Hong Kong’s startup scene is buzzing, and we’ve been right in the thick of it this August. From bridging ecosystems with Australia to deep dives into venture funding, here’s what went down—and why it matters for founders like you.
We teamed up with InvestVictoria to unpack why Melbourne is becoming a hotspot for founders eyeing global expansion. Over Victorian wine (yes, it was flowing), the Victorian Government dropped key stats:
✅ $1.4B+ in VC funding poured into Victorian startups last year
✅ 60% of Australia’s top-tier VCs are based in Melbourne
✅ Landing Pad Program: Free workspace, mentorship, and grants for international founders
The real magic? The unfiltered convos between HK founders scaling abroad and Melbourne operators sharing boots-on-the-ground insights. One takeaway: “Australia’s consumer market is a testing ground for Asia—faster regulatory clarity, less noise.”
Missed it? Slide into our DMs for the full deck.
Ever wondered how top founders and funds navigate cap tables, liquidity, and cross-border deals? We brought together Carta (equity management), Endowus (venture as an asset class), and OJ Ventures (Venture Studio) to break it down.
🔥 Hot Topics:
Secondary Sales in Asia: Why liquidity events are rising pre-IPO
Employee Stock Options: How to structure them without blowing up your cap table
Family Offices vs. VCs: Who’s writing checks in this market?
The vibe? “Like a masterclass, but with cocktails.” Shoutout to the 50+ founders and investors who stayed past midnight debating SAFE notes vs. convertible debt.
WyB Events
The Atlantis Experience - MegaYacht Party (Sept 5)
The Atlantis Experience takes over Hong Kong waters with an iconic Star Ferry mothership and three luxury satellite yachts — creating one unforgettable floating playground for over 300 of Hong Kong’s most connected founders, creatives, investors, operators, and tastemakers.
Use code: WyB to secure your RSVP
Others
1️⃣ AI Founders Lunch (Sept 12)
Hosted by HKSTP – Meet the teams behind HK’s top AI startups. [Register here].
2️⃣ Web3 Mixer: Tokenomics Deep Dive (Sept 19)
With Animoca Brands & OKX – From vesting schedules to governance tokens. [Register here].
3️⃣ Seed to Series A: Pitch Night (Sept 26)
Judged by Gobi, Betatron, and QBN Capital – 5 slots left for pitching founders. [Apply here].
Final Thought:
Hong Kong’s superpower? Density of collisions—founders, capital, and global gateways packed into one city. Want in? Hit reply with what you’re building.
Until next time,
Team WyB
P.S. Forward this to a founder who needs these events. They’ll thank you later.
What is WyB? WyB is a no BS community, built by builders for builders. We aim to unite the start up community to share unique insights and news for the betterment of Hong Kong entrepreneurs.
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This newsletter is put together by Jason, Casey, Phil, Gene and Naman.
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