App to address cross-boundary leasing and property management challenges

Seed Fund Team 種子基金團隊

iLandy 愛樂居

Agnes Tsang Wai-man 曾慧汶 (left 左)
Mandy Cheung Man-yee 張敏怡 (right 右)

BBA Accountancy
工商管理學士(會計)

Co-founders
應用程式創辦人

iLandy co-founders Agnes Tsang Wai-man (left) and Mandy Cheung Man-yee (right) at the launch of CityU’s HK Tech 300.

校友曾慧汶(左)及張敏怡出席城大「HKTech 300」活動的開幕儀式。

Behind the push to establish iLandy, a multi-functional property leasing and management platform, was the hope of addressing the problems faced by local people trying to manage their rental properties in mainland China, especially since the closure of the border during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noticing this need, two years ago accountancy alumni Agnes Tsang Wai-man and Mandy Cheung Man-yee teamed up with undergraduate Tim Yam Tin-sum, from the Department of Advanced Design and Systems Engineering, to develop iLandy and provide no-fuss assistance in handling issues such as cross-boundary leasing. Their blockchain-powered app is expected to officially launch in mobile application marketplaces this summer.

“Many of our family and friends are living in Hong Kong while renting out their ancestral houses or properties in Shenzhen,” Agnes said. “In the past, they would go to mainland China regularly to collect rent and follow up on the lease agreement. However, the pandemic has meant they have had to authorise third parties to handle matters, only finding out about problems afterwards. In my days as an auditor, I also noticed that some listed real estate companies did not have a lease management system, which sometimes resulted in confusion.”

The founders already knew each other at CityU and first teamed up to enter an entrepreneurship competition, where they came up with the idea of designing an application using blockchain technology to help those with properties in the mainland.

The plan then became a reality following iLandy’s entry into Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks’ Science and Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) and participation in CityU’s HK Tech 300. HK Tech 300 has provided more than just seed funding. Professors and mentors have kept a close eye on iLandy’s progress, encouraging and recommending the team to participate in major competitions to gain experience.

“For the upcoming launch, our plan is to let family and friends try out the app first, with urban areas in Shenzhen as pilot sites,” Mandy said. “Then, we are hoping to bring it to CityU’s residence halls and assist students in reporting when maintenance work needs to be done. In the long term, we plan the application will enter the Greater Bay Area market to assist mainland users in handling their leasing issues.”

Agnes (centre), Mandy (left) and fellow iLandy co-founder Tim Yam Tin-sum at the BOCHK Challenge 2020-21, where the team received the Greatest Prospect award.

創辦愛樂居的曾慧汶(中)、張敏怡(左)及隊友任天深參與「中銀香港創新先驅大賽2020-21」,勇奪「最具潛力獎」。

引用區塊鏈技術研發應用程式
解除跨境租務與物業管理障礙

疫情下,跨境收租倍添困難!兩位會計學系校友曾慧汶及張敏怡,聯同先進設計及系統工程學系本科生任天深,兩年前構思開發兼具多功能的物業出租及管理應用程式「愛樂居」,協助用戶從容處理跨境租務、放租等物業管理事項,並預期將於今年夏天正式於流動應用程式平台推出上架。

誠如不少創業者受社會問題啟發,曾慧汶分享道,三人創立愛樂居的契機,正源於希望引用科技解決近年愈趨常見的租務管理疑難。「我們有不少在港定居的親友皆將位於深圳的祖屋或物業放租,以往會定期北上收取租金及跟進租約。惟受疫情阻礙下只能委托他人代理,事後卻發現有欺詐、不實情況出現;我在任職審計時,亦留意到有大型上市地產公司同樣沒有建立租務管理系統,以致時有混亂發生,促使我們這幾位早在城大認識並曾合作參加創業比賽的夥伴,萌生以炙手可熱的區塊鏈技術設計應用程式的意念,助上述困擾不少內地置業人士的難題迎刃而解。」

提到創業大計真正「落地」,曾慧汶與張敏怡指出,除建基於成功進入香港科技園的「科技企業家計劃」(STEP)外,參與城大的「HK Tech 300」更發揮了關鍵作用。後者不單為團隊提供種子基金撥款,教授導師更時刻關注愛樂居的開發進度;同時鼓勵引薦他們參與各類大型比賽,從中汲取經驗,擴濶視野,獲益甚豐。「隨着應用程式即將面世,我們計劃先在親友之間試行,並以深圳城中村作試點,繼而期望能應用於城大宿舍,方便學弟學妹報告維修事項,以加快處理進度。長遠來說,我們計劃帶領程式進軍大灣區市場,協助眾多內地用戶解決或減輕各類租務問題。」

Agnes (first right) has kept up her entrepreneurial spirit after founding iLandy, participating in innovative technology events such as Hackathon 2021, organised by Eureka Nova in cooperation with New World Development.

秉承在城大積極參與創業比賽的進取精神,曾慧汶(右一)在創立愛樂居後踴躍參加大型科創活動, 如Eureka Nova與新世界集團合作舉辦的編程馬拉松(Hackathon)2021。

Delivering Chinese medicine diagnosis online

Seed Fund Team 種子基金團隊

Panda for Health 健康熊貓

Jett Au Pok-man 歐博文 (centre 中)

BSc (Hons) Applied Biology
應用生物學榮譽理學士

Founder
應用程式創辦人

Alumnus Jett Au Pok-man (centre) and two partners have launched a Chinese Medicine Preventive Treatment Platform, combining remote diagnosis and AI technology.

畢業於城大化學系的歐博文(中)與兩名合作夥伴結合遙距診症與人工智能技術,成立中醫治未病平台。

Panda for Health, as its name suggests, is seeking to bring a longstanding element of Chinese culture bang up to date by initiating a novel approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnostic methods.

The company is the brainchild of Jett Au Pok-man, a graduate of CityU’s Department of Chemistry, and two partners, who have set out to develop a Chinese Medicine Preventive Treatment* Platform. The Panda for Health team is seeking to provide customised health solutions for urbanites who do not have time or are unable to attend a clinic in person, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A friend studying TCM at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, came back to Hong Kong during the pandemic and many people asked for healthcare advice via social networks,” Jett said. “That was when I had the initial idea. When the two of us talked with another friend, we all agreed that an online TCM diagnosis platform was the way to go, and put it to practice.”

While taking a person’s pulse is not yet feasible remotely, according to Jett, traditional “tongue examination” procedures can be carried out if a patient uploads photos of the front and back of his/her tongue, and answers a questionnaire on their daily schedule and lifestyle. From this information, a TCM doctor can understand the patient’s condition and recommend the appropriate prescription and diet.

The idea of starting a company first took root in 2017 when Jett noticed CityU providing funding to spur on biotech companies – even before entrepreneurial support had become a hot topic in Hong Kong. Once Jett’s concept for Panda for Health was in place, he was fortunate enough to obtain funding from HK Tech 300 and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to transform the preventative diagnosis platform from an idea into reality, he said.

“We are currently establishing an AI system and a database to help with diagnosis and follow-up,” he explained, regarding the company’s latest moves. “Our long-term goal is to leverage the resources and network of the Greater Bay Area to enter mainland China and Southeast Asia markets.”

*The concept of preventive treatment (治未病) was first put forward in the ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine classic Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine), referring to the positive measures taken by a good doctor to prevent disease.

Jett (second left) attends a HK Tech 300 meeting to discuss Panda for Health’s development with mentors.

歐博文(左二)於去年底出席城大「HK Tech 300」活動時,與多位導師就初創公司發展進行討論。

結合傳統與AI技術  創中醫診治平台

提起熊貓,令人聯想起中國國寶,畢業於城大化學系的歐博文透露,由他與兩位合作夥伴共同創立的健康熊貓,其命名雖隱藏了中醫元素,卻非傳統的望聞問切;而是結合遙距診症與人工智能舌診的「中醫治未病*平台」,力求在疫情下為居家抗疫的都市人,全天候度身訂造合適的養生方案,改善健康

「有此構思是源於在北京中醫藥大學攻讀中醫的朋友疫情下回港,遇上不少親友通過社交平台向他諮詢調理身體的建議,我們與另一朋友傾談時,皆認為線上中醫問診平台大有可為,故付諸實行。」歐博文稱,團隊雖未能隔空把脈,但採用中醫傳統的舌診,讓用戶傳送舌面及舌底照片,結合有關作息及生活習慣的問卷,中醫已大可掌握其身體狀況與體質,提供所需處方及食療,助他們及早改善身體毛病,防患於未然

提到萌生初創念頭,歐博文直言,早在2017年,創業在香港尚未成為熱門話題時,已目睹城大資助不少生物科技公司進行研發,引起他的創業興趣。他直言慶幸創立「健康熊貓遙距治未病平台」獲得城大「HK Tech 300」種子基金及科技園公司的資助,使初創構思轉化為真實企業。「我們現正建立人工智能系統及數據資料庫,協助中醫診症及定期跟進個案,長遠目標是善用大灣區的資源及網絡,進軍內地及東南亞市場。」

*註:「治未病」最早源於中醫經典《黃帝內經》,意思是好的醫師會採取積極的措施,預防疾病發生。

The company’s mobile app is targeted to launch this year, allowing people to access various Chinese medicine services anytime and anywhere.

「健康熊貓遙距治未病平台」手機應用程式將於今年內推出市場,用戶只需一機在手,即可隨時隨地享用各項中醫藥服務。

Opening up potential pathway to beat antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Seed Fund Team 種子基金團隊

Peptide Adventure 瑜肽生物科技

Donald Kwok Shu-hin 郭舒軒

BSc Biological Sciences
應用生物學理學士

Founder
企業創辦人

Donald Kwok Shu-hin and his team are now preparing to undertake toxicity test of a new antimicrobial peptide.

郭舒軒與團隊現正準備開展實驗階段,以測試全新抗生物肽的毒理表現,為產品推出市場作準備。

The story of Peptide Adventure began in a CityU lab when Department of Chemistry graduate Donald Kwok Shu-hin teamed up with departmental Associate Professor Lam Yun-wah to conduct further research and establish a database on the fish serum peptides referenced in his graduation thesis. Together, they discovered a peptide named Bing with excellent antimicrobial properties. These included suppressing bacteria’s capability to develop further antibiotic resistance and made Bing a perfect candidate for development. With support from CityU, the project is now ready to engage in toxicity testing in preparation for eventual commercialisation.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are the source of many cases of severe infection. The discovery of Bing is thus a breakthrough that the team hopes to take from lab to market, enabling them to contribute to the global medical community, Donald noted. The timing was also excellent. “Just as our team was looking for commercialisation opportunities, CityU launched HK Tech 300 to provide seed funding for students or alumni with knowledge in innovative technology areas,” he said. “This helped our start-up successfully take its first steps.”

Donald believes HK Tech 300 can effectively bring together alumni and new graduates and further enhance the innovative environment on campus, which in turn will attract more entrepreneurial resources, forming a virtuous circle. “The programme organises many events for us to engage with different stakeholders in areas such as financing and technical support. We have also connected up with a company in mainland China through the HK Tech 300 website and been invited to work with them at the animal testing research stage.” In addition, such a network will provide valuable resources for marketing at a later stage, he said.

Peptide Adventure recently won a Bronze Award at the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2022. Taking part in the international event has helped to broaden the team’s horizons and to provide a platform to attract investors’ attention locally and overseas.

Donald Kwok Shu-hin (left) and Associate Professor Lam Yun-wah (right), Department of Chemistry, have discovered a new antimicrobial peptide that can reduce bacteria’s antibiotic resistance capabilities.

城大校友郭舒軒(左)與教授林潤華博士(右)組建項目團隊,成功發現可減輕細菌抗藥性的全新抗生物肽。

發現全新抗生物肽  獲資金支持實現市場化

由實驗室研究至成立瑜肽生物科技,源自畢業於城大化學系的郭舒軒與教授林潤華博士組建項目團隊,延續就其畢業論文提及的魚類血清肽進行研究,並設立數據庫。兩人共同發現一種名為「兵」(Bing)的肽具有極佳的殺菌功能,更可減輕細菌的抗藥性,正適合研發全新的抗生素。在城大支持下,有關項目即將進入實驗階段,以測試毒理表現,為推出市場作準備。

抗藥性細菌能引致嚴重感染,郭舒軒形容,這次找到可對抗這類細菌的抗生物肽,屬突破性的發現,團隊皆期望可將實驗成果市場化,為全球醫療界帶來更大效益。「團隊在尋找商機時,適逢城大推出「HK Tech 300」計劃,提供種子基金,幫助具基本創科概念的學生或校友,尋獲所需資金,使我們順利踏出成初立創的第一步。」

郭舒軒認為,「HK Tech 300」計劃凝聚很多有志發展初創的校友及剛畢業的學生參與,進一步提升校內的創科氣氛,因而吸納更多創業資源,形成良性循環環。「該計劃不時舉辦多元活動,讓我們接觸到融資、技術支援等不同的持分者。早前通過計劃網站,初創團隊亦成功與一間內地公司建立了聯繫,並獲邀請與當地公司合作開展動物實驗,目前正商討具體合作內容,這些人際網絡資源對於市場推廣尤其珍貴。」瑜肽生物科技最近亦於2022年網上日內瓦國際發明展勇奪銅獎,拓闊眼界之餘,亦期望透過平台展現實力,吸引海內外投資者關注。

The “Bing” peptide was found in fish and is a good starting point for developing more effective antibiotics.

名為「兵」的全新抗生物肽由魚類身上找到,適用於研發更具效能的抗生素。

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