Several international startups from Singapore and Canada are showing strong interest in expanding into India, attracted by its vast market size, fast-growing economy, and supportive startup ecosystem.
These companies shared their expansion plans during EPIC 2025, a global pitch competition organized by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), which concluded on Friday evening.
From over 1,200 applications across 70+ economies, 100 startups—including two from India—were shortlisted in three categories: Digital Health Tech, FinTech, and GreenTech. Moreover, the annual event serves as a vital platform for entrepreneurs to connect with investors, corporate partners, and emerging markets worldwide, thereby fostering global collaboration and innovation.
In a media statement, Sunny Chai, Chairman of HKSTP, said, “We are turning Hong Kong’s connectivity into momentum, helping ideas move and scale across borders. EPIC 2025 is a testament to this, where entrepreneurs connect with emerging markets, enthusiastic investors, and world-class innovation ecosystems.”
Bryan Oh, founder & CEO of Singapore-based NEU Battery Materials, highlighted global opportunities in sustainability. “Our priority is to grow our business beyond Singapore, because battery recycling is not just a problem for Singapore or Hong Kong; it is a global problem. We want to solve it using our process and technology,” he said.
Discussing India’s potential, he added, “It has a huge amount of two-wheelers and three-wheelers… It’s definitely a market we are looking at (to recycle batteries). I would love to know more about government initiatives and policies in India.”
Oh, the winner in the GreenTech category at EPIC 2025 noted that India’s startup ecosystem is developing rapidly and presents a compelling opportunity.
Jayden Lu, product engineer at Singapore-based Belli, which builds air cargo software for airlines, expressed optimism about India’s market. “India is a fast-growing economy, and it will be great to be a part of this journey,” he said.
Lu added, “I see a great future for startups in India.” He believes India’s vast population and strong startup foundation make it fertile ground for investors and innovators alike.
Meanwhile, Amol S. Karnick, president and CEO of Canada-based KA Imaging, said, “We are exploring the possibilities of entering India; we need to find the right partners and investors to allow us to accelerate work there.”
He appreciated India’s increasing government support for innovation. “Recently, we have seen the Indian government putting funding into science and medical technology. That’s an interesting opportunity for us. The fund is the most important. I need to explore more how policies can support us,” he said.
KA Imaging, which has developed color X-ray technology enabling real-time imaging of organs for the early detection of cardiac and lung diseases, also participated in the HealthTech category of EPIC 2025, further showcasing its commitment to advancing medical innovation on a global stage.
