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Hello Betamax, Hong Kong’s IPO market is set to have a record-breaking year. The market could potentially raise about US$63.7 billion of IPO proceeds by the end of 2026, according to estimates from professional services giant KPMG. Over the years, Hong Kong has become an attractive IPO destination for Chinese tech firms as it serves as a gateway for global investors to participate in their fundraising. Hong Kong is close enough to mainland China to allay the concerns of regulators, yet it remains open enough to foreign investors who want to access the growing Chinese AI industry. In our top story today, we look at how even traditional family offices in Hong Kong have ventured into tech investments even as the local real estate market – a known favorite of this investor base – is booming. The reason for the switch-up isn’t surprising. A new generation of leaders is taking charge of these traditional family offices, and they want to invest in tech – a sector they grew up with. And for many, holding shares in the hottest AI startup is more prestigious than owning a building down the street. Elyssa Lopez, journalist
TOP STORY Why Hong Kong’s next-gen wealth is shifting from property to tech
Image credit: Ulla
Guest writer Sean Greenhalgh, co-founder and CEO of Angelflow, has seen significantly more interest in tech investments via his own platform. Unsusprisingly, AI leads the charge. For founders seeking to take advantage of this shift, he says they need a clear plan for making it to the public markets to entice these investors. Ten-year holds are not something a family office scion wants to hear about.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES Mapping the family offices spreading wealth across startups in SEA
Image credit: Timmy Loen
This story from 2024 offers a glimpse into the various family offices from Belgium to Singapore that have backed tech startups in Southeast Asia. Similar to their peers in Hong Kong, these family offices have been diversifying away from traditional investments in recent years and betting on startups and VC funds instead. They prefer fintech and ecommerce startups, with AI not too far behind.
TRENDING NEWS 1️⃣ Xiaomi’s October EV deliveries hit 2026 high at 50,000 The Chinese firm, best known for making smartphones, delivered about 336,000 electric vehicles in the first 10 months of this year. 2️⃣ Baidu, SAIC Motor back Chinese robotics firm in $100m round The investment in Jianzhi Robotics comes as China plans to inject US$150 billion in robotics and high-tech industries as part of a broader manufacturing push. 3️⃣ Indian clean energy startup Two Point O Capital raises $10m Founded in 2024, the AI-powered firm finances and deploys clean energy projects for commercial and industrial users. 4️⃣ BYD’s October sales grow 11% as overseas shipments surge The Chinese EV major’s overseas push may face limits in Europe after China and the European Union agreed on October 9 to halve exports of Chinese hybrid vehicles to the bloc. 5️⃣ Tesla, Samsung oppose possible tariffs in Vietnam IP probe The US investigation into Vietnam’s intellectual property practices is set to conclude by November 29.
LEAKY BUCKETS, TIME COSTS, AND SMES In partnership with  
SMEs often struggle with the “leaky bucket,” or the small unmonitored costs that add up and erode the bottom line. At “Built to Scale: How SMEs Can Reclaim Margins and Optimize Cash Flow,” an event co-organized by Maribank and The Business Times, leaders examined their own leaky buckets, which often show up as time inefficiencies and issues with legacy banking institutions. Digital banks, such as Maribank, have emerged as a solution to these concerns. They offer faster loan approvals and eliminate maintenance fees, helping SMEs operate more efficiently. Explore what Maribank offers on its website.
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