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Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

leostartsup.com

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Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#11

Post by thomaspun »

ebaysucks wrote: post #7

Could people from the Hong Kong startup community please comment on HK vs Shanghai for doing a startup? I've lived in HK during my student exchange and loved every minute of it - I also have an employee working from Hong Kong. At some point I'll set up teams to target Asian markets with China as the most important one. What are pro's and con's of HK vs Shanghai? Edit: Thanks for all the answers! I really want to go b…

Great Fire Wall which blocks Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Dropbox...

However, I think China Government does welcome startups in Shanghai/Beijing with more goodies and support than Hong Kong's gov.

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#12

Post by dhkl »

thomaspun wrote: post #9
dhkl wrote: post #3

Hong Kong has several vibrant, English-speaking startup/hacker communities where people are passionate about building stuff and making things work. Some notable communities to checkout: http://codeaholics.hk/ - Technology agnostic programming community http://www.startupshk.com/ - A tight-knit startup community http://boot.hk/ - A great gathering place for hackers and builders. See you in Hong Kong!

Right on! Leon, I'm connected to the HK startup folks (founders of StartUps HK and Boot) there as well. Feel free to ping. Here is their FB group which most communication is done: https://www.facebook.com/groups/startupshk/ It's a closed group but I could add you.

Is the group still active? My request's been on pending for a while now :-(

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#13

Post by samstave »

OoTheNigerian wrote: post #10

Have fun guys. I am sure you guys will do well in any country. Once I settle, I will definitely invite you to Nigeria. Your visas will be taken care of ;)

You should have chosen "419TheNigerian" as your username :)

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#14

Post by samstave »

thomaspun wrote: post #11
ebaysucks wrote: post #7

Could people from the Hong Kong startup community please comment on HK vs Shanghai for doing a startup? I've lived in HK during my student exchange and loved every minute of it - I also have an employee working from Hong Kong. At some point I'll set up teams to target Asian markets with China as the most important one. What are pro's and con's of HK vs Shanghai? Edit: Thanks for all the answers! I really want to go b…

Great Fire Wall which blocks Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Dropbox... However, I think China Government does welcome startups in Shanghai/Beijing with more goodies and support than Hong Kong's gov.

Now that HK went back to chinese rule years ago - how is HK not behind the same great FW?

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#15

Post by thomaspun »

brador wrote: post #6

That article is a light on details... Anyone got any specifics on the logistics of moving to HK and setting up? How's the money flow over there? VC/angel funding space?

Setting up companies and working visa should be pretty easy in HK. I have never heard anyone having issue regarding that.

There has always been funding but investors don't usually add as much values as ones here do. The main reason could be these investors made their fortune from other non tech business like stock or real estate real estate. They are usually great business minded people but they may have a hard time advising tech startups.

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#16

Post by _delirium »

samstave wrote: post #14
thomaspun wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great Fire Wall which blocks Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Dropbox... However, I think China Government does welcome startups in Shanghai/Beijing with more goodies and support than Hong Kong's gov.

Now that HK went back to chinese rule years ago - how is HK not behind the same great FW?

They still have a (somewhat) separate judicial system and government, which results in a considerably freer media and society; for example, many of the newspapers print anti-PRC editorials that wouldn't be allowed in mainland China, and there are open demonstrations on things like the Tiananmen anniversary.

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#17

Post by dhkl »

samstave wrote: post #14
thomaspun wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great Fire Wall which blocks Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Dropbox... However, I think China Government does welcome startups in Shanghai/Beijing with more goodies and support than Hong Kong's gov.

Now that HK went back to chinese rule years ago - how is HK not behind the same great FW?

The Hong Kong Basic Law stipulates that it will have high degree of autonomy at least 50 years after its transfer to Chinese rule. (ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong)

The Hong Kong Telecommunity Authority is, therefore, not required to implement the GFW.

Even in China, there are some GFW-free spots. You might find some 5-star hotels giving you unrestricted access to the likes of Facebook, Google+ etc

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#18

Post by fannyma »

dhkl wrote: post #12
thomaspun wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right on! Leon, I'm connected to the HK startup folks (founders of StartUps HK and Boot) there as well. Feel free to ping. Here is their FB group which most communication is done: https://www.facebook.com/groups/startupshk/ It's a closed group but I could add you.

Is the group still active? My request's been on pending for a while now :-(

ya the group is very active. maybe you can ping the group owner directly as it's a closed group :)

Re: Why we are taking our startup to Hong Kong and other crazy stories of 2011

#19

Post by samstave »

_delirium wrote: post #16
samstave wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now that HK went back to chinese rule years ago - how is HK not behind the same great FW?

They still have a (somewhat) separate judicial system and government, which results in a considerably freer media and society; for example, many of the newspapers print anti-PRC editorials that wouldn't be allowed in mainland China, and there are open demonstrations on things like the Tiananmen anniversary.

Thanks! I didnt know.

I spent 3+ weeks in HK in October of 2000 - but most of that time was partying - so I really didnt learn much about the place whilst there.

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