The Startup World Cup, a global event that brings together top startups, investors, and tech leaders, held its Hong Kong regional finals at HKUST for the first time last Thursday. Ten innovative startups competed, with the winner PanopticAI earning a spot in the Grand Finale in San Francisco this October, where they will compete for a US$1 million investment.

Dr. Shin Cheul Kim, Associate Vice-President for Research and Development (Knowledge Transfer), and Ms. Judy Zhang, Senior Investment Director from Pegasus Tech Ventures, gave the welcome remarks to kick off the competition. Their inspiring words set the tone for an exciting and competitive event.

Marking its inaugural year at HKUST, the Startup World Cup 2024 left a lasting impression on Prof. Carrie Ling, Director of the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center and a member of the judging panel. She noted that the judges had lengthy discussions due to the high calibre of the participants and expressed hope that the best team would triumph in the global final.

Champion: PanopticAI Limited
PanopticAI, incubated by HKUST, won the top prize. Their flagship product, the Vitals SDK, uses everyday devices like smartphones and tablets to monitor vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure in just 30 seconds. This technology is set to revolutionize health monitoring for healthcare providers, wellness organizations, and insurance companies.

1st Runner-Up: Point Fit Technology Limited
Point Fit Technology Limited took the 1st runner-up spot and will move on to the Asian regional finals. They are developing a super-thin skin patch that tracks health conditions through sweat, providing real-time alerts when users approach dangerous thresholds. This patch can monitor biochemical signals like lactic acid and glucose, making it useful for athletes, high-stress workers, and the elderly.

2nd Runner-Up: Meat the Next
Meat the Next, the 2nd runner-up, is a superfood technology company from Hong Kong. They create tasty and nutritionally balanced protein products using sustainable ingredients such as tiger nuts and oats. Their innovative approach aims to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change.

Looking Ahead
This year's Startup World Cup Hong Kong Region showcased the incredible talent and innovation of local startups. We congratulate all the finalists and look forward to seeing PanopticAI represent Hong Kong on the global stage. Best of luck to all in their future ventures!