Convenience culture: start-ups serve as middlemen for time-poor Hongkongers

Doing your laundry can be a chore in Hong Kong, given the long hours many of us work. That’s why Kelvin Lee Ka-ho co-launched a start-up this year that, through a computer and mobile app, arranges for people’s washing to be picked up, laundered and returned.

The start-up, Boni.com.hk, has teamed up with a network of neighbourhood laundry services, which clean the clothes, and with delivery companies such as GoGoVan. It is among a new generation of start-ups that aim to make life more convenient for Hongkongers.

Another kind of start-up has staff to do your wet-market shopping for you

With GPS and easy access to the internet, start-ups can quickly match customers with tradesmen and businesses providing all kinds of household services. For example, CallFixie, launched in Hong Kong in 2014, offers a long list of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, locksmiths, handymen and IT workers. Customers post a job request, receive quotes from the tradesmen or worker and choose the most competitive one. CallFixie has expanded to Australia and India.

Deliveroo is another web- and app-based service that saves its customers time and hassle by home-delivering restaurant meals. It was founded in 2012 by Taiwanese-American William Shu and now operates in more than 10 countries. The Hong Kong branch, launched in November, covers Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, and plans to expand its reach to the New Territories.

These companies are middlemen; the services they offer – cleaning, repairs or meals – are provided by other parties.