Largest-ever Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Competition 2025 to have fun decade of innovation with world-class line-up

Make investments Hong Kong (InvestHK) at this time (October 17) unveiled particulars of the tenth anniversaries of Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Competition 2025 (HKFW x SMUF), set to happen from November 3 to 7. This strategic alliance marks a decade of innovation whereas creating an expanded platform devoted to all sides of expertise and enterprise impacts. The joint celebration underscores Hong Kong’s dedication to the digital economic system, leveraging its place as a number one worldwide monetary centre and thriving start-up hub.

As Hong Kong’s premier innovation-focused occasion, HKFW x SMUF is organised by the Monetary Providers and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the Commerce and Financial Growth Bureau (CEDB) and InvestHK, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Financial Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Fee (SFC), and the Insurance coverage Authority, and the appointed occasion organiser, Finoverse. The occasion is anticipated to draw over 37 000 attendees, greater than 800 main audio system and over 700 exhibitors from greater than 100 economies. The primary convention happening on November 3 to 4 on the Hong Kong Conference and Exhibition Centre will allow the occasion to succeed in its largest scale ever.

This 12 months’s theme: Curating the New Fintech Period

Persistently ranked among the many world’s prime three worldwide monetary centres and as a frontrunner in Asia, Hong Kong has taken daring strides to solidify its place as a frontrunner in fintech as properly. Hong Kong has not too long ago been recognised by the World Monetary Centres Index because the world’s No. 1 fintech hub, a testomony to its pivotal function in advancing monetary expertise across the globe. With over 1 100 fintech corporations working within the metropolis at current, and the sector projected to succeed in US$606 billion in whole income by 2032, pushed by a powerful annual development fee of 28.5 per cent, HKFW will proceed to broaden its world affect, additional cementing its place as Asia’s main fintech occasion.

The Secretary for Monetary Providers and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, stated:

“This 12 months’s theme of FinTech Week is ‘Curating the New Fintech Period’.  It’s certainly our promise which is Hong Kong not solely adapts to the way forward for fintech however will even form the subsequent chapter of worldwide finance, the place capital flows extra intelligently and expertise addresses real-world financial challenges. The Authorities will proceed to work intently with the monetary regulators and the fintech trade to construct Hong Kong as an excellent vacation spot for embracing and main fintech, with a view to establishing scalable and sustainable fintech options that drive the worldwide economic system ahead.”

A start-up superhighway

Begin-ups attending HKFW x SMUF will achieve entry to unparalleled sources on a unified platform. The occasion will foster a thriving group of entrepreneurs, buyers, and trade leaders, with thought-provoking content material on innovation, rising applied sciences, and scaling methods.

Contributors will embody start-up founders, buyers, and pioneers from sectors similar to AI, fintech, inexperienced tech, well being tech, proptech, and extra. HKFW x SMUF will provide alternatives for ventures to safe funding, kind partnerships, and break into Asia and world markets.

The Secretary for Commerce and Financial Growth, Mr Algernon Yau, stated:

“Begin-ups are an vital a part of any economic system. Behind each start-up, there have to be an progressive enterprise thought. These new concepts name for modifications, and refresh our economic system. And Hong Kong is simply the best place not just for startups to be created, but in addition for them to develop to scale. Aside from the beneficial enterprise atmosphere in Hong Kong, the start-ups listed below are supported by a powerful community of incubators and accelerators, a pool of skilled angels and enterprise capitalists, a number of government-backed programmes and a welcoming enterprise group.”

He added that the variety of start-ups in Hong Kong has elevated from about 1 600 10 years in the past to round 4 700 final 12 months. The spectacular growth is a results of the pro-start-up measures taken by the Authorities through the years.

A brand new chapter of making extra collectively 

The primary convention will characteristic 11 focused boards with thoughtfully curated programmes. These embody the Coverage Discussion board, Visionary Discussion board, InsurTech Discussion board, HealthTech Discussion board, Wealth & Funding Administration Discussion board, Digital Finance Discussion board, Digital Belongings Discussion board, Blockchain & Web3 Discussion board, AI & Superior Tech Discussion board, China-World Innovation Discussion board, and TechX Discussion board.

The Director-Common of Funding Promotion of InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, stated:

“HKFW x SMUF are rather more than conferences. They’re strategic platforms driving tangible two-way funding flows and fostering significant collaborations. This 12 months, we are going to welcome over 30 delegations from the Chinese language Mainland and abroad, together with main Chinese language Mainland tech hubs similar to Beijing and Shenzhen, searching for ‘go world’ alternatives by Hong Kong; conventional markets in Western Europe and america, searching for to faucet into Asia’s development; and rising markets from the Gulf Cooperation Council area, ASEAN (Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations) and Central Europe. Their participation underscores the world’s confidence in Hong Kong as the perfect place for progressive concepts to flourish and scale.”

Ms Lau additional emphasised that the tenth anniversary isn’t solely a second to replicate on previous achievements, but in addition a chance to chart the long run and invite the world to share concepts in Hong Kong’s exceptional journey.

This 12 months, shortlisted World Quick Observe programme semi-finalist corporations from seven verticals will probably be invited to the semi-finals and grand finale to pitch in particular person onstage throughout HKFW x SMUF. This supplies an unparalleled alternative for innovators to showcase their options in entrance of hundreds of attendees, together with key corporates, buyers, service suppliers and communities searching for progressive fintech and different tech options and funding alternatives. The programme has already obtained overwhelming curiosity, with over 700 functions from 70 economies worldwide.

Moreover, appointed occasion organiser Finoverse will introduce its first AI group host “Samantha” at HKFW x SMUF. By conducting a five-minute dwell name, Samantha can join customers to focused conferences and craft personalised discussion board itineraries in accordance with customers’ pursuits and aims, leveraging a database of 11 boards by a proprietary AI algorithm for exact matches. Accessible on cell units through mainstream messaging apps, Samantha helps English and Putonghua, enabling seamless interactions with individuals from world wide. This AI assistant is user-friendly and helps improve individuals’ enterprise outcomes, delivering a extra rewarding occasion expertise.

Record of esteemed audio system on the important convention

Hong Kong Particular Administrative Area Authorities and regulators

• The Chief Government, Mr John Lee;
• The Monetary Secretary, Mr Paul Chan;
• The Secretary for Monetary Providers and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui;
• The Secretary for Commerce and Financial Growth, Mr Algernon Yau;
• The Chief Government of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue;
• The Chief Government Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung;
• The Chief Government Officer of the Insurance coverage Authority, Mr Clement Cheung;
• The Below Secretary for Monetary Providers and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan;
• The Below Secretary for Innovation, Expertise and Trade, Ms Lillian Cheong;
• The Below Secretary for Surroundings and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; and
• The Director-Common of Funding Promotion of InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau.

World coverage leaders

• The Government Secretary of the Wolfsberg Group, Mr J Edward Conway;
• The Secretary Common of the Monetary Stability Board, Mr John Schindler; and
• The President and Chair of the Board of Administrators of the Asian Infrastructure Funding Financial institution, Mr Jin Liqun.

Highlighted audio system within the AI and superior applied sciences area

• Co-founder and Managing Associate of Alpha Intelligence Capital, Mr Antoine Blondeau;
• The Vice President and Chief Government Officer of Z.AI, Ms Carol Lin;
• The Founder and Chief Government Officer of 3C AGI Companions, Ms Esther Wong;
• Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor Emeritus of the College of Toronto, Mr Geoffrey Hinton; and
• Vice President of MiniMax, Mr  Xue Zizhao.

Highlighted audio system within the monetary providers sector

• The Chief Government Officer and Banking Head, Citi Hong Kong; Chairman of Citibank (China), Ms Aveline San;
• The Group Chief Government of Normal Chartered, Mr Invoice Winters;
• The Group Chief Government of HSBC, Mr Georges Elhedery;
• The President and Chief Government Officer of Franklin Templeton, Ms Jenny Johnson; and
• The Vice Chairman and Chief Government of Financial institution of China (Hong Kong), Mr Solar Yu.

Highlighted audio system within the tech sector

• Vice President and Chief Monetary Officer of Xiaomi, Mr Alain Lam;
• The Chairman of Ant Group, Mr Eric Jing;
• The Company Vice President, Head of Tencent Monetary Expertise, Tencent, Mr Forest Lin; and
• Ex-Chairman of Meitu and Angel Investor Mr Cai Wensheng.

Highlighted audio system within the digital asset and blockchain sector

• The Associate, Head of Digital Belongings, Information, and AI of Apollo, Ms Christine Moy;
• The Chief Industrial Officer of OKX, Mr Lennix Lai;
• The President of Solana Basis, Ms Lily Liu;
• The Chief Government Officer of Binance, Mr Richard Teng; and
• Co-Government Director of the Ethereum Basis and Founding father of Nethermind, Mr Tomasz Stańczak.

Highlighted audio system within the insurtech sector

• The Group Chief Expertise and Operations Officer of Prudential plc, Ms Anette Bronder;
• The Group Chief Expertise and Life Operations Officer of AIA Group, Mr Biswa Misra;
• Co-Founding father of Bowtie Life Insurance coverage Firm, Mr Fred Ngan;
• The Group Chief Government Officer of Singlife, Ms Pearlyn Phau; and
• The Chief Government Officer of AXA Better China, Ms Sally Wan.

Highlighted audio system within the cost sector

• Co-founder and Chief Government Officer of EBANX, Mr João Del Valle;
• Co-President of Ascend Cash, Ms Monsinee Nakapanant; and
• The Chief Government Officer of LianLian World, Mr Tim Shen.

Highlighted audio system within the Enterprise Capital and Investing area

• The Founding Managing Associate of Qiming Enterprise Companions, Mr Duane Kuang;
• The Founder, Chairman and Chief Government Officer of Primavera Capital Group, Mr Fred Hu;
• Associate of MPCi Mr Harry Man;
• The Chief Government Officer of Ofi Make investments, Mr Jean-Pierre Grimaud;
• Co-founder and Managing Associate of DST World, Mr John Lindfors; and
• Fosun World Associate, Co-Chairman and Chief Government Officer of Fosun Capital, Mr Mike Xu.

Prepare for a transformative expertise that can form the way forward for expertise and finance.

For extra occasion particulars, please go to www.fintechweek.hk and observe through official social media accounts:

LinkedIn: Hong Kong FinTech Week, StartmeupHK
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/HongKongFinTechWeek
Fb: Startmeup.HK