ExclusiveHow a Hong Kong-based start-up is helping Premier League players and other sports clubs restart fixtures while raising capital
- Prenetics finds eight Premier League players positive for Covid-19 after performing nearly 2,000 tests
- Biotech start-up closing Series C fundraising, bringing in new investors
A Hong Kong start-up is on the frontline of the fight to make professional live sport safe to resume and for the fans to gradually return to watch games, while raising capital from venture capitalists for expansion.
Prenetics, which counts former Manchester United and England football captain Rio Ferdinand among its shareholders, sealed a deal with the Premier League in early May to test players and is in talks with other sports associations to help restart live fixtures.
In the UK, Prenetics is testing Premier League footballers twice a week. As of May 25, the biotech start-up had found eight players and staff positive for Covid-19 after performing nearly 2,000 tests at the league’s 20 football clubs. They were all asymptomatic and are now self-isolating.
“Testing is crucial for early detection, isolation and tracing,” Danny Yeung Sheng-wu, co-founder and CEO of Prenetics, said during an interview from his corner office overlooking Hong Kong’s harbour. The firm is also putting the final touches on a fundraising drive to finance its growth as well as its research & development.
