The Hong Kong Episode of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology(“HKUST”) signature One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition (the “Competition”) was held at HKUST on 7 June 2018. GF Securities Co., Ltd. ("GF Securities" or "the Company"; HKSE: 1776; SZSE: 000776), the platinum sponsor of the Competition, fully participated to support young entrepreneurs and to cultivate innovative talents with leadership in all industries. Mr. Jarret Sha, managing director of GF Holdings (Hong Kong) Corporation Limited (“GF Hong Kong”), a fully owned subsidiary of GF Securities, was invited to represent GF Securities to present awards to the winners. Dr. Chen Yingying, managing director of GF Hong Kong, was also invited as one of the judges in the final competition, guiding young entrepreneurs on their start-up path.
As a member of the judge panel, Dr. Chen Yingying has extensive investment and investment banking experiences and a profound understanding on the capital market, which enables her to give numerous instructive advices to the finalists. “The Competition has provided an excellent platform for the young generation to share their startup ideas and has helped outstanding young entrepreneurs and potential programs to gain more traction from the industry,” said Dr. Chen Yingying: “GF Securities and its subsidiaries are pleased to support potential entrepreneurs and help them to realize their inspirations.”
Through fierce competitions, team Sinocore Biotechnology won the championship “President Award” with HKD300,000 cash for their project: “Conversion of Sewage Sludge into High Quality Fertilizers”. Team Miscato won the second place namely “GF Securities Gold Award” with HKD200,000 cash for their project: “IoT Aromatherapy for In-room Hospitality Guests”. Team I-Square Technology won the third place namely “GF Securities Silver Award” with HKD100,000 cash for their project: “Anti-counterfeiting and Verification Solution to Brand Products”. Furthermore, the Competition had also established other awards such as Innovation Award, Elevator Pitch Award and Exhibition Award to praise other participants with outstanding behaviors in corresponding sections.
In the award dinner, Mr. Jarret Sha, the award presenter said: “Every participant team has shown excellent innovation and technical talents, while many of the programs have unfolded a promising prospect. I am so glad to witness so many brilliant youngsters in our era, and GF Securities will make every effort to support them to show their talents and chase their dreams.”
GF Securities has always been actively fulfilling its social responsibilities and carrying forward the loving gesture of GF Securities. Particularly, the Company would like to focus on the education area. This was the second time the Company sponsoring this Competition and joining hands with HKUST. Leveraging on GF Securities’ extensive experiences in capital and market and HKUST’s professional advantages on science studies and startup managements, the Company was able to create an effective collaboration between outstanding start-up programs and capital, and help the youngsters to chase their dreams. In the future, GF securities will never forget where it started. Besides focusing on its business development to create higher corporate value, GF Securities will also continue to actively contribute to the society to fulfill its social responsibility as a corporate citizen.
The Competition has been held for eight consecutive years since 2011, and become a famous entrepreneurship contest throughout Greater China. Having incubated numerous well-recognized startups and programs throughout these years, the Competition now enjoys a high reputation in the financial circle. This year, HKUST expanded the competition divisions to 2 more cities, making a total number of 7 cities including Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau, Beijing, Foshan and Zhongshan. Through 4 months’ fierce competition, 12 finalists stood out from over 100 teams in Hong Kong division to battle for the championship and over HKD1 million-worth-of prizes.
As one of the most influential securities companies in China’s capital market, GF Securities has realized steady development with its outstanding business results and its satisfactory services, facilitating itself with industry-leading innovation. For years, GF Securities has reserved a large number of SMEs and has cultivated a series of industry-leading enterprises, equipping the Company with unique professional advantages and experiences in the discovery and incubation of startups.
Besides making continuous efforts to improve its business, the Company sticks to its welfare concept of “Gathering the Love from the Bottom of Heart” by actively fulfilling its social responsibility to upgrade the Company’s reputation and brand influence. GF Securities Social Charity Foundation of Guangdong Province (“GF Foundation”), a charity foundation raised by GF Securities and its three subsidiaries jointly, has been organizing events such as “Small-scale start-up campaign for university students” for several consecutive years to help university students to build up a value guidance of innovation and startup and to improve their ability of practicing it as well as to cultivate maker culture and entrepreneurship. Last year, the total charitable expenses were over RMB14.50 million and the Company’s achievement has been widely recognized by different sectors of society.
Prof. Enboa Wu, the Associate Vice-President for Knowledge Transfer of HKUST, presents the souvenir to Mr. Jarret Sha, the Managing Director of GF Investment Hong Kong