EdUHK Supports Start-up Entrepreneurs to Pursue Their Dream
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held the “Online Final Pitching of the Education and Social Entrepreneurs Fund (EASE Fund)” today (25 February) to determine five winning start-up teams of EdUHK students and/or alumni, each of which was awarded HK$150,000 seed funding to realise their entrepreneurial dreams.
Established in 2018, the EASE Fund is the University’s first scheme for entrepreneurs featuring education technology, and education and social innovation. It provides seed grants and comprehensive support to EdUHK students and alumni to start up their ventures.
This year, the EASE Fund received about 40 applications, and after two rounds of assessments, nine teams were selected to pitch their proposals in today’s final presentation. During the period, a number of experience-sharing sessions were held by the Knowledge Transfer Sub-office, which invited industry experts, entrepreneurs and practitioners in social enterprises to be mentors for the participating teams. The teams also attended about 120 hours of intensive workshops to learn entrepreneurial skills for their start-up business.
Commending the outstanding performance of the participating teams, EdUHK Vice President (Research and Development) Professor Lui Tai-lok said, “EdUHK is committed to nurturing outstanding educators and professionals. By encouraging students and alumni to participate in education and social innovation, we hope they can acquire an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to tackle any challenges facing the community.” He added that the University will continue to collaborate with different stakeholders to expand its capacity in knowledge transfer and promote its innovative and entrepreneurial culture to have a greater impact on society.
Thanks to the support of Wofoo Social Enterprise, a special award, titled ‘EASE Fund 2019/20 – Wofoo Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Award’, was established this year. The award recognises EASE Fund teams which come up with ideas and initiatives dedicated to supporting the United Nations’ SDGs and combatting climate change. For the awardee list, please click: https://www.eduhk.hk/rdo/KnowledgeTransfer/eng/ktpage.php?id=106
The five EASE Fund 2019/20 winning teams are as follows:
Lighten Dementia: Offers fun, interactive and localised cognitive training games for dementia patients, caregivers and local community centres. It also provides service learning programmes for tertiary students to promote intergenerational harmony.
KreativeLab – e-Orch and The Grid Notation: Facilitates and speeds up music learning for non-experts with two inventions: e-Orch and Grid Notation. The business relies mainly on providing e-Orch programs and selling related accessories to local schools and organisations.
Earth Melon Project: A parent-child drama concept game package with drama and ideas from professionals, which helps to explore every child’s potential, strengthen mutual trust, and grow the parent-child relationship.
PoSENtial: Interest class for children with special educational needs: Tailors interest classes for high-functioning children with special educational needs and introduces the Shadow Coach Scheme. It provides SEN students with an opportunity to discover and fulfil their potential.
Wubuntu – Intercultural Empowerment to Bring Africa and China Closer: Equips youth in Hong Kong and the rest of the Greater Bay Area with African intercultural knowledge and skills through deep-dive immersion tours and project-based online learning, thus nurturing talent for Belt and Road projects.
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EdUHK Supports Start-up Entrepreneurs to Pursue Their Dream
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