Hong Kong tech accelerator fund Betatron is joining with two partners to launch financial backing for shipping start-ups.
It said it will work with Young Professionals in Shipping Network (YPSN) and consultants Heron Advisory to provide early-stage venture capital.
Betatron will be investing $500,000 into each start-up and will be running a four-month acceleration programme, aimed at business growth and fundraising.
This will culminate in a global investor roadshow in Silicon Valley in the US, as well as Singapore and Hong Kong.
Applications are open and will close on 15 April.
"Between Hong Kong and Singapore, we are in a perfect position to help start-ups grow in their target markets and raise Venture Capital," said Heron founding partner Ronny Waage
"Seven out of 10 of the world’s largest container ports are located in Hong Kong/mainland China whilst the port of Singapore is the world’s top transhipment port and the second busiest port globally."
Betatron invests in around 15 to 20 start-ups each year.
It focuses on helping each company raise their next funding round and accelerating business growth. The program is based in Hong Kong but only requires physical attendance for a total of three two-week periods.
It was founded in 2016 by a group of leading venture capital firms in Hong Kong, including Mindworks Ventures, Vectr Ventures, Cocoon Ignite Ventures, the Aria Group, IC Studio and Incu-Lab.
Idan Ofer's Eastern Pacific Shipping is doing something similar in Singapore.
Tech start-ups from Singapore, Denmark, UK and US will take part in its accelerator project that is being run jointly with US seed accelerator giant Techstars.
Among the nine start-ups are C-Log, which recently moved its global headquarters to Singapore, US-based Volteo, which has spun-off Volteo Maritime as a Singaporean company, and Nautilus Labs which is also establishing a permanent office in Singapore while keeping its headquarters in New York City.
