Tatler+
CEO of Blue Pin Gary Leung on how he turned his EngD research project into a business
If you have ever completed a self-check-in at a hotel in Hong Kong, it’s probably the work of Blue Pin. Helmed by Dr Gary Leung, Blue Pin is reimagining the future of hospitality in Asia and beyond with its one-of-a-kind Guest Services Robot (GSR) hotel automation solution.
Finding his ‘eureka!’ moment
After working in the telecommunications industry for over 20 years, Dr Gary Leung pursued an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to broaden his horizons. After a breakthrough in his EngD research, Leung’s technology was patented across Hong Kong, mainland China and the United States. He got acquainted with his business partner Eric during the process and thought, “Oh, why not develop this technology further?”— a simple question that marked the start of Blue Pin.
Soon after, they participated in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation’s (HKSTP) three-year incubation programme. “We initially worked on indoor positioning systems, but this technology was not widely applicable,” Leung explained. “We only got to work with hotels thanks to HKSTP.”
Courage, challenge and community
As part of HKSTP’s programme, Leung discovered the Global Acceleration Academy (GAA), and the Hotels Accelerator stream, a partnership with the Hong Kong Hotels Association that involves more than 10 five-star hotels. Tech ventures are encouraged to submit proposals about technological innovation, and Leung plucked up the courage to do so. “Royal Plaza Hotel picked up our proposal out of over a hundred proposals. More than a hundred!” he recalled. “I get goosebumps every time I think about it.”
Leung joined hands with HKSTP to create a self-check-in solution, which officially launched in May 2021. “The automation of hotel services is growing in significance due to the lack of manpower in the industry,” Leung shared. “It was tough, but self-doubt is the biggest obstacle to innovation. No one can predict the future, but we believed in our innovation.” In two years, Blue Pin has provided its solution to more than 25 hotels, with ongoing projects spanning Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.
After graduating from the GAA programme, Leung continued his work within the Data Technology Hub (DT Hub) at InnoPark, where he met myriad experienced and liked-minded people in the industry. “We thrived off the synergy,” he shared. “HKSTP also connected us with our mentor, Alex Cheng, a hospitality industry veteran. He was not compensated for his time, yet he met us weekly to share his insights, brainstorm ideas for our business model and even introduce us to hotel clients.” Leung even worked with Cheng on a joint venture when the mentorship programme ended.
The risk paid off
As for the future, Leung aims to make their mark in different countries across the globe, with plans to go public and launch an IPO in five years.
Looking back, he reveals that the highlight of his start-up journey was crossing paths with HKSTP. “It marked a turning point on this road less taken,” he admits. “If we did not work with HKSTP and just rented out a commercial space, we would not have been surrounded by such an innovative community. We were motivated to fight hard for our start-up in that environment.”
For more from HKSTP see the Made in Hong Kong content hub here.