Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Hong Kong 2025 Semester!
If you want to build a startup in Hong Kong and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Hong Kong Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Apr 13, 2025) will have their application fees waived (typically $50), and if you enroll by the Early Deadline you are also eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
Since launching in Hong Kong in 2014, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, and our efforts in Hong Kong have also been profiled by several high profile media channels.
To celebrate the launch, the Hong Kong Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
Hong Kong Events:
- Startup Legal Tech: Feedback from Hong Kong’s Innovative Startup Lawyers: 7:00pm, May 06, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/349096
- Launch & Grow: Traction & Funding for Web3 Startups: 7:00pm, May 22, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/371561
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00am, May 06, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/370066
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 8:00am, May 08, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/366306
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 1:00am, May 13, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/366557
- Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 10:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/370978
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00am, Jun 03, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/370915
- How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 1:00am, Jun 05, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/371459
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/370850
- Meet the FI Alumni Scaling Startups in Asia: 7:00pm, Jun 16, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/371530
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00am, Jun 24, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/371875
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00am, Jul 01, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/371711
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00am, Jul 08, 2025 (Asia/Hong_Kong): https://FI.co/e/370441
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more - like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, and Appota. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Running the Founder Institute's efforts in Hong Kong are local startup leaders Andrea Livotto (Director, Clarity), Jeffrey Broer (Founder, Kohpy Ventures), and Leo Ku (Managing Director - Asia Pacific, PlayNetwork).
In addition, some of Hong Kong's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Hong Kong 2025 includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aleena Zacharia: Program Coordinator, Brinc
- Alex Samson: Founder & CEO, dvhb
- Alison Massey: Digital Marketing Consultant , GLG
- Amit Chatterjee: Founder & Group Chairman, Shadow Factory
- Andre Lin: Associate Director , Speedpixel Ventures
- André Flórido: VC, Antler
- Andrea Livotto: Partner, TenX2
- Andrea Springmann: Co-Founder/ Director, Don't Throw Me Limited
- Andrew Chen: Managing Partner , Arion Ventures
- Andrew Stotz: Founder & CEO, A. Stotz Investment Research
- Andrew Keh: Founder, Aisle8
- Andrii Moroz: Partner, Network VC
- Andy Ann: CEO, NDN GROUP
- Angela Tang: HR & Training Partner, Hewlett Rand
- Anna Fedorova: CEO, Unicorn Events
- Arnaud Touati: Lawyers in new technologies, HASHTAG AVOCATS
- Arnold Cheung: Founder, Profind
- Ashok Jaiswal: Founder / CMO, Lecker Labs Ltd
- Austin Keung: Chief Financierge, Financierge
- Avishek Majumder, Xccelerate
- Belinda Pham: VC Investor & Scout | Web3 & Blockchain, Brinc
- Ben Chien: Managing Director, Greater China , AnyMind Group
- Ben Stein: Co-founder & CEO, Staple
- Ben Berenson: Managing Partner, Asia SGE, Hong Kong
- Bill Laboon: Director of Education and Governance Initiatives, Web3 Foundation
- Bowie Lau: Director, MaGE Group
- Brian Chen: Founder, Board Click
- Brian Tsui: Partner , Catallyze
- Bruno Škvorc: Web3 Idealist, Caimeo
- Burtujin Dashnyam
- Caroline York: Director of Marketing, Gusto Collective
- Carolyn Li: Deputy Secretary, International Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance (AIIA)
- Catherine Sofia Somi: Founder, Co-Founder, DZF333.XYZ, SEEDEFY
- Cesar Jung Harada: Founder , Makerbay Limited and Foundation
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Christian Ng: Manager, Swire Properties
- Christina Tang: Director, Blue Sky Energy Technology
- Christine Yu: Co-Founder, Sophia
- Claudio Trucco: Strategy & innovation manager, AECOM
- Clay Sen: Head of SEO/Ecomm/Content+ , Client Lead Partnership, Mindshare
- Crystal Pang: Co-founder, Pickupp
- Daniel Szuc: Founder, Make Meaningful Work
- Daniel Cruickshanks: CTO, Profind
- Danny Yeung: Serial Entrepreneur, Investor, Advisor, Astronaut, uBuyiBuy (acquired by Groupon)
- David Brabbins: Associate Partner , Prophet
- David Rosa: CEO, Neat
- David Liu: Executive Vice President & Managing Director of Asia Pacific, Clarivate
- Derek Kwik: Managing Partner, BraveSoldier Venture Capital
- Derrick Cramer: Global Head of Marketing, Hawk:AI
- Desmond Augustus: Data Analyst, Freelance
- Dhrupad Das: Partner, Panda Law
- Dominic Kwok, EasyA
- Doug Glen: Principal, Hong Kong Tech Incubator
- Dr Francois Fong: Founder & CEO, Neo-Health Group
- DrWarren Linger: CEO, exmersive.ai
- Edmund Chan
- Elaine Ng: Founder and Designer, The Fabrick Lab
- Elton Xu: First Vice President, East West Bank
- Enric Danieletto: Partner, Pairstech Capital Management LLP
- Erdinç Ekinci: Co-Founder & CEO of Openfor.co & Co-capital.co, Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan/Korea/Taiwan
- Eric Yeung, Flowpamine
- Eric Yang: Managing Partner, Fundamental Labs
- Eric Woo: Investment Analyst, Alibaba
- Esme Pau: Senior Director, China Tonghai Securities
- Eureka Kwan: Founder, Shines
- Frank Lee: Patent Attorney, Marks & Clerk
- Frank Yam: CEO & Founder, Focus Strategic Group Inc.
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
- Gaetan Gosset, Independent Investor & Analyst
- Gary To: Founder & General Manager, Koziness (acquired by Food Panda)
- Gerard Escaler: Co-Founder, Lyrium Venture Partners Limited
- Giang Trịnh: Managing Partner, VMCG Capital
- Gilbert Ng: Founder, Mura Capital
- Gregor Borosa: Co-Founder & Security Principal, Boson Protocol
- Gregory Yuen: Associate Director, AsiaPay
- Guy Facey: Partner, Facey & Associates LLP
- Hadassah Okandeji: Programs & Operations
- Harrison Goldsmith: Global Business Development Lead, Verabridge.io + Owlprotocol.xyz
- Helen Kwok: Business Development Representative, Amazon Web Services
- Henry Fung: Investment Analyst, Ion Pacific
- Hoi Tak Leung: Counsel, Ashurst
- Howard Kwong: Chief Digital Officer, Prudential Hong Kong
- Ho Yin Cheung: Founder, Remo
- Humphrey Wrey: Mr, QuickBus
- Idris Gbaja Biamila: Global Head of Partnerships, Geniusto
- Ingo Rübe: Founder , KILT Protocol
- Ivan Hui
- Jacey Paik: Executive Vice Chairman, Association of Family Offices in Asia
- Jack Cai: Secretary General-AIIA, International Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance (AIIA)
- Jacky Fung: Senior Business Development Lead , Choco Up Venture Capital
- Jaclyn Tsui: Managing Partner, Altitude Labs
- James Kwan: Executive Chairman, Jumpstart
- James Kwan: Managing Partner, Soapbox Capital
- Janet Tse: Director and Principal Trainer, Life Habits Consulting Ltd.
- J.D. Salbego: COO & Co-founder, Etheros Labs
- Jeffrey Broer: Investor, Entrepreneur, Mentor, Kohpy Ventures
- Jennifer Che: Managing Director, Eagle IP Limited
- Jervis Chua: Designer, Build Republic Limited
- Jina Zhu: Manager, Corporate Relations, SEIML Ventures
- Jin Hui Wong: Partner, Ivest Capital
- Joe Pan: Editor and Producer, Blockwind News
- John D. Evans, CFA: Fouinder & General Manager, SEIML Ventures
- Jon Pedersen: Co-Founder, Chairman & Director, Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI)
- Jonah Lau: Head of Portfolio, Animoca Brands
- Jonathan Nguyen: Founder & CEO, Unsensible
- Jonathan Ma: Investment Director , isBIM Capital
- Joseph Chow: Partner, Maurice WM Lee Solicitors
- Josephine Chan: Senior Manager, New Ventures Development, Hong Kong Science & Technology Park
- Jude O'kelly: General Partner, Mount Parker Ventures
- Justice Conder: Governance Solution Advocate, Polygon Labs
- Justin Wong: Manager - New Ventures, PwC
- Kapil Dhiman: Co-founder and CEO, Quranium
- Kelvin Kwong: Founder, Managing Director, XGD Media
- Ken Cheung: Co-Founder & President, Our Happy Company
- Kevin Leung: CEO, Muku Labs
- Kevin Brockland: Founder & Managing Partner, Indelible Ventures:
- Kinson Cheung: Co-founder , DeltaDeFi
- Koen Munneke: CEO, Intrinsik
- Koen Vanderhoydonk: Founder & CEO, The Connector
- Lai Kiu Chan: Founder, atTTempspace
- Laurent Koehler: Co-Founder and CBO, HK-Dtech Limited
- Laurent Koehler: Co-founder & Chief Business Development Officer, HK-Dtech Limited
- Laurent Dorpe: Founder & CEO , Funds Sniper
- Lavina Ramkissoon: Africa's Voice - Chairperson and Director #aiMom, Founder Institute
- Leo Ku: Managing Director, PlayNetwork
- Leon Eisen: Venture Partner, Network.VC
- Lewis Cerne: CEO, Spacebox
- Loong Ling: Ventures, Standard Chartered Ventures
- Luca Von Wyttenbach: Co-Founder, Polimec
- Maaike Doyer: Founder, Epic Angels
- Maeva Slotine: Founder , Slotine
- Mani Hagh Sefat: Chief Technology Officer, Energy Web Foundation
- Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Mark Munoz: Founder & Executive Director, Vectr Ventures
- Mason Anh Bui: Investment Principal - VC, Kasikorn X Venture Capital (KXVC)
- Matthew Southern: Founder and CEO, Southern Straps
- Max Song: Investor, Data Scientist, Schwarzman Scholar, Pacific Century Group
- Max Zheng: Director of Investments, Blockchain Founders Group
- Michael Tang: Founder, FlourishAI
- Michelangiolo Mazzeschi: Founder, simsearch.co
- Michelle Lam: Founder & Managing Director, The Spoilt Experiences Group
- Mikaal Abdulla: Co Founder and CEO, SoFi
- Mike Mastroyiannis: Ex CEO, COO, now Founder and Managing Partner , TenX2
- Mike Grundy: Founder & CEO, Amazon Papyrus Chemicals Ltd
- Mimi Lee: Flexible Space Expert, Bela Offices
- Ndifon Ajone: CEO, Proxima Growth
- Nicole Nguyen: Founder & CEO , APAC DAO
- Oleksii Chepelyk: Co-founder & CEO, Startup.Inc
- Olivia Lee: Co-Founder, LIVVIUM
- Oscar Venhuis: CEO, EQ Lab
- Padraig Walsh: Partner, Tanner De Witt
- Patric Vogel: CEO & Co-Founder, SBC Suisse Blockchain AG
- Patrick Collins: Founder, Prospect Labs
- Pauli Wong: Principal / Chinese Patent Attorney, Eagle IP Limited
- Peter Chan: Global Growth Lead, Seafair
- Peter Lau
- Phil Ingram, meed Business
- Phil Kwok: Co-Founder, EasyA
- Plei Mou, Agreso
- Polly Chan: Co-Founder , Thrive Limited
- Povilas Steikunas: Vice President, Global Partnerships , @ Ondato
- Quinn Lai: CEO, Eoniq
- Raj Sahu: Founder and CEO at , Utobo Inc
- Raymond Yip: Venture Partner , Mount Parker Ventures
- Reisa Matsuda: Community Manager, Google Japan
- Renee Paik
- Rex Ng: President
- Robert Chiu, Angelflow
- Roger Do: CEO, Co-Founder, Watchdog Cyber Defense
- Roger Dong: Senior Associate, Ashurst
- Ross Edwards: Senior Director, Global Financial Institutions, Ripple Labs
- Rudi Leung: General Manager
- Ryan Dinh: Co-founder, Koni Studio & SubWallet
- Sakib Rabbani: CEO, Talentier
- Salma Dias Saraswati: CEO & Co-founder, Tenang AI
- Sam Gellman
- Sam Dash: General Manager, Bimeda
- Sarah Gottwald: Managing Director, Blockchain Founders Group
- Scarlett Chen, Verge HealthTech Fund
- Sean Greenhalgh, Angelflow
- Sebastien Borget: Co-Founder & COO, The Sandbox
- Shashank Aiisvari: Founder, Aiisvari
- Simon Loong: Founder & CEO, WeLab
- Simona Irmova: Operations Manager, Founder Institute
- Simona Irmova: Eastern Europe Program Manager & HQ Operations Associate, Founder Institute
- Steven Fung: Patent Attorney, Real & Complex IP Services
- Stewart Boutcher: Chief Technology Officer, Veracity Trust Network
- Sue Kim: Founding Partner, Libbler
- Suresh Balaji: Chief Marketing Officer- Asia , HSBC | Web3 Marketing Association | HH Global
- Thiago Garcia: CEO & General Partner, 10X Venture Partners SPA
- Thomas Pun: Founder, https://fairengine.com
- TL Lee: Founder, EggLogics
- Tommie Lo: CEO, Preface
- Tommy Shek: Manager, Hong Kong Science & Technology Park
- Tracy Ho: Founder and Director, Frame & Fame Personal Branding
- Tristram Miners Jones: Head of Digital Assets, AngelHub
- Victor Lin, Ph D: Partner, QiGoal
- Vincent Vaucelle: Founder & Member, Ocean Vega
- Vitaly Gnatenko: Chief Analytics Officer, Network VC
- Wilson Santoso: Co-Founder at Dabble, Director at Founder Institute Jakarta
- Winnie Tan, CAD INsurance Management Company
- Winson Tay: Principal of UX, Google Maps
- Winston Tse: Founder, Tokalent
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is the most challenging and effective step-by-step startup launch program for talented and motivated aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are serious about launching a startup, the Founder Institute can give you the structured process, constant feedback and evaluation from expert mentors, and global network of entrepreneurs you need to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants.
We hope you will join us in Hong Kong and launch a company in 2018.
