For an AI agent to manage money on someone’s behalf, it needs more than the ability to follow instructions. It must be able to establish whom it represents, access funds and transact within agreed limits.

These are among the questions informing the discussion of AI and digital assets at Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) 2026. Ahead of the forum, Discus Fish, CEO and Co-founder of Cobo, and Samuel Tse, Head of Investment and Corporate Finance at Animoca Brands, shared their views on how this convergence could develop—and where they see opportunities for businesses.

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Could AI Agents Become Blockchain's Next Users?

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Discus Fish points to a longstanding challenge: blockchain can be difficult for everyday users to navigate, but AI agents may find it easier to interact with these networks.

“Blockchains have always been hard for ordinary people to use. AI agents may be better users: the chain is fully transparent and every record is traceable, which suits agents well.”

His outlook comes with a qualification. Both the agents and the networks they would use still need to develop.

“Agents aren’t capable enough yet, and chains are still adapting. But once agents truly run on-chain, the number of users and what’s possible will grow by an order of magnitude.”

Discus Fish says blockchain could reshape how financial assets are issued, traded and settled over the next five years. He also notes that institutional adoption has progressed faster than Cobo initially expected, with individual users no longer leading the shift. “Since 2017, we have believed blockchain will become part of the financial infrastructure of the future. We expected individual users to lead, but institutions moved faster.”

For Fish, the next stage involves a broader range of assets and financial clients.

“What gets redefined next is how assets are issued, traded, and settled. As traditional assets like US equities come on-chain, a much wider range of financial clients will follow.”

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Giving agents authority to transact

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Samuel Tse, Head of Investment and Corporate Finance at Animoca Brands, focuses on investment opportunities across digital assets and agentic AI. He sees digital identity as essential to allowing AI agents to act on behalf of people while keeping transactions within the permissions they set.

He believes users should set clear rules for what an AI agent can do, allowing it to complete transactions without requiring approval for each one.

“Once agents can prove who they represent, hold digital assets, and move value under clear rules, the economy stops being click-by-click. You set the policy once—who, how much, for what—and the agent transacts inside it.”

He describes applications ranging from everyday payments and transfers to subscriptions, swaps and earning returns on idle funds. “That’s agentic transactions: payments, transfers, subscriptions, swaps, even chasing a better rate on idle cash. Identity is the trust layer. Assets and credentials are the spending authority—always accountable to the human who granted permission.”

In Tse’s account, the human remains the source of that authority. The agent acts within the permissions granted to it.

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Putting AI Agents to Work in Everyday Life

To illustrate how AI agents, digital identity and digital assets might work together, Tse offers a hypothetical Hong Kong parent's weekday.

“A Hong Kong parent’s weekday: top up the child’s Octopus, book a weekend football slot, translate a school notice for the helper, check weather before pickup, restock milk at the member price, and keep leftover budget earning until tomorrow.”

At present, he says, completing these tasks requires navigating services that often operate separately.

“Today that means many apps that don't talk to each other, and rails that struggle with micro payments.”

His proposed alternative brings the tasks together under instructions established by the user.

“With an agent, they set the rules once and let it decide what to do. Identity unlocks trust and member prices without oversharing. Digital assets fit the money—per-use fees, hard limits, yield until spend.”

For Tse, this combination could create opportunities across payments, merchants, identity providers and digital-asset platforms. He compares the potential scale of agentic commerce to an earlier change in how consumers accessed services.

“The iPhone in 2007 rewired how people buy and use services for 20 years. We are just at the beginning of a similar paradigm shift, with outcomes we can barely imagine.”

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Continuing the Conversation at CVCF 2026

Discus Fish and Samuel Tse offer two perspectives on the emerging agentic economy, from the blockchain infrastructure enabling transactions to the digital identity and permissions that allow AI agents to act on people's behalf. At CVCF 2026, these ideas will become part of a wider conversation with the leaders building and investing in this evolving space.

Be part of the conversation. Join industry leaders, founders and investors at CVCF 2026 on 4–5 November and explore the technologies and opportunities shaping the next phase of business.

Exclusive for Ventureport readers: Use code cvcf26vp to access a Full Access Pass for HK$300, subject to confirmation by the organiser.

AI can help you build a startup, but it won’t automatically make you stand out. When everyone has access to similar tools, you need to give customers a reason to choose you and investors a reason to back you. So, how do you turn innovation into a competitive edge?

That question sits at the heart of Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum (CVCF) 2026, taking place on 4–5 November under the theme “Scaling in a Changing World: Winning the Next Competitive Cycle” and the message “Scale Up & Win.”

The two-day forum will feature more than 80 speakers discussing venture investment, AI-driven growth, emerging technologies and expansion into new markets. Day 1 will explore global investment trends and the next wave of innovation. Day 2 will feature CVCF 2026’s spotlight event, the Agentic Economy Summit, examining how agentic AI and digital assets could reshape business and finance. The wider programme will also include investor matching, founder pitches, 100+ Innovator Showcase, startup workshops and clinics.

With founders and investors navigating a fast-changing technology landscape, CVCF 2026 will explore what it takes to stay competitive, scale into new markets and turn emerging opportunities into business growth. Here’s a look at the key programmes lined up for this year’s forum.

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nside CVCF 2026: Meet Investors, Discover Startups and Explore What’s Next

Keynotes and Panels: Finding the Next Big Opportunity

Taara founder and CEO Mahesh Krishnaswamy will deliver the keynote The Innovation Playbook: Capitalizing on Moonshots and Faster Cycles in the Age of AI. The wider Day 1 programme will cover global investment trends, expansion into new markets, agentic AI and one-person companies.

For startups navigating the AI market, the panel Mastering the AI Bubble: Capital Rerouting and How Global Champions Stand Out will bring together panellists from Quona Capital, Alumni Ventures, FOV Ventures and Capital6 to discuss how investors assess startups and distinguish commercial potential from market hype. Other sessions will explore emerging technologies beyond AI software, including embodied AI, advanced computing and commercial aerospace.

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Investor Matching and Networking: Connecting with Capital

Away from the conference sessions, MatchEasy will help founders and investors arrange one-to-one meetings, either onsite or online. Confirmed participants will receive access to the platform to explore potential matches and schedule meetings.

Investors can also discover local and international startups through the Founder Pitch programme, where entrepreneurs present their projects and ventures. Meanwhile, the Innovator Showcase offers a separate opportunity to explore emerging technology solutions through a virtual platform and selected on-site exhibits.  

For founders seeking more tailored guidance, the Startup Clinics will offer one-to-one discussions with industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs on business challenges, fundraising and growth. Advance registration is required.

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Hands-On Workshops: Strengthening Your Investment Pitch

Turning an innovative idea into a business that investors can back takes more than a strong pitch. CVCF 2026 will host practical workshops to help founders strengthen their fundraising strategies and make a stronger case to investors.

Led by Capital6 advisor Christine Keung, one workshop will explore how founders can align technical innovation with business goals, communicate their product’s value and prepare for fundraising. Another, led by Jeremy Dalton, advisor at FOV Ventures and SXSW Pitch, will help founders understand how investors assess startups, with opportunities to pitch live and receive direct feedback.

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Spotlight Event: Agentic Economy Summit

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CVCF 2026’s spotlight event, the Agentic Economy Summit, will take place on 5 November under the theme “Intelligent Frontiers, Tokenised Horizons: Where Agentic AI Reshapes Business and Digital Assets Redefine How Value Moves.”

The summit will bring together technology and finance leaders to explore how agentic AI and digital assets could change the way businesses operate. Wolf Ruzicka, chief commercial officer at Unlimit, a global payments company, will discuss building and scaling agentic AI applications. Dr Feng Xiao, chairman and CEO of HashKey Group, will examine how digital identity, tokenised assets and money connect on-chain.

The discussions will also look at agent-led commerce, including how AI agents could help customers choose products and make purchases, and the payment systems needed to support these transactions. Other topics include Hong Kong dollar stablecoins and their potential role in payments and settlement, as well as the rise of one-person companies. The summit will also explore how founders can use AI agents to run their businesses with smaller teams, find customers and generate recurring revenue.

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Secure Your Pass to CVCF 2026!  

From AI-driven growth and cross-border investment to agentic AI and digital assets, CVCF 2026 brings together the people and ideas shaping the next phase of business. Whether you're preparing to raise capital, exploring new markets or assessing emerging technologies, the forum offers an opportunity to gain fresh perspectives and connect with investors, founders and industry leaders.

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Exclusive for Ventureport readers: Use the promotional code cvcf26vp to access a Full Access Pass for HK$300, subject to confirmation of the offer by the organiser.

Date: 4–5 November 2026  
Function Rooms, Level 3, Core E, Cyberport 3, Hong Kong

Register for CVCF 2026

Hong Kong university students are being invited to take part in the first Hong Kong University Students Fintech Innovation Competition, organised by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia). The competition gives students a chance to develop ideas around financial technology, with cash prizes, internship opportunities and a route to the national finals of the ICBC Cup on offer.

The competition is part of the 17th ICBC Cup and marks the first time ICBC has established a competition zone in Hong Kong. It is supported by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, with 12 Hong Kong universities also backing the initiative.

The participating universities are the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Lingnan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, the Education University of Hong Kong, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and St. Francis University.

For ICBC Asia, the competition is also intended to support the development of fintech in Hong Kong and expand the city's fintech talent pool. Dr. Liu Yagan, Chairman and Executive Director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia), said the competition is designed to encourage students to develop practical applications for financial technology and explore new banking business models.

"This competition encourages university students across Hong Kong to propose practical solutions for fintech applications and banking business model innovation from the perspective of financial products and services, providing a platform for Hong Kong youth to connect with cutting-edge industries and unleash their innovative potential."

The initiative will also connect Hong Kong students with the wider ICBC Group. Liu said this would help deepen exchanges between young talent in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

The competition is open to full-time university students in Hong Kong and carries the theme "Digital Banking, Creating the Future." Students can develop ideas across 10 areas, ranging from fintech and digital finance to green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance and wealth management. The categories also include financial security services, specialised financial services, youth services and open innovation services.

The competition also offers cash prizes: the First Prize winner will receive HK$50,000; two Second Prize winners will receive HK$30,000 each; three Third Prize winners will receive HK$20,000 each; and four Honorable Mention recipients will receive HK$10,000 each.

Beyond the prize money, qualifying winners will have the opportunity to undertake internships at ICBC (Asia). The team that wins the Hong Kong First Prize will also have the opportunity to travel to Beijing in December for the ICBC Cup national finals, where it will compete against teams from across the country.

With registration now open, the competition gives Hong Kong university students an opportunity to take ideas in financial technology from the classroom into areas such as banking products, services and business models.

The HKUST-Sino Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2026 will hold its finals on October 12, following a record 390 teams from 24 countries and regions taking part in this year's competition.

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Sino Group, the competition aims to give young entrepreneurs a platform to develop and present their ideas. Sino Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer Wong Wing-lung said the Group has partnered with HKUST for many years to support young talent and the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.

He said the competition gives young entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their creativity, exchange ideas and put their concepts into practice.

The international participation is reflected in the universities and regions represented this year. Participants include students from the University of Oxford in the UK, the University of Pennsylvania in the US and the National University of Singapore. Teams have also joined from Australia and South Africa.

After multiple rounds of assessment, 15 teams have advanced to the finals. Their projects cover health technology, generative AI, smart buildings, and green energy management. At the finals, the teams will present their solutions to a judging panel comprising venture capital investors, industry leaders and academic experts. They will compete for more than HK$1 million in prizes and awards.

The 2026 competition has also expanded the areas it recognises. Three new awards have been introduced this year: the Transformative AI Award, the NextGen Biotech Award and the Societal Influential Award. The competition will also continue to offer the Sustainability Impact Award. Together, the awards focus on areas ranging from emerging technologies to social and sustainability challenges.

The organisers are also adding new activities to help teams develop their ideas further. This year's programme includes pitching skills training, AI workshops, investor matching sessions and mentorship opportunities. The AI workshops will cover areas including generative AI and AI agents, while representatives from venture capital firms such as Gobi Partners and InnoAngel Fund have been invited to share insights on fundraising, product positioning and market expansion.

These activities are intended to help young entrepreneurs strengthen their business plans and presentation skills. They also give teams opportunities to explore technology commercialisation and potential market applications.

The competition will also launch the InnoBay 1M PLUS Program during the Grand Final. The programme will focus initially on Smart City Development and aims to connect HKUST start-ups and competition alumni with industry partners. It will also support potential proof-of-concept opportunities and help promising innovations move towards commercial adoption.

The Grand Final will also include an audience voting segment. Members of the public will be able to vote for the team they believe has the greatest potential and impact, with those who correctly vote for an eventual winning team entering a lucky draw.

For Wong, the competition is part of a broader effort to develop Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent. He noted that Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and latest Policy Address both highlight innovation, technology and talent development.

Prof. Tim Cheng Kwang-Ting, HKUST's Vice-President for Research and Development, said the competition has also served as a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with investors, understand market needs, test their ideas and gain practical entrepreneurial experience. He added that the competition has strengthened its training, mentorship and networking activities this year.

The Group believes that closer cooperation between industry, academia and research institutions can help turn innovative ideas into practical applications. Through the competition and its wider support programmes, young entrepreneurs are given opportunities to develop their ideas, connect with potential partners and explore how they can be taken from early concepts towards real-world applications.