The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Association (OPAA) successfully hosted the "OPAA Master Class 2024: Achieving Entrepreneurial Success" on 27 June 2024, drawing broad participation from over 120 alumni, students, and staff members of the University.
The event featured a speaker forum with two outstanding alumni sharing their entrepreneurial journeys. They were Dr the Hon. Johnny Ng Kit-chong, MH, JP, a Member of the Legislative Council and Founder and Chairman of Goldford Group; and Mr Fang Bing, Co-founder of Hai Robotics. Ir Dr Samson Tam Wai-ho, JP, President of the Association, moderated the panel discussion, which was joined by Ir Alfred Sit Wing-hang, GBS, JP, Director of the Association.
Dr Ng recounted his career trajectory, highlighting the pivotal support he received from PolyU and his pioneering introduction of facial recognition technology to the market. He detailed his evolution from an engineer to a technology entrepreneur and eventually to a venture investor. He also shared two key factors for young entrepreneurs: the "zero starting point mindset", which advocates for innovation rather than resting on past achievements, and the importance of continually questioning one's motivations for starting a business.
Mr Fang expressed his deep gratitude to PolyU for the entrepreneurship education and funding support that were instrumental in his journey. He recognised the challenges of starting a business, including its demanding and often solitary nature, but also pointed out the invaluable insights gained through the process. He further emphasised the importance of innovation and market awareness for start-up success, and encouraged young people to pursue their dreams with a thorough understanding of the environment and opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The engaging presentations prompted a lively discussion session with the audience. In his concluding remarks, Dr Tam praised the speakers as exemplary entrepreneurs and role models for the younger generation. He also highlighted OPAA's commitment to providing guidance to young alumni and students aspiring to launch their own businesses, encouraging them to reach out to the Association for support when needed.
The event was a resounding success, inspiring the next generation of PolyU entrepreneurs with valuable insights and practical advice from the accomplished alumni. The engaging presentations, networking opportunities, and idea exchanges provided attendees with a meaningful platform to connect with like-minded individuals. For more photos and highlights of the event, please refer to our Facebook post.
