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EQT Impact Challenge drives Hong Kong firm’s mixed-reality surgical navigation advances
Syngular Technology hails win in last year’s start-up pitch competition which attracted over 220 early-stage firms
In partnership with:EQT4-MIN READ4-MIN Listen
John CremerandMorning Studio editorsPublished: 3:00pm, 27 May 2026
After winning the EQT Impact Challenge 2025, Hong Kong-based Syngular Technology has continued to build momentum in developing its mixed-reality surgical navigation technology, reflecting the ambitions of the pitch competition initiative.
The early-stage company’s victory last year was secured with a concept using advanced 3D imaging to support greater precision in complex surgical procedures. Since then, it has progressed product development, expanded partnerships and strengthened its organisational capabilities.
The EQT Impact Challenge is a start-up competition that aims to uncover and support bold entrepreneurs who are tackling some of the planet’s and society’s biggest challenges.
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Backed by leading global private market firm EQT, the initiative offers funding, strategic mentorship, and access to EQT’s global network – helping founders and start-ups bring their breakthrough solutions to market.
As the winning start-up, Syngular has taken full advantage of the strategic advice, sector expertise and management insights provided by mentors at EQT and its philanthropic arm, EQT Foundation.
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Support is also provided to all the finalists, including access to consultants, industry experts and potential investors. That ensures that these companies can focus on strategically growing their businesses and achieve long-term growth and profitability.
Last year’s competition in Hong Kong attracted more than 220 pre-seed and seed-stage companies, with finalists presenting their pitches across sectors including climate, renewable energy, health and biotechnology.
To reach the final, contestants had to pass an initial screening, a pitch to a panel of jurors at EQT’s office in Hong Kong, a public vote and, finally, a presentation to the panel of jurors and guests at the EQT Impact Challenge Finale.
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“The Impact Challenge reflects EQT’s commitment to supporting ambitious founders developing solutions with the potential to create lasting positive impact,” Jean Eric Salata, chairperson of EQT Group, says.
“Beyond capital, we aim to provide entrepreneurs with access to strategic guidance, industry expertise and global networks. Syngular Technology has made impressive progress since last year’s competition, and we are excited to see the team continue advancing its technology.
“Our decision to host the competition in Hong Kong again this year reflects our commitment to the city, which we see as a key hub for innovation in Asia. I look forward to seeing the next wave of innovative companies who will participate this year.”
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In particular, the Impact Challenge looks to attract entries from ambitious enterprises focusing on deep-tech innovations aligned with the broad themes of climate and nature, health and well-being.
Syngular certainly met those expectations with its mixed-reality surgical navigation software system. By incorporating ultra-high-definition visualisation technology, which uses the latest gaming graphics, the system accurately guides surgeons performing complex internal operations, such as the removal of tumours caused by bone cancer.
By converting medical scans into holographic images of the affected areas, somewhat like GPS, the system creates “digital twin” images which are viewed via a headset and smart glasses during the procedure.
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This allows surgeons to work more quickly, precisely, and even remotely if assisting colleagues operating in other hospitals or clinics.
“Our direction and goals are really all about maximising human capability,” Louis Sze, co-founder and CEO of Syngular, says. “Surgeons’ work involves complex decision-making and emergency adaptation, which requires improvising in the moment. When they look at our 3D model and digital images, it is like having X-ray vision while performing the surgery.”
Over the past 10 months or so, the company has kept several other objectives in mind. One priority was to increase headcount in the areas of research and design, and product compliance to keep pace with tech advances, anticipated demand and requests from users.
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Another was to establish more partnerships, similar to those already in place with the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and the orthopaedic department at the city’s Prince of Wales Hospital to facilitate testing and data collection.
A third was to learn as much as possible from EQT, drawing on its experience with start-ups, medical device companies, go-to-market strategies and timing of the investment cycle.
“In terms of fundraising, the economy has been pretty tough lately, [so the investment we received for winning] helped push the project forward,” Sze says.
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EQT’s advice to the company, though, was to wait a while before bringing in other institutional investors, seeing this move as too early for a still small-scale enterprise not yet ready to give up equity.
Instead, attention was focused on finding business opportunities, meeting contacts from the United States, major European universities and a hospital in Spain, building a strong corporate structure and raising Syngular’s overall valuation.
“They thought that made more sense and would really make a difference; they care more about readiness than pace,” says Sze, who is now finalising a second-generation product – to be marketed as an approved medical device – to bring in additional revenue.
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The latest version will feature enhanced visualisation software and intraoperative sensors for 3D tracking of body position, organs and surgical tools, with all the spatial relationships digitised.
“Your product has to be mature to a certain level before you reach out to the user base,” Sze says. “We have seen examples where, if the roll-out isn’t strong, or the product positioning isn’t right, the backlash can be pretty severe. Fortunately, in the competition and afterwards, EQT clearly puts impact first, which has been better for us. We really appreciate that they value impact more than traction [with investors].”
Reflecting on the all-round gains of participating in last year’s Impact Challenge, Sze is quick to highlight the chance to address senior decision-makers directly, to network with fellow entrepreneurs, plus the organiser’s global reach and follow-up support.
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“Also, I can now tell people we are a company backed by EQT, and that immediately gives them more confidence in us,” he says.
Full details of how to enter the EQT Impact Challenge 2026 can be found at the eqtimpactchallenge2026.scmp.com. This year’s event will be held in partnership with the South China Morning Post, and the deadline for entries is June 20, 2026.AdvertisementAdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed00:0000:001.00x