Global Sources presents Asia's largest consumer electronics hardware startup event

HONG KONG, Sept. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL) is set to feature an expanded Startup Launchpad pavilion at the 2016 fall electronics show.

Now in its second year, Startup Launchpad is a conference program and pavilion integrated within both phases of the Global Sources Electronics show. Attendees will see the latest tech products from emerging hardware startups who are looking for distributors and retailers.

Global Sources' Deputy CEO, Craig Pepples, said: "The rapid expansion of Startup Launchpad is a testament to our commitment to promoting Hong Kong as Asia's launchpad for innovative products. It is a key platform for electronics startups in search of effective distribution channels and for buyers to identify the latest innovations and be first to market with shelf-ready products."

One hundred and fifty startups from the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Russia, Israel, France and Denmark will be exhibiting at the show. The startup companies will showcase the newest technologies and electronics hardware products from 16 categories including sound & visual, fitness & health, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, drones & robotics, VR & AR and more.

The event will also feature an 8-day conference program that spans the two phases of the Global Sources Electronics show. Thirty-four speakers including industry experts from Indiegogo, HAX, HTC-Vive X, HWTrek, Microsoft, Brinc, Sales Force and Mesh Ventures will share their valuable experience and insights on the four stages of a startup: ideation, validation, manufacturing and distribution.

Pitch Competition

A pitch competition will be held this fall to help innovative hardware startups gain attention from key buyers and investors. It provides a platform for potential startups to compete and demonstrate their technology ideas. Winners will have the chance to work with strategic venture capitalists including CoCoon Ignite Venture, Vectr Ventures and Microsoft BizSpark Plus.

The Startup Launchpad is supported by corporations, startup incubators, accelerators and education institutions, including Korea Telecom, Taiwan Startup Stadium, Creative Factory, Kyungpook National University Industry, Haier, GCCEI-Startup Korea, StartmeupHK, Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Garage+ Taiwan, PaperclipHK, Ideebank, Metta and Berkeley Sourcing Group.

Richard Lai, Senior Editor of Engadget and Editor-in-Chief of Engadget Chinese, said: "Startup Launchpad has attracted some of the best and the brightest in the industry to help nurture a rapidly growing space. It's a surprisingly fun platform for experiencing upcoming IoT products and exchanging ideas. People who attend will leave with knowledge of what products are on the cutting edge of the industry."

"We are excited to be back exhibiting at Startup Launchpad to launch our new product line," said Christian Yan, COO of Nanoleaf. "Having participated in this show over the last year, we reconnected with one of the largest consumer electronics distributors in the United States and our new product, the Aurora, will be sold in more than 500 retail outlets in North America this winter."

For more information about the Startup Launchpad please visit http://www.launchpadhk.com and pre-register for the show at http://www.globalsources.com/exhibitions/electronics.

More information about Global Sources is available on the company's corporate site (http://www.corporate.globalsources.com), Facebook and Twitter (/globalsources).

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China.

The core business facilitates trade between Asia and the world using English-language media such as online marketplaces (GlobalSources.com), trade shows, magazines, and apps.

More than 1 million international buyers, including 95 of the world's top 100 retailers, use these services to obtain product and company information to help them source more profitably from overseas supply markets. These services also provide suppliers with integrated marketing solutions to build corporate image, generate sales leads and win orders from buyers in more than 240 countries and territories.

Now in its fifth decade, Global Sources has been publicly listed on the NASDAQ since 2000.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b

SOURCE Global Sources