Hong Kong, long criticized for lagging behind in technology and innovation, can finally stand up for itself.
A team of University of Hong Kong students were crowned champions of Microsoft's 2020 Imagine Cup yesterday for their development of mental health companion app Hollo.
Held online this year, it is the first time a Hong Kong team took home the cup, often called the "Olympics of student tech competitions."
Leveraging big data and AI, Hollo uses innovative counseling techniques such as mindfulness activities, online gamified journaling and an AI chatbot.
"We're so excited to win the Imagine Cup World Championship because it will allow us to continue working on this innovative mental health platform and technology," said Team Hollo.
The team will be taking home US$100,000 (HK$780,000), a session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and a US$50,000 Azure grant.
