Rosewood Foundation Entrepreneurship Award Ceremony honours five startup teams.

As sustainability takes centre stage, local startups are leading the way with innovative products and services. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) and Rosewood Foundation have partnered for the second year to launch the “Rosewood Foundation Entrepreneurship Award 2025”, with the Award Ceremony held today (9 June). Five winning startups were recognised for their innovative business solutions – a biodegradable silica cleaning capsule, a vision-based AI-powered analytics platform, an innovative upcycled beverage company, a 3D food printing system and an automated cocktail mixing machine.

At the Ceremony, Guest of Honour the Hon. Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai, Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission and Member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, joined Mehvesh Mumtaz Ahmed, Rosewood Foundation Board of Director and Rosewood Hotel Group Global Vice President of Impact and Sustainability, and Hsu Siu-man, HKFYG Executive Director, in engaging with young entrepreneurs and learning about their innovative business solutions. Members of the winning teams also shared their journeys, hoping to inspire more young peers to pursue their dreams with the same passion for developing innovative solutions in driving sustainability.

Environmental Sustainability Guardian Limited

Co-founders: Steven Cheng, Derek Cheng, Malvin Lo

ESGuardian stands at the forefront of sustainable innovation, pioneering silica capsule technology to transform everyday hygiene products. Its breakthrough approach uses a porous silica matrix to encapsulate active ingredients, enabling precise, water-activated release that enhances performance while reducing excess fillers, packaging, and preservatives, therefore lowering the carbon footprint of personal care products.

Originating from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, this technology reduces product volume by 90% throughout the product lifecycle, from production to disposal. Each 15-gram capsule replaces a 500ml plastic bottle of hand soap, while simultaneously maintaining a 99% pathogen reduction rate and safely degrading into natural sand particles after use.