60 seconds to reinvent a start-up

How Hong Kong’s EPIC startup pitching competition turned a one-minute presentation into a launchpad for reinvention and global growth

For most entrepreneurs, a one-minute pitch is a test of nerves. And for Evan Tanotogono and Vincent Choy, it became a turning point that changed how they built their companies and the paths they took after.

EPIC 2025 Presented by Cathay and HSBC, organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), returns on November 7 for its 2025 finale at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Now in its ninth year, EPIC has become a global launchpad for innovators. This year saw an influx of global applications hitting close to 1,200 hail from 71 economies, and 87 per cent are from outside Hong Kong – a sign of the city’s pull as a hub for technology and entrepreneurship.

The contest gives the top 100 founders from 28 economics just 60 seconds to convince judges their idea deserves investment, with up to US$105 million in targeted investment funding and US$240,000 in cash prizes on offer.

From 60-Second Pitch to a New Chapter

According to Evan Tanotogono, CEO and co-founder of Indonesia-based Rey.id, EPIC 2024 was where his company’s story truly began to take shape.

“Just be bold. And be different. Start with something that makes people look up. Logic convinces the mind, but belief moves the heart,” he said.

He put that advice into practice during his pitch, opening with a line no one saw coming: “Everybody hates insurance… including the insurance companies themselves.”

The humour broke the ice and set the stage for him to share Rey.id’s mission to reinvent insurance through accessible, tech-driven health solutions.

After reaching EPIC’s Top 12, Tanotogono set up his next company, Olvo AI, in Hong Kong through HKSTP’s Global Connect programme. He credits EPIC with giving him both visibility and community.

He described EPIC as a community that gave him access to a wider ecosystem of founders, entrepreneurs and innovators who continue to inspire him.

He also found business opportunities, including a partnership with Leapstack International, a Hong Kong-based company he met through the EPIC network. Together they are developing health-AI solutions for insurers across Asia.

From Credit Scores to Human Behavior

According to Vincent Choy, co-founder of Singapore’s Bizbaz, the competition forced a rethink of what his company really offered.

“EPIC made us take a hard look at who we were and what we were building,” he said. “Before, we focused narrowly on credit-risk assessment – the technology, the algorithms, the accuracy.”

“Through EPIC, we realised our real strength was understanding human behaviour through data.”

That insight prompted Bizbaz to rethink its direction by shifting focus from credit scoring to behavioural profiling and expanding into HR, insurance and mental wellness applications.

The experience has also changed their mindset about how to connect with investors.

“We stopped leading with tech and started leading with trust. People don’t buy algorithms; they buy confidence. EPIC helped us see that investors need to believe in the why behind your product before they care about how it works.”

That clarity soon brought tangible results. Following EPIC, Bizbaz deepened its relationship with one of the renowned banks, which introduced the start-up to teams across Hong Kong and Mainland China to explore pilot projects.

“It validated what we were building and gave us access to partners who understood our vision,” said Choy.

Don’t Pitch a Product, Pitch a Belief

Both founders said the experience had reshaped how they communicate with their audience, from potential partners and investors to clients.

“Don’t try to be perfect, try to be real,” said Tanotogono. “Whether it’s four people in an elevator or hundreds in a hall, treat it like sharing your story with friends. Perfection makes people nod; authenticity makes people remember.”

Choy agreed: “Don’t be afraid to stumble. The best pitch isn’t always the most polished; it’s the most relatable. Have fun with it. When you enjoy pitching, the audience feels it too.”

For both entrepreneurs, EPIC is a gateway to reinvention, thanks to Hong Kong’s open, globally connected environment that allows them to refine ideas, form partnerships and rethink what success meant.

“Always remember you’re not pitching a product, you’re pitching a belief,” said Tanotogono. “If your belief is strong enough to move you, it will move others.”