Jumpstarter 2025: innovating for a brighter future
Hong Kong-based event organised by Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund draws diverse line-up of speakers, investors and innovators
A new role for artificial intelligence (AI) will be unveiled this month at one of Asia’s leading tech and start-up events. The aim is to make AI a powerful catalyst for sustainable development, and more than just a revolutionary technology that changes the way we work.
Jumpstarter, a start-up initiative by Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund (AEF), focuses on providing a platform for entrepreneurs and young people to kick-start their business ambitions in Hong Kong. This year’s event, on March 26 and 27 at AsiaWorld Expo, will bring together entrepreneurs, corporations and investors to explore the future of innovation. Amid growing concerns about the environment across the world, the theme of this year’s edition – the seventh Jumpstarter – is AI and sustainability, highlighting companies that are committed to blending innovation with responsibility.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and sustainability from thought leaders, including a diverse line-up of more than 100 speakers from around the world. Keynote speeches and panel discussions will focus on the most pressing aspects of AI, such as its ethical implications and its role in sustainability, entrepreneurship and investment.
“This year we will delve into a 360-degree overview of AI,” says Cindy Chow, executive director and CEO of AEF. “The discussions are expected to inspire innovative thinking and encourage participants to explore collaborative solutions to the challenges they face, fostering a deeper understanding of AI’s impact on society and the economy.”
Speakers will include Joe Tsai, co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group, which owns the South China Morning Post; Ben Barone-Nugent, generative AI supergroup lead at Canva; and Erika Cheung, executive director of Ethics in Entrepreneurship. Cheung was one of the whistle-blowers in the controversy surrounding the now-defunct healthcare tech start-up Theranos. Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po will welcome attendees during his opening speech, highlighting the city’s strategic role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Since its launch in 2015, AEF has reviewed more than 13,000 business plans and created over 2,200 jobs in Hong Kong. A core part of its mission is to connect promising start-ups with investment capital and offer strategic guidance to help them grow their business through high-impact networking opportunities. A one-on-one business matchmaking session during the event will give tech entrepreneurs, businesses and investors – including venture capitalists and angel investors – a platform to exchange ideas and discuss potential partnership opportunities.
A series of tech activities will also take place throughout the two-day event, including immersive experiences and live demonstrations of innovations, as well as the annual grand finale of the Global Pitch Competition: this has become a highlight of the event, garnering praise for the varied and high quality of innovations and innovators it attracts. This year’s competition is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“We are excited to showcase the incredible talent and innovation from start-ups across the world,” says Chow. “Having invested in nearly 100 start-ups, AEF finds this year exceptionally meaningful as we renew our focus on companies that converge at the intersection of two disruptive waves in AI and sustainability.”
She adds that this year’s finalists have demonstrated both creativity and significant potential for growth: “They have showcased their ability to address pressing challenges through innovative AI technologies. The emphasis on sustainability, alongside AI, highlights a commitment to tackling global issues, reflecting a strong alignment with current market needs and societal values.”
After meeting strict criteria, 30 finalists emerged from the 800 submissions received this year from scale-ups and start-ups, hailing from 68 countries and regions worldwide. They will be pitching onstage to a panel of judges for a chance to win up to US$5 million in investment. Among the top 30 finalists are 20 companies developing AI-driven innovations across a wide range of sectors, and 10 focused on driving sustainability solutions. Those selected come from various industries, including art and entertainment, building technology, consumer retail, fintech and healthcare.
The winner of the competition, selected from a shortlist of just five, will be announced following the last pitch to judges, all highly regarded in fields that include venture capital, banking, academia and AI. Successful Hong Kong entrepreneurs will also take to the stage, providing insights into their entrepreneurial journey and experience of navigating global markets.
“The Jumpstarter 2025 Grand Finale is less about judging and more about coming together to celebrate and nurture the seeds of innovation,” Chow says. “We are thrilled to bring together over 100 global speakers and start-ups to share valuable insights and showcase their innovations with the industry. This diverse exchange of ideas not only enriches our community but also inspires innovation and collaboration, vital for tackling the challenges we face in today’s entrepreneurial landscape.”
Reflecting the vibrancy of the technology landscape of both today and the future, immersive experiences showcasing the intersection of technology, art and human progress will also be part of the event. Attendees will be able to explore experiential zones featuring, for example, humanoid robots and art-tech installations that harness generative AI. The 30 finalists of the Global Pitch Competition, along with delegations from Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand, will showcase their innovative solutions spanning different industries.
Frank Fang, head of commercial banking, Hong Kong and Macau, HSBC, the event’s lead sponsor, says Jumpstarter offers a dynamic platform connecting key players in the innovation and technology ecosystem. It also, he says, identifies the potential of promising entrepreneurs for real-world applications, showcased by the innovations of the companies and individuals taking part: “It’s encouraging to see a diverse range of innovative ideas addressing real-world challenges across industries with creativity and impact,” he says. “These concepts are driving progress toward greater efficiency and sustainability, delivering meaningful benefits to businesses and the community.”