6 minute read
Employers and startups
Startups find solutions
Young entrepreneurs give some hope and ideas.
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All say they need subsidies to thrive and grow when youth unemployment is up to 9.9%.
The IT sector is doing much better than F&B where unemployment was 14.6% in August.* • 疫市之中，年輕創業家認為只要敢想， 前路就有希望。 • 年青創業家一致認同在青年失業率高至 9.9% 的環境，他 們需要資助來生存及發展。 • 資訊科技行業於疫情下發展較飲食業為佳，飲食業於 8 月 的失業率為 14.6%*。
ADAM
Not long ago, smartphones and other devices were What does the future bode for online learning software? considered a distraction for students. That changed with The app currently uses the open-source Jitsi Meet video the pandemic. “Use of our educational app has soared,” conferencing platform instead of Zoom. “It supports says Adam. His company P2P encryption,” Adam designs tools for schools, explains. “The videos are students and parents. “We plan to increase staff by 50% With Hong Kong spirit, we are not saved permanently on the server and this solves the in the coming 12 months, adding technical support and more resources for parents.” trying to make the best of it because people now really need problem of data leakage.” The platform offers schools While other education our services. a way to communicate with learners and parents. apps used in Hong Kong “Features for school function principally as administrative, communication management include support for e-payments as well and management tools for teaching and learning, and that gateway has been very useful for paying fees Adam’s app targets parenting and student growth. during the pandemic. Use was up by 100% in July.” “More than 300 institutions and other stakeholders provide us with information about youth health and Revenue has dropped despite the increase in use, but Adam development. We want to offer parents choices.” The is positive. “Of course, we can’t say COVID-19 has been company also offers a “virtual mall” with interest good, but with Hong Kong spirit, we are trying to make classes like dancing, kungfu and handicrafts, useful the best of it because people now really need our services.” when so many activities have been curtailed. Adam concludes with an idea for government financial A pilot project with ten schools is strengthening parentsupport. “Education should be seen as a process, friendly features. “They are nervous about learning online not a piecemeal series from kindergarten, primary, and want to understand their children’s progress and pace secondary and university education. Startups like us of learning. We also have a private family blog where need the kind of subsidies you can see in D-Biz from children and parents can write about their feelings.” the Innovation and Technology Commission.”
DAVID
“I had always dreamt of being an entrepreneur but I was a designer and worked in a Japanese restaurant until finally, in 2017, I opened my own restaurant in Tuen Mun. Our specialty is slow-cooked steak,” says David who is in his 30s. “The takeaway business has helped a bit and as my restaurant is very small, with only around 16 seats, I’ve used platforms like Deliveroo and Foodpanda right from the very beginning.”
With all the social distancing measures in place, capacity has dropped drastically and David can only serve about eight customers at any one time. “It has really affected our business. Fortunately, our clientele is very loyal and we provide ad hoc discounts to attract people.” David has also applied for a subsidy under the government’s Target Industry Supporting Scheme.**
The most important thing is to be flexible.
David’s landlord is kind and offered a reduced rent for a few months. “But I won’t ask again. I think everyone is facing a difficult situation now and I do not want to shift all the burden to my landlord. It is not quite fair. I still employ 10 people, most of them working part-time and I think if we are ready to face challenges, we can always find solutions to problems.
I am planning to expand my business and will soon sell raw steak. The most important thing is to be flexible.
David took part in HKFYG’s young entrepreneur support programme, YBHK (Youth Business Hong Kong)
He suggests that online clinics where startups can get comments from experienced businessman will help them to learnt a lot and cope with the impact of COVID-19.
More details about YBHK sic.hkfyg.org.hk/en/ybhk/
MOSES
RUDY
Moses founded his incubator and angel investment company in 2018. “Our turnover is approximately 50% down. We are international and the pandemic restrictions mean overseas startups can’t come to Hong Kong so to solve the problem, all our screening has gone online.”
The company is small and agile and nobody has been fired or furloughed. If they are to continue to thrive, however, Moses says they need government subsidies for rent and wages. “That would create a better business environment and help maintain Hong Kong’s advantages.”
In fact, Moses is quite optimistic. “We are looking for talented people with both a technical and business mindset. We would also consider taking on unpaid interns or short-term employees as a part of jobskills programmes run by NGOs and it would help us if they did the screening of applicants.”
“My social media advertising company saw a sharp drop in revenue this spring. For a couple of months our business activities just stopped, but luckily, given our target clients, most brands, including the traditional ones, switched to digital during this tough period.”
Rudy adopted a completely new approach in response. “Most SMEs and international brands are now targeting the digital space. Working from home with all meetings via virtual conferencing, we aimed for a more salesdriven approach with the huge surge in ecommerce platforms. It suits Hong Kong and online stores that use live-streamed videos to attract netizens to buy online.”
The company has about 20 staff in Hong Kong and another 10 in Malaysia and Thailand. “We are always looking to hire young energetic talent familiar with social media trends. NGOs like HKFYG can help by equipping young people with training before they enter the workforce, introducing entrepreneurs and teaching soft skills. They need to know that perseverance and innovation are the key to success in both good times and bad.”
SUNNY
Sunny started up his own siu mei ( 港猿燒味 ) barbecued meat restaurant in Fanling this year, just when the pandemic was beginning.
It was a really a big decision when Sunny gave up a stable, well-paid job in IT sector. “The job was boring and I wanted to spend a few years trying out something new.” First, he learnt a lot about siu mei working in the food industry. “I really love siu mei and knew I could use new cooking methods to make it healthier. My target customers are from factories and offices and my dinner time customers are local families.”
As social distancing took a grip, many started working from home and business was badly affected. I can only seat ten diners now and depend on the takeout trade. “Takeaway platforms are more and more important and
so I really hope the government launches a campaign to add more and make them less expensive to use.”
Government subsidies are helping Sunny keep going. “I still have all my four of my staff. Of course I am stressed but all I have to do is to think of ways to keep my business running.”
* More statistics
• scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3098497/coronavirus-hong-kongs-low-income-residents-suffering • censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp200.jsp?tableID=011&ID=0&productType=8 • dimsumdaily.hk/unemployment-rate-in-hong-kong-improves-from-6-2-to-6-1/ • scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3095716/coronavirus-87-cent-hong-kong-employees-suffering
