The Baltic Exchange are proud to be supporting 'The Captain's Table 2020' this year. 

You can apply to take part here. 

 

After a successful launch in Hong Kong 12 months ago, The Captain’s Table, a maritime innovation pitch challenge is back. This year, with collaboration from existing sponsors Pacific Basin Shipping, the Caravel Group, HFW, INVESTHK as well as new partners Inmarsat, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings, AXSMarine and Veson Nautical. The brainchild of the Young Professionals in Shipping Network (Hong Kong) founders, Tabitha Logan and Su Yin Anand, The Captain’s Table is an independent pitch competition focused on identifying strategic innovations to real problems in the maritime and logistics industries. 

This year the competition is targeting solutions in a number of specific categories, including decarbonization, port optimization, crew safety & wellbeing and cyber risk among others. By working closely with their corporate partners to design specific problem statements this year’s challenge promises to be more competition focused and strategic. 

The team from YPSN and Ronny Waage from Heron Advisory will work closely with last year’s Enrichment Partner, Chris O’Callaghan, Director of HFW Consulting, to eventually select the top 5 start-ups to take part in a curated bootcamp before the live pitch in front of our Judges to win a seat at The Captains Table. This will be broadcast live via their media sponsor Splash247 at the end of November 2020. 

COVID-19 has forced the industry to digitize at a pace faster than it would have liked

Tabitha and Su Yin are confident that they can surpass the success of last year’s event despite the uncertainties presented by COVID-19. Tabitha says: 

“We have been asking start-ups how COVID-19 has impacted their business modelling and frankly this is a question we ask ourselves. COVID-19 has forced the industry to digitize at a pace faster than it would have liked. This bodes well for start-ups and our competition.” 

 

INDUSTRY LEAD INITIATIVE

The founders believe that the challenge’s unique value proposition lies in its independence, which brings an objectivity to identify fit for purpose solutions and to match start-ups with stakeholders with true synergies. At the same time helping them gain exposure in Hong Kong and the wider Asian markets. 

 

WHAT IS ON OFFER? 

In addition to the curated program, the winning Startup will gain global media exposure, a cash prize of US$ 20,000 and stakeholder introductions. Most importantly they will have access to an ecosystem of support after the competition ends. 

This year HFW Consulting, Lloyd’s Register, Inmarsat, INNoPORT, Halcyon Recruitment & Startup Wharf are all offering support to the winning startup in the form of leadership coaching, stakeholder introductions, media publicity, strategic partnerships and mentorship opportunities. 

As Su Yin says “We know we are not an accelerator and, as yet, cannot offer the same breadth of training offered by the more established accelerators. However, our program is designed to give the start-ups a strong foundation for success by focusing on the skills required to build trust and confidence with their stakeholders, and to introduce them to a strong network of relevant stakeholders. We want to set them up for success.”