Startups thriving in HK

January 28, 2026

Voiceover:
Hong Kong’s thriving startup ecosystem is attracting numerous local and international founders to develop their businesses in the city. One Hong Kong fintech startup was acquired last year by a loyalty and travel rewards platform from Singapore. A platform representative said he believes Hong Kong’s business environment will be conducive to the development of startups.

Loyalty and Travel Rewards Platform Global Head of Loyalty Partnerships and General Manager of Hong Kong David B Wang:
Hong Kong is well-positioned to be a hub for us for many different reasons. Number one, it is a travel hub first and foremost. Hong Kong Airport has benefited from the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And of course, with the new terminal opening as well, we see travel demand continuing to grow. On top of that, this is also a fintech hub. This is a city where financial services come to bring innovation, to test new products, to test new ideas. 

And finally, thank you to a lot of the stakeholders in the market that enabled us to launch into Hong Kong expeditiously, including Cyberport, for example, as well as Invest Hong Kong, for giving us the resources and showing us that there is an ecosystem here for us to tap into so that we can accelerate our growth and expansion to the market.

Voiceover:
Last year, the number of startups and startup employees in Hong Kong hit new all-time highs. According to data from Invest Hong Kong, the number of startup firms in the city reached over 5,200 in 2025, representing an 11% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, these firms employed nearly 20,000 people, reflecting 12% growth compared to the year before.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau :
I am happy to say that a good 33% of these founders are from areas outside of Hong Kong, which shows that Hong Kong is an ideal place for startups, whether you are originally from Hong Kong or from around the region using Hong Kong’s wonderful ecosystem for financing, or whether it is to look for support from government funding or (develop) test cases so that you can grow your dreams.

Voiceover:
In 2025, Invest Hong Kong assisted 560 companies in setting up or expanding their operations in Hong Kong. These firms are expected to bring in nearly $70 billion in direct investment and create more than 10,000 new job opportunities. 

In addition, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, partly administered by Invest Hong Kong, received more than 2,850 applications last year, and is expected to bring in investment of more than $85.5 billion to the city. Looking ahead, the department will focus on the Northern Metropolis and support Mainland enterprises in “going global” via Hong Kong. 

Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau :
As Chinese industries continue to grow and to actually expand not only their sales but their technologies and investments abroad, we are going to ask and help them to use Hong Kong as a platform, whether to manage their regional headquarter functions or to use Hong Kong as a corporate treasury centre, fundraising, or to use Hong Kong to manage their international operations.

Secondly, other than going global, we are also looking to actually identify companies who are interested to use the Northern Metropolis to grow their business here, such as technology companies who want to use Hong Kong and the Northern Metropolis to build up their R&D (research and development) functions, as well as to do advanced manufacturing.

Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem is thriving, attracting a growing number of local and international founders. The city’s business-friendly environment and strong innovation support make it an appealing base for startups aiming to expand in the region.

One of them is a Hong Kong fintech startup that was acquired last year by a loyalty and travel rewards platform from Singapore.

David B Wang, the platform’s Global Head of Loyalty Partnerships and General Manager of Hong Kong, said the city offers favourable conditions for startup development.

Hong Kong is first and foremost a travel hub, he noted, adding that following the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, passenger traffic at Hong Kong International Airport has benefited significantly, and with a new terminal opening, he expects travel demand to continue growing.

Mr Wang also highlighted Hong Kong as a dynamic fintech hub that unites financial services and innovation, enabling companies to test new ideas and products. He also expressed appreciation for the various partners and stakeholders who supported the company’s entry into Hong Kong.

“Thanks to organisations, including Cyberport and Invest Hong Kong, for giving us the resources and showing us that there is an ecosystem here for us to tap into so that we can accelerate our growth and expansion to the market.”

Last year, the number of startups and startup employees in Hong Kong reached new all-time highs. According to Invest Hong Kong, the number of startup firms in the city exceeded 5,200 in 2025, representing an 11% year-on-year increase. These companies employed nearly 20,000 people, reflecting growth of 12% compared with the previous year.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau said Hong Kong’s appeal extends far beyond its borders, with international founders accounting for approximately 33% of the city’s startup community, demonstrating that it is an ideal place for such firms.

“Whether they are local or from around the region using Hong Kong’s wonderful ecosystem for financing, or whether it is to look for support from government funding or develop test cases so that they can grow their dreams.”

In 2025, Invest Hong Kong helped 560 companies to set up or expand their operations in the city. These companies are expected to bring in nearly $70 billion in direct investment and create more than 10,000 new jobs.

In addition, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, which is partly administered by Invest Hong Kong, received more than 2,850 applications last year, and is expected to bring in investment of more than $85.5 billion to Hong Kong.

Looking ahead, Ms Lau said the department will focus on the Northern Metropolis and supporting Mainland enterprises in “going global” through Hong Kong.

She said as Chinese Mainland industries continue to grow and expand their sales, technologies and investments abroad, Invest Hong Kong will help them to use the city as a platform. This includes managing the functions of their regional headquarters, fundraising, serving as a corporate treasury centre, and managing international operations.

Ms Lau outlined that the department will also identify companies that are interested in using the Northern Metropolis to expand their businesses, such as technology companies looking to establish research and development functions and pursue advanced manufacturing in the area.