Join us at CVCF 2026 to explore how startups can scale and win in the age of AI.
Updated
October 29, 2026 11:39 PM
CVCF 2026 takes place on 4–5 November at Cyberport, Hong Kong. IMAGE: CYBERPORT
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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As global tech ecosystems become more interconnected, the ability to move innovation across borders is becoming just as important as building it. A new partnership between MTR Lab, the investment arm of MTR Corporation and ZGC Science City Ltd, a government-backed technology ecosystem based in Beijing’s Haidian district, reflects this shift.
At its core, the collaboration is designed to connect high-potential Chinese startups with global capital, real-world deployment opportunities and international markets. It focuses on sectors like AI, robotics, smart mobility and sustainable urban development—areas where China already has strong technical depth but where scaling beyond domestic markets can be more complex.
This is where the partnership begins to matter. ZGC Science City sits at the center of one of China’s most concentrated innovation clusters, with thousands of AI companies and a growing base of specialised and high-growth firms. MTR Lab, on the other hand, brings access to international markets, industry networks and practical deployment environments tied to infrastructure, transport and urban systems. Together, they are attempting to bridge a familiar gap: turning local innovation into globally relevant products.
In practice, the model is straightforward. ZGC Science City will introduce MTR Lab to startups working in priority sectors, creating a pipeline for potential investment and collaboration. From there, MTR Lab can support these companies through funding, pilot projects and access to overseas markets. The idea is not just to invest, but to help startups test and apply their technologies in real-world settings, particularly in complex urban environments.
The timing is notable. China’s AI and deep tech ecosystem has expanded rapidly, with thousands of companies contributing to advancements in automation, smart infrastructure and sustainability. At the same time, global demand for these technologies is rising, especially as cities look for more efficient and scalable solutions. Yet, moving from innovation to adoption often requires cross-border coordination—something individual startups may struggle to navigate alone.
This partnership also builds on a broader pattern. Corporate venture arms like MTR Lab are increasingly positioning themselves not just as investors, but as connectors between markets. By combining capital with access to infrastructure and deployment scenarios, they offer startups a way to move faster from development to real-world use. For ZGC Science City, the collaboration adds an international layer to its ecosystem, helping local companies extend beyond domestic growth.
What emerges is a model that goes beyond a typical investment announcement. It reflects a growing recognition that innovation today is rarely confined to one geography. Technologies may be developed in one ecosystem, refined in another and scaled globally through partnerships like this.
As cross-border collaboration becomes more central to how startups grow, partnerships like the one between MTR Lab and ZGC Science City point to a more connected innovation landscape—one where access, not just invention, defines success.