Enquiry

Remarks: Applications for the start-up capital under the programmes funded under Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA are now closed.

The EdUHK Education And Social Entrepreneurs (EASE) Fund─the GBA youth entrepreneur funding scheme

The Education University of Hong Kong (“EdUHK”) is a publicly funded tertiary institution dedicated to the advancement of teaching and learning, through a diverse offering of academic and research programmes on teacher education and complementary social sciences and humanities disciplines.

We nurture educators and social leaders who are intellectually active, socially caring, and globally aware, to become agents of change in the communities that they serve. We place great emphasis on research capability — our research will contribute to the advancement of knowledge, scholarship and innovation, with sustainable impact on social progress and human betterment.

EdUHK aims to be a leading university on education, creating an impact and defining the education landscape not only for Hong Kong but also the Asia Pacific region.

  • Foshan,Hong Kong,Guangzhou
  • Gungho Space - Guangdong-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship(Foshan),Entrepreneurship Base for Hong Kong and Macao Youths in Tianhe District - Timetable(Guangzhou),The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups - Social Innovation and Youth Business Unit(Hong Kong),Cocoon(Hong Kong)
  • Industry: Innovative Technology,Smart City/Living,Product/ Service Research and Development,Social Entrepreneurship,Culture and Education,Creative Industry,Living Service,EdTech, Education Innovation, Social Innovation,Not specified
  • Maximum amount on capital subsidy / loan amount for each selected team: Capital Subsidy Amount: Maximum of HK$600,000(Subsidy)
  • The capital subsidy (and loan) will be disbursed in phases upon completion of the milestones set in the business proposal. Please refer to the programme details for more information.
Project brief:

The EdUHK Education And Social Entrepreneurs “EASE” Fund Scheme is a seed funding scheme first introduced by EdUHK’s Knowledge Transfer Sub-office (“KTSO”) in 2018/19. It is a major initiative on nurturing entrepreneurship within the EdUHK communityand an additional means of transferring EdUHK knowledge and hence creating an impact on society. The EASE Fund Scheme aims to:
i. create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the EdUHK community;
ii. support students and alumni to pursue their dreams and creations by starting up a sustainable venture relate to EdTech, education innovation and social innovation;and
iii. provide a new channel for transferring knowledge and EdUHK research outcomes into real applications that benefit society.

The EASE Fund Scheme is open to EdUHK students and alumni who led the start-ups comprising of EdUHK student, alumni and staff , as well as outsiders being team members or advisors. We believe this allows EdUHK student/alumni to identify the right people with necessary knowledge, skills and networks for creating sustainable business ventures. The EASE Fund Scheme starts with entrepreneur sharing sessions in which industry experts share their experiences in establishing and developing business in the focused areas following with more comprehensive workshops and mentorship program from industry practitioners with a wider area of expertise, including founders from successful start-ups, industry practitioners of social enterprises/entrepreneur bases, experienced mentors for start-ups.

With the strong supports from Youth Development Fund (“YDF”), we are putting more resources to enhance the scheme as “The EdUHK Education And Social Entrepreneurs (EASE) Fund ─the GBA youth entrepreneur funding scheme”. Below are such enhancements:
i.Increased seed funding
ii.Partnership with co-working spaces/entrepreneurial bases
iii.More workshops from experts in education sector, including EdUHK researchers
iv.Provide more information on the supporting policies and market opportunities in the Greater Bay Area(GBA)

Collaboration with entrepreneurial bases:

One of the enhancements in the EASE Fund Scheme is our partnership with co-working spaces/entrepreneurial bases. This is to leverage the strong network of entrepreneurs, potential investors and mentors from a more diverse industrial background and secure more opportunities for EdUHK start-ups to sharpen their entrepreneur skills and broaden their network. KTSO will negotiate special offers for EdUHK start-ups, e.g. special discount and/or free workspaces for EdUHK start-ups to enjoy the benefits of joining such bases.

To help EdUHK students and alumni grabbing the ever-growing opportunities in the Greater Bay Area (“GBA”), we will arrange visits to selected entrepreneurial bases in the region. We will also have professionals to provide consultations on the supporting policies for entrepreneurs in the GBA and professional services on starting their business in the GBA, especially in relations to the education sectors including EdTech and education/social innovations. Through such visits and/or workshops, we hope EdUHK students/alumni’s start-ups can have a better idea on the market opportunities in the GBA and, hence, help them to decide which city they would like to focus on and anchor to the right entrepreneurial bases. More details will be provided once available, please stay tuned to KTSO website:
https://www.eduhk.hk/rdo/KnowledgeTransfer/eng/ktpage.php?id=72

Entrepreneurial Support and Incubation Services:

To be announced, please refer to the website of EdUHK’s Knowledge Transfer Sub-office for detailshttps://www.eduhk.hk/rdo/KnowledgeTransfer/eng/ktpage.php?id=72