24
05
deep-tech
From Pilot to Scale: Manufacturing Partners for HK Deep Tech
The transition from pilot-scale production to commercial-scale manufacturing is often the valley of death for deep tech hardware companies.
10 min readResearch Note
From Lab to Launch
A platform for university spinouts and deep tech incubation.
Notes on IP commercialisation, research-to-startup pathways and incubator program design.
Latest Notes
24
05
deep-tech
Pre-Seed Term Sheets for Hard Science: The Investor Carve-Outs
Pre-seed term sheets for deep tech companies contain investor protections that are rarely seen in software term sheets.
10 min read23
05
ip-strategy
The Lab Notebook: Why Investors Want to See It
The lab notebook — the chronological record of experiments, observations, and results — is a critical due diligence document for deep tech invest.
10 min read23
05
university-incubators
Translational Research Programs: Stanford StartX as a Reference
Stanford's StartX is the global reference model for university-affiliated startup acceleration.
10 min read22
05
grants
Government Grants for Hardware Startups: STP, ESS, BUD Routes
Hardware startups in Hong Kong face higher capital requirements than software startups and have access to specific grant programmes.
10 min read22
05
deep-tech
Incubator Selection for Climate Tech, Biotech and Robotics
Sector-specific incubator selection criteria.
10 min read21
05
founder-toolkit
Founder-Researcher Equity Splits in University Spinouts
Equity allocation among founders in university spinouts is complicated by the involvement of the university (which takes its own equity stake) an.
10 min read21
05
founder-toolkit
Hiring Scientists vs Engineers: Team Composition Sequencing
Deep tech startups need both scientists (who advance the core technology) and engineers (who make it production-ready and scalable), but the opti.
10 min read20
05
founder-toolkit
PhD-to-CEO Transition: Skills That Don't Transfer
The transition from PhD researcher to startup CEO is one of the most challenging personal transformations in the deep tech ecosystem.
10 min read20
05
research-partnerships
Research Partnerships: Sponsored Research vs JDA vs License
Deep tech startups can structure university research relationships in three primary ways.
10 min read19
05
ip-strategy
Building a Defensible Patent Portfolio Before First Funding
A defensible patent portfolio is often the most valuable asset a pre-revenue deep tech startup possesses.
10 min read19
05
ip-strategy
Trade Secrets vs Patents: When Each Strategy Wins
The trade secret vs patent decision is a strategic choice that depends on the nature of the innovation.
10 min read18
05
university-incubators
Cyberport Incu-App vs HKSTP Incu-Tech: Funding Terms Compared
The two flagship government incubation programmes have distinct funding structures.
10 min read18
05
deep-tech
Deep Tech Valuation: How Investors Price Pre-Revenue Science
Valuing a pre-revenue deep tech startup is fundamentally different from valuing a software startup, because traditional metrics (revenue multiple.
10 min read17
05
grants
CreateHK Funding for Creative Tech Startups
CreateHK, the dedicated agency for creative industries, operates funding programmes that are distinct from the ITF's technology-focused grants.
10 min read17
05
grants
ITF (Innovation and Technology Fund): A Founder's Guide
The Innovation and Technology Fund is Hong Kong's primary government funding mechanism for R&D, administered by the Innovation and Technology Com.
10 min read16
05
founder-toolkit
The Incubator vs Accelerator Decision for Deep Tech Founders
The incubator vs accelerator choice is more consequential for deep tech founders than for software founders, because the two models serve fundame.
10 min read16
05
grants
Pre-Seed Capital for Deep Tech: Grants, ITF, Convertible Notes
Deep tech startups face a capital gap that software startups do not: they need significant funding before they have a minimum viable product, bec.
10 min read15
05
university-incubators
From Lab to Spinout: The HKUST, HKU and PolyU Pathways
Hong Kong's three leading research universities each operate a technology transfer pipeline, but the pathways differ meaningfully.
10 min read15
05
ip-strategy
IP Ownership in University Spinouts: The TTO Negotiation Playbook
The IP negotiation between academic founders and their university's Technology Transfer Office (TTO) determines the founding equity split and the.
10 min read