Media

University of Hong Kong alumnus David Lee , co-founder and CEO of Silicon Valley start-up NEX Team, staged a homecoming today (November 28) at HKU, where he opened his first company as a student 15 years ago.

HomeCourt, NEX Team’s AI-powered iPhone basketball training app, has been highlighted by Apple and backed by NBA luminaries like Jeremy Lin, Mark Cuban and Steve Nash.

David presented the main event, “From HKU to Silicon Valley,” at the Main Building which was attended by HKU staff and students and students from local secondary schools. The HKU Basketball Team held a live demonstration of HomeCourt. It will probably be the first time hoops are shot in historic Loke Yew Hall!

Earlier today, students, new graduates and others joined David for a Brown Bag Lunch Sharing Session at iDendron, HKU’s innovation hub. Quotes from today:

Q. What inspired you to build the HomeCourt app?
A. It was a technical challenge – the excitement of starting something from scratch, the excitement of solving a problem with AI and a mobile.

Q. For a basketball player, what’s special about the app?
A. With this app, you can train smarter. With real-life feedback, you have a lot more focus. It’s a magical experience. It’s like having a companion by your side.

Q. Are you constantly improving?
A. Yes. Just in the past few weeks, we’ve added a new feature that will improve ball handling, hand-eye coordination and reaction time. Our goal is to make something useful and fun, and to create new experiences.

Q. Do you have advice for young people starting companies?
A. Treat people fairly. Build a cluster of great people for your team and do good work. What attracts talent is talent.
The most difficult moments are when you want to pivot – to change direction.
I didn’t know in the beginning if HomeCourt would work, but you just need to keep moving.

Q. What was it like presenting on the Apple stage with Steve Nash?
A. Being on the Apple stage was an achievement, but it wasn’t success. Our success comes from bringing joy to our users. We want an app that can be used by everyone from my 7-year-old daughter to an NBA star. We want to serve the world and be a force in a creative future.

For more details about the event: https://www.facebook.com/HKUDreamCatchers/

About iDendron
iDendron, home to more than 40 start-ups, was launched last year as HKU’s innovation and entrepreneurship hub. Its signature programmes include the Dreamcatchers 100K seed fund, MedTech Hackaton, STEM for Kids and the SEED Programme. iDendron conducts global engagement with international speakers and businesses. Read more at https://idendron.hku.hk.

About NEX Team & HomeCourt
NEX Team is a mobile AI company which combines cutting-edge technology with community engagement experiences to create utility and joy for athletes and sports communities worldwide. NEX Team is headquartered in San Jose, California, with an office in Hong Kong. HomeCourt is the first app built with NEX Team’s core technologies. Read more at https://www.homecourt.ai.

Media contacts:
HKU Communication and Public Affairs Office
Ms Trinni Choy (Tel: 2859 2606/ Email: pychoy@hku.hk)

HKU Development & Alumni Affairs Office
English enquiries: Ms Joyce Lau (Tel. 3917-1711/ Email: jhclau@hku.hk)

More enquiries about NEX Team & HomeCourt, please send email to: press@nex.team.