One of our ESAC Board Member, Alexander Rapatz, participated two weeks ago in the Next Money Asia 2018 Fintech Finals in Hong Kong. More than 2000 people gathered together, with amazing speakers assembled to cover fintech design, innovation & entrepreneurship. The Fintech Finals were part of the Startmeup HK Festival, an initiative by InvestHK, which is a governmental organization with the aim of promoting Hong Kong as a startup destination. Therefore, following a welcome address by Stephen Philips, Director-General of InvestHK, it was the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, Paul Chan, who opened the conference. In his talk, he highlighted the exciting prospects in store for founders and investors in Hong Kong and the greater bay area as well as reiterated the Government’s continued commitment to growing the startup ecosystem in the region.

On its first day, the Startmeup HK Festival 2018 kicked off to a great start with the Startmeup HK Venture Forum. Delegates from all over the world including entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, policy-makers and students gathered at the iconic Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for an afternoon of learning, sharing and connecting.

*ESAC was last week in Tel Aviv too, discover here what we found.

ESAC Looking for new funding opportunities

While representing ESAC, its portfolio companies, Alexander could discuss cooperations with InvestHK, Asia FinTech Angels, as well as the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. ESAC aims to provide its startups with best-possible global business development and further funding opportunities. Thus, such partnerships with foreign investor associations are crucial. Furthermore, Alexander met several VCs and family offices now seeking investment opportunities in Europe. ESAC shall, therefore, be the exclusive partner in sourcing and screening of European startups and providing an European investment structure for such investors.

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Austrian startups in Hong Kong

Finally, Advantage Austria with its commissioner Mr. Franz Rössler, and the Global Incubator Network (GIN) organized an Austrian startup night at NakedHub HK (acquired by WeWork). The President of the Austrian Economic League, “Mr. Startup Austria” Harald Mahrer, who was also the initiator of the GIN program, was one of the guests of honor and welcomed ESAC global activities and our ambitions. In addition to our participation, three Austrian Startups, CONDA, STORM Hedge Solutions and Image Biopsy Lab were able to present themselves in front of a group of investors. This Austrian startup night was a great closing event of a week full of inspiration and important interactions for us.

Should you be interested in Asian tech startups or seeking to enter the Asian market with your own product, please reach out to our Business Development Manager, Chris Houghtaling at

We will be happy to help and share our connections!

Austrian startups night in Hong Kong in the framework of the Startme up HK

Harald Mahrer, Franz Rössler, Alexander Rapatz, representatives of GIN and some Austrian entrepreneurs