BizSpark ✨ x Hong Kong Startup Community Leaders 👑 Series
Episode 2: Ben Hsieh of nest.vc
Hey guys, welcome to our second episode! This week we are talking to ✨Ben Hsieh, Program Manager at nest.vc. Nest.vc was kind enough to let us join them at INFINITI LAB Demo Day, where a selected number of startups come to pitch for investors for the nest.vc circle. As per our last blog, we asked Ben about the local Hong Kong ecosystem and what’s so special about it. Great thanks to Sophia Dang and Ben for making this blog possible 😃
Nest and INFINITI are partners on the INFINITI LAB Global Accelerator program,the ultimate platform to scale your business. As the leading corporate innovation provider across Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Nest builds platforms to support entrepreneurs. This includes: Nest Ventures, a seed to growth stage venture capital firm, transformational accelerator programs, and Mettā, a space for people to connect and collaborate. The program offers premium brand insight and access to mentors from Nest and the INFINITI executive team at their global headquarters in Hong Kong. Located on the doorstep to China, startups will receive exposure to the world’s fastest growing consumer market, POC collaboration opportunities with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and a pool of high-quality investors.
Tell us a bit about yourself and where we are today.
Hi, I’m Ben Hsieh. We are right in the middle of Demo Day, which is the conclusion of INFINITI Future Consumer 3.0 Program. It’s going to be a good one!
A bit about the INFINITI Program.
So Nest and INFINITI have run 5 programs in the last 3 years, and each time it’s about empowering the startups from all around the world. On this occasion, we brought in 7 startups ranging from Mexico, Canada, North America, Germany, Sweden, and Hong Kong as well, to participate in a retail focused accelerator program.
Is there anything you would like Hong Kong to explore? Anything industry specific?
I think Hong Kong is a bit behind its counterparts in Singapore and China in consumer behaviours and technology, but it has done well in fintech. From a personal perspective, it would be great to see more consumer and retail technologies integrated into the HK ecosystem, anything to make our lives even more convenient and seamless.
Advice for startups.
Build fast, go to market quickly, and make mistakes quickly.
Advice to struggling founders.
The generic advice is to keep going at it, but I don’t think it’s necessarily correct. I would recommend that if a startup is struggling, try and take a step back and take a break. It’s very difficult to not think about your business, we understand that, but it’s important to reconsider the direction of your company and figure out if it’s still the best way forward. Most importantly, whether it’s still right for the founder and those involved.
Values in entrepreneurs who are successful.
The common thread amongst great entrepreneurs are those that prioritize tasks well and have the ability to create time for themselves. In the beginning, the startups that try different angles and find product market fit quickly are usually successful as they apply the same methodology to other tasks in the entrepreneurial journey. Time is the most important resources and using it effectively is the key.
This series is to showcase Microsoft’s great support to the startup community in Hong Kong. If you are a technology focused startup that is aiming to explore the Hong Kong market in anything related to fintech, AI, or MR, go to 📍www.bizspark.microsoft.com to get the support you deserve. If you have questions on BizSpark, don’t hesitate to drop a message to and then put BS at the end, and say interested to partner with us? Please contact 📍hkbizs@microsoft.com.
