Contest buzzing with unique submissions at global event

Virtual reality games, intelligent robots, cameras as thin as pieces of paper and many other creative products and ideas are vying for bragging rights and seed money at the 2016 Asia Beat Xiamen, a competition for international startups and innovations.

Under the theme of "fundraising and market entry", the competition, held from March 17 through 19, in the coastal city in Fujian province comprises about 80 teams from 15 countries and regions across the Asia-Pacific region, including the United States, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Israel.

The event was sponsored by the Xiamen development and reform commission, the science and technology bureau, the government of Jimei district and the administration of Xiamen Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, and organized by Atwork, a local hackerspace operator.

In the preliminary round on Thursday, 12 teams stood out from four groups.

Chandashi from China won the final round on Friday, winning the $10,000 prize.

Founded less than six months ago, it is a specialist in big data analysis and optimization of distribution channels. Collaborating with many app distributors including Apple, it accumulates hundreds of gigabytes of data a day, based on which it analyzes how users find and acquire apps to help app developers promote their products and ads efficiently.

The international competition also includes forums and conferences, gathering about 100 investors and 50 speakers, as well as exhibitions with 120 booths. It attracted 3,000 attendees. The event covered a wide range of fields, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, e-banking, the Internet of Things and cross-border commerce.

The organizers said the event serves as a platform to promote innovation and business opportunities in Asia. They said it will help competitors tap into Asia's emerging markets.

As China's economy continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace, Xiamen has turned into a major hotspot for investment and entrepreneurship.

"The Internet business is growing robustly in Xiamen," said Yao Jincheng, co-founder and CEO of Atwork. "Despite being of a smaller scale than megacities such as Beijing and Shanghai, the city has attracted domestic and overseas entrepreneurs thanks to its unique geographic advantage and entrepreneurial environment."

A Belt and Road Startups Network was launched during the event, its members including entrepreneurship service agencies and hackerspace operators in countries and regions along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The members in the alliance will cooperate in financing and holding promotional campaigns to reduce business risks for startups.

Cities in Asia will host the annual Asia Beat campaign. The first was held in Taipei in 2014.

zhangzhao@chinadaily.com.cn