Winning startups sought to join the Captain’s Table

A rapidly expanding young professionals network in Hong Kong is looing for aspiring mairitme startups to benefit from unique collaboration with one of the major shipping clusters in the world. No travelling needed.

Maritime start-ups are being sought to try and win an intense mentorship programme in Hong Kong, albeit virtually. It also comes with a $20,000 prize for the winner. The sponsorship backed Cap t ain’s Table Innovation Challenge ran for the first-time last year, with a shortlist of entrants being brought to Hong Kong for intense mentorship and then an opportunity to pitch before an industry judging panel.

This year’s Challenge will, for obvious reasons, be run remotely, with no travel to Hong Kong expected, but it still comes with the same rewards of opening doors into one of the industry’s largest ship owning and industry clusters, as well as advice and topics from investors and other experts on pitching, development and potentially even pilot projects.

Applications are being sought from across the spectrum of the shipping industry, but there is believed to be a focus on cyber security given the pending regulations and on crew welfare.

After the deadline for applications close on 21st September there will be a shortlist of 10 applicants announced on 12th October, but then a final five selected after three weeks for what the organisers call an enrichment phase. There will be live streamed finals at the end of November.

The whole process is aimed at being a short intense acceleration programme for five lucky winners, but with one taking home the prize.

The Captain’s Table is described as a bottom up grassroots initiative having been developed through the Young Professionals in Shipping Network. YPSN was launched in Hong Kong as a fairly informal social gathering but has grown in both popularity and purpose, culminating to date with the Captain’s Table challenge.

The winner of the Captain’s Table 2019 challenge was Portcast

Startups interested in taking part can read more and submit their pitch via the Captain’s Table website

Craig Eason

Craig Eason is the owner and editorial director of Fathom.World. He has a background in the shipping industry having started his career as a cadet on oil tankers and gas carriers before becoming a navigating officer on a range of vessel types. A change in career, with ensuing university studies, and he has now gained 20 years experience in written and broadcast journalism. He now is in demand as a knowledgeable and competent editor and event host and moderator, both for in-house events and ones for the public.