Environmental breakthroughs take centre stage in Hong Kong start-up pitch competition

South China Morning Post

a day ago

Every early-stage company entering the 2025 EQT Impact Challenge recognised the need to come up with a business concept that could meet three key criteria: it had to be investible, scalable, and hold promise for the long term.
The task was to convey that potential to a panel of expert jurors and demonstrate how the company's innovation could drive meaningful change.
The pitch competition, which has held previous editions in Japan, South Korea and Singapore, aims to identify and support early-stage companies with their breakthrough concepts, business plans, financial models, and ambitions to scale for long-term growth.
It is organised by EQT, one of the world's largest investment firms, with its philanthropic arm, EQT Foundation, providing the winning start-up capital to fuel growth, and access to a global network of potential industry partners and investors. The event is being held in partnership with the South China Morning Post.
The competition focuses on novel, deep tech solutions and scientific breakthroughs related to climate and nature, as well as health and well-being.
Many leading contenders were prepared to think big, putting forward ideas and solutions that, given the right backing and once scaled, have the potential to change lives on a global scale.