Start me up: Hong Kong entrepreneurs breaking new ground with app ventures
As well as financial technology, web-based businesses are making strides in travel and education
While the city’s high number of financial professionals has fuelled the birth of new financial technology companies challenging traditional banking services, Hong Kong entrepreneurs have also adapted business models to the digital age in other areas from travel to education.
One of them is Klook, a travel activity booking app launched in September 2014, giving travellers access to discounted attraction tickets and experiences on-demand through smartphones.
With a focus on Asia, Klook now offers more than 2,000 activities across 28 countries and plans to launch in Australia and New Zealand.
“As a travel venture, Hong Kong has been a great place for us to test out our business model. Over the past year the local start-up scene has been thriving, which has been extremely helpful for us to get additional support,” said Klook co-founder Eric Gnock Fah.
The company has raised US$6.5 million in funding since launching and employs 60 people across offices in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Taipei and Singapore.
Hong Kong is being touted as a potential hub for financial technology – or “fintech” – start-ups, being already home to lots of people with banking experience and a desire to try something new.