This article is about business development in a traditional way, not about online marketing.
The purpose is to share some thoughts on how an unknown startup can become popular and develop strategic partnerships with paying customers. The focus lies on Hong Kong B2B startups that want to sell their product/service to SMEs and/or MNCs.
Hiring interns is a good way to have motivated young people working at your company for very reasonable rates.
This short article is a practical guide for Hong Kong startups and SMEs to provide proper internships that are worthwhile for both the intern and the company. The content is based on my personal experience as the founder of an AI startup and the general manager of a boutique consulting firm, as well as a thorough research of publicly available government material about the topic.
Read MoreIf your startup is in need of external funds, you might want to consider applying for one of the equity-free government schemes financed by the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF).
One scheme that became increasingly popular for startups over the last couple of years is the Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS). By staying diligent, and with a little bit of patience, companies can get large amounts of funding on a 50% matching basis. This means that for every dollar provided by ITF, the receiving company has to provide one dollar.
This article is a description of the ESS application process with details about what to expect after signing the funding agreement. The content is based on my personal experience of securing the ESS funding for my startup in January 2018. I hope it will give some clarity on this process that is not well documented and can quickly become frustrating.
Read MoreThis article is a practical guide to walk you through the components of an employment package that is attractive to employees and at the same time offers sufficient protection to the company in the event of a termination. The objective is to help Hong Kong startups embed professional procedures for covering their employment logistics.
Read MoreThis article is a practical guide about your human resources-related obligations as a director of a Hong Kong startup.
The government websites can be confusing as they provide abundant information that cover any type of business. This article is meant to summarize only the obligations relevant for startups and provides a series of templates that can help you keeping your records organized.
Read MoreThere are two government funded incubators in Hong Kong: Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Cyberport.
This article is an overview of life at HKSTP, insider tips about the application process, and the total costs associated with renting an office space. All information is based on my personal experience of joining the Incu-Tech program with my startup in April 2017, as well as official documents released directly from HKSTP .
Read MoreRegistering your trademark is important, especially if your startup becomes successful. If you don’t protect yourself early, a competitor might take the chance and will be able to legally prevent you from using the trademark.
This short article is meant to help you get your trademark registered in Hong Kong. It is useful if you plan to register your company logo, the name of one of your products/services or a marketing slogan.
Read MoreThis article describes a set of legal documents that I would recommend every startup founder have knowledge of. Although it is tempting to directly jump into implementing your business idea, it is wise to first take a step back and have the legal bases covered properly.
Read MoreThis article is a practical guide to incorporate a startup as a Private Limited Liability Company in Hong Kong.
All information is based on the detailed requirements that are publicly available on the Hong Kong Government website and on my personal experience of founding the startup Datacrag in 2016.
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