(Hong Kong, 26 March 2026) The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) held the launching ceremony for the Fourth “THEi—Lions Clubs Enterprise Start-up Competition” on 6 March. This event featured the presence of esteemed guests, including Lion Eva LEUNG, District Governor of Lions Clubs International District 303, Hong Kong & Macao, China cum Competitor Sponsor; Lion Henry SHIN, Chairman of the Lions Youth Innovation and Technology Foundation; Lion Jaycee CHU, Chairman of the Fourth “THEi—Lions Clubs Enterprise Start-up Competition”; and Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi. Together, they inaugurated the Competition, symbolising the official commencement of the entrepreneurial journey.
During the launching ceremony, Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi, expressed gratitude for the generous donations from Lions Clubs International District 303, Hong Kong & Macao, and particularly thanked Lion Eva LEUNG for her unwavering support for the Competition over the past four years. He emphasised that students should not rush into starting a business right after graduation. Instead, he recommended that they utilise the Competition platform to engage with the Lions Clubs’ entrepreneurial mentors, gain firsthand experience of the challenges and setbacks in entrepreneurship, and understand the key factors that contribute to success in this field.
Lion Eva LEUNG, District Governor of Lions Clubs International District 303, Hong Kong & Macao, China cum Competitor Sponsor, expressed her hope that participants would serve as role models, pursue their dreams, and work diligently toward their goals. She encouraged them to be pay greater attentive to societal needs, emphasising that business is not solely about profit but also carries a significant emphasis on social responsibility and using their products to benefit the community.
Lion Henry SHIN, Chairman of the Lions Youth Innovation and Technology Foundation, expressed his belief that young people can continuously improve themselves to keep pace with a constantly evolving world. He emphasised that the crucial factor is whether they have access to support and diverse development opportunities. Additionally, he mentioned that former participants can inspire the new generation by sharing their experiences, guiding them in understanding the qualities and skills essential to becoming successful entrepreneurs and innovators.
Lion Jaycee CHU, Chairman of the Fourth “THEi—Lions Clubs Enterprise Start-up Competition,” urged participants to maintain an open mindset and actively absorb feedback from judges and mentors. He encouraged them to use data and user feedback to validate their assumptions while looking forward to seeing more sparks of creativity ignited in the coming months, allowing imaginative solutions to take root and flourish in the city.
HKD100,000 Start-up Funding for the Winning Teams
The Competition offers multiple awards, including the “Lion Eva Leung Enterprise Start-Up Award,” the “Lion Eva Leung Best Elevator Pitch Award” and a HKD 5,000 preparationcash prize for finalists. Additionally, the two teams that win the “Lion Eva Leung Enterprise Start-Up Award” will each receive HKD100,000 in start-up funding and participate in the year-long “Innov8 Entreprise Start-Up Programme.” Registrations are open from now until May 31, 2026, and all THEi students and alumni are encouraged to participate actively.
Previous Winning Teams Share their Latest Developments and Practices
THEi has received generous donations from Lions Clubs International, Hong Kong & Macao 303 since 2023, which have provided seed funding and entrepreneurial support to aspiring student entrepreneurs and graduates; while co-hosting the “THEi—Lions Clubs Enterprise Start-up Competition.” At this launch ceremony, previous winning teams shared their latest entrepreneurial progress:
Meta Engine: By developing various 3D virtual scenes to composite and produce different types of videos, Meta Engine has established a virtual digital photography studio in the Learning Commons at THEi’s Chai Wan campus, providing a one-stop service to students and teachers. Additionally, the team is exploring collaborations with several local enterprises and secondary schools, aiming to promote its services to the wider business and school communities in Hong Kong. They will guide junior students in participating in the innovation competition, sharing entrepreneurial experiences and passing on the entrepreneurial spirit.
U-Treats: The team consists of the alumnus from Culinary and Arts and Management programme. With integrating culinary and food service management knowledge, the team focuses on utilising food by-products to produce pet snacks. They currently offer fourteen products on the market, sold through both online and offline platforms, and have received positive feedback from the customers.
Cross Starry Technology: This team conducts inspection projects on old buildings using drones. They have completed inspections of two old bell towers and gymnasiums located in Shenzhen and are discussing cooperation possibilities with local organisations to inspect three old industrial buildings. They are applying to the Transport and Logistics Bureau for the “Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox X,” hoping to be approved as a pilot project for the “regulatory sandbox” to promote the development of Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy.
Sball: Focused on a project involving herbal snacks, this team studies the pairing of herbal snacks with tea bags. They have conducted multiple demonstration workshops to promote the concept of a healthy diet derived from medicinal and edible sources to different communities.