Insight

What CVCF 2026 Has in Store for Startups, Investors and AI Innovators

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.

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CVCF 2026 will explore investment trends, global expansion, AI and digital assets. IMAGE: CYBERPORT

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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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CVCF 2026 features investor matching, founder pitch, innovator showcases, workshops and networking. IMAGE: CYBERPORT

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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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Day 2 workshops feature Christine Keung and Jeremy Dalton on investor backing and startup pitching. IMAGE: CYBERPORT

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Spotlight Event: Agentic Economy Summit
The Agentic Economy Summit will explore agentic AI and digital assets on 5 November 2026. IMAGE: CYBERPORT

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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

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Artificial Intelligence

From Security Scores to Dollar Risk: Quantara AI Pushes Continuous Cyber Risk Modeling

Quantara AI launches a continuous platform designed to estimate the financial impact of cyber risk as companies move beyond periodic assessments

Updated

March 17, 2026 1:02 AM

A person tightrope walking between two cliffs. PHOTO: UNSPLASH

Cyber risk is increasingly treated as a financial issue. Boards want to know how much a cyber incident could cost the company, how it could affect earnings, and whether current security spending is justified.

Yet many organizations still measure cyber risk through periodic reviews. These assessments are often conducted once or twice a year, supported by consultants and spreadsheet models. By the time the report reaches senior leadership, the company’s systems may have changed and new threats may have emerged. The way risk is measured does not always match how quickly it evolves.

This gap is where Quantara AI is positioning its new platform. Quantara AI, a Boise-based cybersecurity startup, has introduced what it describes as the industry’s first persistent AI-powered cyber risk solution. The system is designed to run continuously rather than rely on occasional assessments.

The company’s core argument is straightforward: not every security weakness carries the same financial consequence. Instead of ranking issues only by technical severity, the platform analyzes active threats, identifies which company systems are exposed, and estimates how much money a successful attack could cost. It uses statistical models, including Value at Risk (VaR), to calculate potential losses. It also estimates how specific security improvements could reduce that projected loss.

The timing aligns with a broader market shift. International Data Corporation (IDC) projects that by 2028, 40% of enterprises will adopt AI-based cyber risk quantification platforms. These tools convert security data into financial estimates that can guide budgeting and investment decisions. The forecast reflects growing pressure on security leaders to present risk in terms that boards and regulators understand.

Traditional compliance and risk management systems often focus on meeting regulatory standards. Vulnerability management programs typically score weaknesses based on technical characteristics. Consultant-led risk studies provide detailed analysis, but they are usually performed at set intervals. In fast-changing threat environments, that model can leave decision-makers working with outdated information.

Quantara’s platform attempts to replace that periodic process with continuous measurement. It brings together threat data, internal system information and financial modeling in one system. The goal is to show, at any given time, which specific weaknesses could lead to the largest financial losses.

Cyber risk quantification as a concept is not new. What is changing is the expectation that these calculations be updated regularly and tied directly to financial decision-making. As cyber incidents carry clearer monetary consequences, companies are looking for ways to measure exposure with greater precision.

The broader question is whether enterprises will shift fully toward continuous, AI-driven risk analysis or continue relying on periodic external assessments. What is clear is that cybersecurity discussions are moving closer to financial reporting — and tools that estimate potential loss in dollar terms are becoming central to that shift.

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