the First Steering Committee Meeting for project of Feasibility Study on the Quality Start-up Development - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/01/hksq-hkqaa-first-steering-committee.html

20190123: HKSQ & HKQAA - TID SME Development Fund Awarded Meeting

https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/01/hksq-hkqaa-tid-sme-development-fund.html

20181219: HKSQ & HKQAA presentation for TID SME Development Fund - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/12/hksq-hkqaa-presentation-for-tid-sme.html

20180928: HKSTP & HKQAA Quality Startup Scheme Meeting 2 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/09/hkstp-hkqaa-quality-startup-scheme_28.html

20180911: HKSTP & HKQAA Quality Startup Scheme Meeting - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/09/hkstp-hkqaa-quality-startup-scheme.html

20180503: HKQAA Startup Coaching to HKSTP Incubatee - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/05/hkqaa-startup-coaching-to-hkstp.html

20180208: Startup Meeting with ITB and HKQAA - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2018/02/startup-meeting-with-itb-and-hkqaa.html

20180126: Startup Meeting with Cyberport - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2018/01/startup-meeting-with-cyberport.html

20180117: Startup Meeting with Hong Kong Startup Council and CityU - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2018/01/startup-meeting-with-hong-kong-startup.html

20180110: Startup Meeting among HKSTP, HKQAA and InvestHK - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2018/01/startup-meeting-among-hkstp-hkqaa-and.html

20171220: HKSTP & HKQAA meeting with EMSD for Startup Innovation Procurement - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2017/12/hkstp-hkqaa-meeting-with-emsd-for.html

20171122: Meeting with FHKI for Quality Startup - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2017/11/meeting-with-fhki-for-quality-startup.html

20170719: HKQAA Startup Coaching to CityU Inno-preneur “HANDS” - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2017/07/hkqaa-startup-coaching-to-cityu-inno.html

20170523: HKSTP & HKQAA Meeting for Quality Startups Registration Scheme 2017 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2017/05/hkstp-hkqaa-meeting-for-quality.html

20160819: Cyberport Smart-Clinic Seminar on HKQAA Startups Registration Scheme - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/08/cyberport-smart-clinic-seminar-on-hkqaa.html

20160615: Visit to Cyberport for Quality Startup Scheme - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/06/visit-to-cyberport-for-quality-startup.html

20160513: HKQAA Symposium – Startups Registration Scheme Kicks off - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/05/hkqaa-symposium-startups-registration.html

20160319: HKSTP the 2nd Briefing Session on HKQAA Hong Kong Registration – Start-ups - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/03/hkstp-2nd-briefing-session-on-hkqaa.html

20160125: HKSTP Briefing Session on HKQAA Hong Kong Registration – Start-ups - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/01/hkstp-briefing-session-on-hkqaa-hong.html

20150324: HKSTP Graduation Ceremony of Incubation Programmes & MOU with HKQAA - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/03/hkstp-graduation-ceremony-of-incubation.html

PolyU Tech Salon 2021 Webinar - How is FashTECH disrupting the industry landscape

PolyU Tech Salon 2021 Webinar named “How is FashTECH disrupting the industry landscape” was held by Institute for Entrepreneurship on 22^nd Jun 2021.  Topics included creating innovative enterprises, research focused on fashion technology and smart wearable technology, advanced fibrous materials and industry insight sharing. 

The first speaker was Mr. Peter Mok (Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship, PolyU) and his topic entitled “Partnering for Success and Sustainability”.  His talk included corporate innovation trends, Hong Kong Innovation Scene, Opportunities for Textile Industry and Modes of Knowledge Transfer, etc.

Firstly, he explained what Corporate Innovation (CI) is. It is the ability to transfer from new idea to solution and create business result. Then he briefed the three key findings of CI that included: i) Key to Survival, ii) First Mover Wins the Competition and iii) Top-down Innovation Culture.

Then Mr. Peter Mok stated the obstacles of corporate innovation that was Hard and Slow.  He also mentioned the six models of Corporate Innovation and they were R&D, Corporate VC or M&A, Internal Incubator, Technology Partnership, Open Accelerator and Adoption of Innovations.

After that he introduced Hong Kong innovation scene and discussed the approved I&T fund project in 2019. The following diagram showed different government support funding from 1999 to 2020.

Finally, Mr. Peter Mok discussed the opportunities for textile industry and two key directions were Sustainability and Digitization. Lastly he introduced four modes of knowledge transfer in PolyU including Collaborative Research, Technology Licensing, Consultancy and Spin-offs & Startups. 

The second speaker was Mr. Tenny Lam (Co-Founder & CEO, Grand Rise Technology Limited) and he studied MBA in PolyU.  He cooperated with PolyU professor to form Grand Rise Technology since 2019.

And then Mr. Tenny Lam shared his experience such as how to cooperate with professor, corporate innovation, etc.  He said if your goal is long term innovation.  The partnership with university is a good way to achieve this goal. 

The third speaker was Prof. Jintu Fan (Head, Institute for Entrepreneurship, PolyU) and his presentation named “PolyU Fashion Technology”.  His talk related PolyU Fashion Technology Research Focus and Research on Personal Thermal Management.

In the beginning, Prof. Fan introduced the Institute of Textiles and Clothing and they had three directions included Fashion Business, Fashion & Textile Design and Technology.

HKTDC T-box X HKSME Workshop – WeMedia & WeChat Mini Program

 HKTDC T-box X HKSME Workshop named “Master the development of WeMedia in the Mainland China and understand the trend of WeChat Mini Program" was held on 22^nd Jun 2021 online. HKTDC invited two speakers to share their experience on Tencent products in Mainland China.  Before the workshop, representation of HKTDC introduced T-box (Transformation Sandbox) and their services included E-commerce, Relocation, Brand upgrade and Market exploration.

The first speaker was Mr. Li (Tencent, JOOX Market & PR) and his topic was “Understand the trend of WeChat Mini Program and assist SME go to Mainland China”.

Firstly, Mr. Li briefed the digital ecosystem in China including social media, entertainment, information, software and tools, as well as, daily live.

And then he briefed the Tencent’s product which covered our 24hr live scenario.  Tencent’s ecosystem was briefed including Sales (advertisement), Content (QQ and QQ music), User (mini-program), AI & Big Data & Cloud (Tencent Cloud), Payment (WeChat Pay) and CRM (Enterprise WeChat and Official accounts (公眾號). 

After that Mr. Li described the risk and opportunity of Covid-19 pandemic that only online shopping had not been affected. 

Finally, he introduced the SME e-commerce solution for industries included retail, service and consultancy.

The service program and price were mentioned.

Lastly, he showed some cases using Tencent platform.

The second speaker was Mr. Choi (Greater China WeMedia Influencer Association) and he shared his experience on social media in China. 

Mr. Choi introduced himself as KOL (網紅) using different platform in Mainland China.  He said many SME boss needed to demonstrate their product for sale by themselves rather than employ China KOL.

There are two major social media employed in China which are TikTok and Taobao Live.

Many times you need to post your news every day at least once so as to enhance your exposure. 

And then he explained the different between Social Media and WeMedia in Mainland China. They defined that social media found stranger externally and sold your product, as well as, communicated with your customer.

Finally, Mr. Choi briefed different platform in China from 2014 to 2016.

At the end, he shared some sales tactics such as short video from 7s to 60s. 

Reference:

HKTDC - https://home.hktdc.com/

T-box - https://smesupport.hktdc.com/tc/s/tbox