December 6, 2016

Hong Kong Free Press at Web Wednesday (V106)

2016 is a proving to be a year of digital disruption and political upheaval. Cars are driving themselves, bots are guiding our investment decisions and fake news is dominating our social media feeds.

Who better than to guide us through this morass of change than Tom Grundy, Editor-in-Chief of Hong Kong Free Press.


HKFP is a mastermind of distributing news in the digital era, regularly beating the venerable South China Morning Post SCMP with its smart social media and search engine marketing strategies.

A switched-on bunch of journos, HKFP has turned to FringeBacker to crowd-fund HK$550,000 and ensure independent coverage of the HKSAR Chief Executive Elections in 2017. Show your support and back a local digital media entrepreneur.



Bring along friends to our last social mixer of 2016, 6:30pm - 9pm on Wednesday 7th December at Orange Peel, 2/F, Ho Lee Comm Bldg, 38-44 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong.

We have a wide range of topics on which I will be grilling Tom:
- The algorithm: Bubbles and walled gardens
- Funding / Crowdfunding / non-profit newsroom on a shoestring.
- The spectre of "fake news".
- Social media engagement and analytics.
- Press freedom issues in Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong's English and Chinese media landscape.
- One Country, Two Systems - future of civil liberties in Hong Kong.

The entrance fee of HK$100 includes one complementary drink and the chance to influence the future of freedom in Hong Kong!

See who else is coming and sign up on Facebook or MeetUp.

Bring a festive friend or two!

November 14, 2016

Silicon Dragon Awards Hong Kong 2016

For the third year in a row, I'm excited to join Rebecca Fannin to host and moderate the Silicon Dragon Awards. Rebecca was a guest speaker at Web Wednesday back in April 2013.


Hosted at KPMG's plush offices in Hysan Place, Causeway Bay on 17th November 2016, the event promises to draw a good crowd of promising tech startups,  deal-hungry investors, sharp consultants and curious media folk.

Enjoy 25% discount, register on Eventbrite using code "SDAwards2016WW".

The run down is: 2 tech chats, 12 startup pitches, tips from top VCs, awards for the Top Founder, the Top VC and the Best Pitch, followed by a cocktail reception.

Tech chats:
Xberts: a cross-border hardware marketplace where hardware manufacturers & startups launch their new products to collect influencer reviews and sell to worldwide consumers.


Klook Travel: the online travel concierge for unique experiences. We provide a curated selection of activities and experiences for travellers to explore and book. Our goal is to transform the lengthy-and-searching process of travel itineraries into a simple efficient process.


Startup pitches: Kuaiwear, Auluxa, DME Micro, Living Tissues, Spincle, Jobable, GoSkills, EquitySim, TNG Wallet, TeamNote, Addweup and Skytree Digital.

VC Judges from Tencent China, Arbor Ventures, Lightspeed Venture, 500 Startups, Vickers Venture,  Shenzhen Capital Group and Sequoia Capital China.


October 31, 2016

InvestHK talks FinTech at Web Wednesday HK (V105)

In the run up to the inaugural Hong Kong Fintech Week (held at PMQ on 7-11 Nov), we thought it would be fitting to invite the new Head of Fintech for InvestHK, Charles D'Haussy, to share the latest trends in financial innovation and tell us how he will help HK become a leading global fintech hub.



Charles has worked for 8 Securities, one of the more successful online brokerages, so is sure to understand the current challenges faced by fintech startups in Hong Kong.

On top of discussing what InvestHK is doing to attract foreign fintech firms to Hong Kong, we will cover Hong Kong's future in emerging technologies such as: digital identities, mobile payment, blockchain, artificial intelligence, robotrading, peer-2-peer lending, crowdfunding and big data analytics.

Learning from the StartMeUp campaign, InvestHK has engaged various industry players to contribute content including: the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Finance Commission (SFC), Finovate, the Hong Kong Fintech Community, Cyberport, NexChang and Finnovasia.

Sign up for our 105th social mixer, held at Orange Peel on 2nd Nov (6:30pm - 9pm), via our Facebook Group (4,845 members) or MeetUp group (791 members).

A recent report, "Connecting Global FinTech: Hub Review 2016", published by Deloitte in collaboration with All Street Research, places Hong Kong alongside London, New York, Singapore and Silicon Valley. But, we still have some catching up to do with our friends in Singapore, who's government has assigned S$225m to support it's budding fintech industry. [An extract follows below. Download the full report from the Global Fintech Hubs Federation website].




September 28, 2016

HSBC Digital Banking at Web Wednesday Hong Kong (V104)

With the recent announcement of a new "FinTech Supervisory Sandbox" (catchy name, heh!), Hong Kong is entering a new era of frantic financial and insurance transformation frenzy.

The question is whether the charge will be lead by the incumbent banks or a new set of disruptive startups.

To answer these questions and more, we've invited Andrew Eldon, Head of Digital for HSBC Retail Banking and Wealth Management to take the hot seat at our next social mixer.

We'll be covering topics from HSBC's new digital service launches, particularly on mobile (e.g. "peer-2-peer payments"), to how to prepare a large multi-national operation for digital disruption and rapid innovation. HSBC recently took the brave step to move 300 staff to the new WeWork hot-desking site in Causeway Bay.


Our 104th social mixer will be hosted at Orange Peel Lounge, 2/F, Ho Lee Comm Bldg,38-44 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central.

Networking from 6:30pm, interview around 7.15pm, with an entrance fee of HK$100 that covers for one complimentary drink.


FinTech finally formal in Hong Kong

Following on from their growing success with the StartMeUpHK programme, InvestHK (the inbound investment arm of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR) has recently spawned a new department under the catchy name of "Hong Kong FinTech". They explain why on their spanking new website, hongkong-fintech.hk, which also has some useful steps to setting up shop in this energetic city. Follow them on Twitter (@hongkongfintech).


This new department is headed by Charles D'Haussy, ex-VP of Sales & Business Development at 8 Securities, who on his LinkedIn profile says that he will focus on "Payments/Billing Tech, Wealth Management Tech, Money transfer/remittance, BlockChain, InsuranceTech, RegTech".

Charles (@charlus) will be supported by a Deputy Head of FinTech based in London, Thorsten 霍獅騰 Terweiden. His first job will be to recruit all promising startups looking for a way to survive in the wake of the Brexit traumas!

This winter (7-11th November, 2016), they will be running Hong Kong FinTech Week in cahoots with Finovate Asia, an event by the Finovate Group from Seattle, USA. (Follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter).

There is renewed energy in the industry as the "FinTech Supervisory Sandbox (FSS)", originally announced by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, has now been backed by the Securities and Futures Commission and the Office of Commissioner of Insurance. See the SCMP article.


August 2, 2016

Kiip - a new era in mobile advertising

August 1, 2016

Kiip + The Cheat Code at Web Wednesday HK (V103)

Take a break from capturing Pokemon across town to learn about the future of mobile marketing from Brian Wong, CEO of Kiip, author of The Cheat Code and a highly reputable young entrepreneur (Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Business Insider’s Top 25 Under 25 in Silicon Valley, Mashable’s Top 5 Entrepreneurs to Watch, and the AdAge Creativity Top 50).

Kiip (pronounced "keep") is the world’s first mobile rewards network that delivers rewards for moments of achievement in apps and games (think Gatorade after completing a work-out or Starbucks after achieving a level up in a game).

Brian has raised US$24 million and Kiip now powers rewards in over 4,000 mobile apps, delivering conversions for 700 of the top brands in the world.

At the ripe old age of 25, Brian has just published his first book, "The Cheat Code", showing anyone can easily shortcut his or her way to success, simply by going slightly off script; by doing things just a little differently from everyone else.


We will be hosting our 103rd social mixer at Orange Peel, 2/F, Ho Lee Comm Bldg,38-44 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Doors open at 6:30pm with an entrance fee of HK$100, including one complimentary drink.

See who else is coming and sign up via Facebook (4,781 members) or MeetUp (771 members).

Brian will also be a keynote speaker at ClickZ Live on 3/4 August. They have an inspiring line-up of speakers on digital commerce, digital marketing and brand strategy so well worth attending. ClickZ have kindly offered 25% off to Web Wednesday members, use the code "CZLHKWW" to buy discount tickets their conference website.

Watch Brian speak on Future Proofing your brand at the Next Web Conference Europe in Amsterdam in 2015:

May 25, 2016

MinorMynas - AIA Edge

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Prepare for the youngest and punchiest guest speaker that Web Wednesday has ever had!

Winner of the AIA Emerging Entrepreneur Challenge, Hilary Yip (11 years old!), will be joining us on Wednesday 1st June at Orange Peel to talk about her journey so far and tell us how her new venture, MinorMynas, will make learning a new language fun for children.


After appearing on the same stage as Elon Musk at the InvestHK Venture Capital Forum, and wooing the hearts and minds of the attendees, Hilary has taken Hong Kong by storm!

She's funded her idea and made convincing pitches at the Singularity University Master Class and UXHK. She has even appeared alongside a slightly older entrepreneur, Dr. Allan Zeman, as a founding member of Metta.

For those of you who are attending the RISE Conference, you will find Hilary's energy and gentleness a refreshing break and inspiring story.

The evening will start with introductory comments from Steve Monaghan, the Head of Innovation at AIA Edge.

We're hosting the event at Orange Peel, 2/F, 38-44 D'Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong. Doors open at 6:30pm with the talk kicking off at 7:15pm. There will be an entrance fee of HK$100 which includes a complimentary drink.

See who else is coming and sign up on Facebook or MeetUp.

We will be donating 10% of the entrance fee to Hong Kong Dog Rescue, Hilary's favourite charity.

March 23, 2016

Rethinking Prestige Branding – Secrets of the Ueber-Brands

Calling all marketers who "go beyond",

For our 101st Web Wednesday, we will be joined by renowned global prestige brand marketer, JP Kuehlwein, who's bestselling book “Rethinking Prestige Branding – Secrets of the Ueber-Brands”, analyses the success drivers behind some one hundred premium brands. JP advocates putting "the myth back into marketing" and "seducing rather than selling" (my personal favourite).

I'll be asking JP what makes an "Ueber Brand" and aim to dig into his founding principles:
• How mission gives meaning and generates a strong buy-in
• Why myths are the superior story and create magics
• The power of balancing the longing and belonging
• How to leverage digital and social media to bring the above to life?
• The need for ‘truth’ in execution.

Based in New York City, JP is on the advisory board and a guest lecturer at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology, an advisory board member of the CMO Council and a trustee of the Marketing Science Institute.


Note that we're back at Orange Peel in Lan Kwai Fong for this gathering of marketing and entrepreneurial minds.

Doors open at 6:30pm, with the interview around 7:15pm. The entrance fee of HK$100 will cover the first drink. Sign up on Facebook or MeetUp. You can also buy your tickets in advance from TicketFlap.

Here's an interview that JP did with the Luxury Marketing Council:



[We are sad to announce one of our strongest supporters and host at Orange Peel, Victor Isaac Cheung, has recently passed away. In remembrance of a dear friend and one of HK's first technology bloggers (aka "Hong Kong Phooey"), we will be holding a one-minute silence before the interview.]

Stuff yourselves with chocolate over Easter!

January 20, 2016

Data Talks at Web Wednesday Hong Kong (V100)

Dear Fellow Digital Discoverers,

100 Web Wednesdays over 10 years! Now that's something worth celebrating!


A featured event in the StartMeUpHK 2016 Festival, run by the super energetic team at InvestHK.


You're invited to join our 'bumper pack' edition of Hong Kong's premier networking event for internet entrepreneurs and digital media executives, hosted at KPMG's pristine new offices in the Prince's Building, Central, Hong Kong.


We are going to turn the tables for this event and kick off with the founder and host of Web Wednesday, Napoleon Biggs, being interviewed about the past 10 years of digital innovation in Hong Kong by Anson Bailey, the witty networking king of KPMG China and co-founder of  the sports charity, the Potbellied Pigs Rugby Football Club.

Once we've regaled you with stories of good times past, Napoleon will then interview our four expert speakers on the subject of big data and how it is being put to good (and sometimes, nefarious) use in the fields of business, education, research, marketing and government.

Panel Guests:
In the spirit of celebration, famous radio DJ, Jed Thian, will be flipping discs and KPMG will be generously sponsoring the drinks for the night - thank you!

Venue: KPMG, 8/F, Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong. (Locate on Google Maps).

6 - 7pm: registration and networking
7 - 7:30pm: 10 years of digital innovation (Anson interviews Napoleon)
7:30 – 8:30pm: Data Talks panel discussion
8:30 - 9:30pm: Q&A and networking

Sign up and see who else is coming via Facebook or MeetUp.

Reserve your spot at this special event now - order online via Ticketflap.

Entrance fee of HK$100, with $50 donated to charity (exact one to be confirmed soon). Students, with proof, pay HK$50.

下个礼拜三见!See you on Wednesday 27th Jan!

Napoleon Biggs
Founder, Web Wednesday Ventures
Co-founder, Purecomm Retail Innovations

January 5, 2016

LafaLafa at Web Wednesday (V99)

Happy 2016!

We're cracking open a new year of digital adventures with Yosha Gupta, Founder & CEO of LafaLafa, India's No. 1 cash back, coupons & bank offers portal. In the first nine months, they've had over 600,000 app downloads! You too can download here (Android only).  Follow LafaLafa on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

 



Although she started her business in Hong Kong, Yosha is on a trip back from the 500 Startups accelerator programme in Mountain View, California.


LafaLafa has also recently been selected as one of the promising Indian mobile startups for Facebook's global FbStart programme.


FbStart, by Facebook from Facebook on Vimeo.

To top it off, Yosha has just closed an investment round with Hong Kong's Vectr Ventures.

We'll be talking about the booming ecommerce market in India, the role of mobile in facilitating payments and online orders. LafaLafa is soon to launch in Hong Kong so get ready for a flood of local online shopping bargains!

Sign up on Facebook or MeetUp. See who else is coming too.

See you this Wednesday at Orange Peel, 2/F Ho Lee Commercial Building, LKF, Central, Hong Kong. Find your way with Google Maps.

Doors open at 6:30pm with the talk around 7pm. HK$100 entrance fee gets you one complimentary drink and the chance to rub shoulders with fellow digital entrepreneurs.