2026 agenda

Join the conversations shaping the future of technology – from new opportunities for growth to the partnerships and innovations driving what’s next.

EXPLORE TICKETS

15:00

VNTR Investor Roundtable Hong Kong

July 7, 2026
15:00 to 21:00

Join us for an exclusive roundtable bringing together active VC investors, family offices, business angels, crypto investors, and key ecosystem players to discuss the latest market trends and explore co-investment opportunities. The discussion will be followed by cocktails and networking, offering the chance to continue conversations and build meaningful connections with fellow investors and industry leaders in a relaxed setting

13:45

CODE Partner Session: The Future of Life Sciences: AI, Biotechnology & Next-Generation Innovation

July 8, 2026
13:45 to 14:15

14:15

CODE Partner Session: The Future Factory: Saudi AI, Advanced Manufacturing & Deep Tech

July 8, 2026
14:15 to 14:45

Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming its industrial landscape through AI, advanced manufacturing, and deep-tech innovation. This panel brings together founders building technologies that are redefining how factories, infrastructure, and industrial operations are designed, managed, and optimized.The discussion will explore how Saudi startups are developing next-generation industrial solutions; from AI agents and industrial automation to semiconductors, additive manufacturing, and intelligent infrastructure and why collaboration with Chinese manufacturers, technology providers, and investors is essential to accelerating global growth.

09:30

LEAP EAST Live
July 9, 2026
09:30 to 17:00

13:00

Global Women in AI Hong Kong Chapter Launch

July 9, 2026
13:00 to 14:00

Join us for the official launch of the Global Women in AI (GWAI) Hong Kong Chapter, hosted as part of LEAP East at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.This event brings together founders, AI practitioners, researchers, investors, and policymakers for the inaugural gathering of the GWAI community in Hong Kong. We will explore how AI is transforming leadership, entrepreneurship, and the global workforce, while highlighting the importance of diversity in shaping the future of technology.

16:00

Ecosystem Xchange Mixer Day 2

July 9, 2026
16:00 to 17:00

Join us at the Ecosystem Mixer to wrap up the day with founders, investors, community partners, and ecosystem leaders in a more informal setting. Designed for connection and conversation, the mixer offers a space to meet, exchange ideas, and build relationships across the community.

End of

Day 1 - 8th July

10:00

Welcome Remarks

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:00 to 10:20

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Melody Kwan

Presenter | Content Creator

Opening Ceremony

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

Opening Remarks

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:00 to 10:05

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Yamilette Cano

Founder, Speaker & Author

Louder Global

10:05

How AI Is Reshaping the Real Economy

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:05 to 10:20

As AI becomes a foundational layer of the digital economy, its impact is extending far beyond technology companies into sectors that underpin economic growth and societal development. From transforming financial services and enabling smarter healthcare delivery to accelerating innovation in new energy systems, this keynote explores how AI is being applied across industries to improve efficiency, unlock new business models, and create real-world value at scale.

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Leo Li

President of International Business

Ant Digital Technologies

10:10

Opening Keynote

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:10 to 10:20

Setting the vision for technology's next frontier- where innovation, capital and national ambition converge.

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H.E. Abdullah Alswaha

Minister of Communication & Information Technology

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Building a Financial Hub for the Next Era of Global Finance

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:10 to 10:30

As global finance undergoes structural change driven by technology, geopolitics, and shifting capital flows, financial centres must evolve beyond traditional strengths to remain competitive. In this fireside conversation, Joseph H. L. Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, explores how leading jurisdictions are redefining what it means to be a global financial hub in a digital and multipolar world.The discussion examines how policy, infrastructure, and regulatory innovation work together to attract capital, support emerging financial technologies, and enable cross-border connectivity. From digital assets and real-time payments to market infrastructure and talent development, this session provides a strategic perspective on how governments can position their economies at the centre of the next era of global finance.

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

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Joseph HL Chan

Undersecretary for Financial Services and Treasury

The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

10:20

Welcome Remarks

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:20 to 10:30

Welcome Remarks by Hon. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government

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Paul Chan

Financial Secretary

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Where Startups and Corporates Actually Get Stuff Done

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:20 to 11:00

Most corporate-startup collaborations die in the pilot. The press release gets written, the innovation theatre plays out, and eighteen months later nothing has shipped. This session is for the ones that didn't.Three practitioners: a corporate that committed, a startup that survived the procurement process, and the ecosystem builder who's watched hundreds of both, unpack what real collaboration actually requires: honest problem statements, decision-makers in the room, and the willingness to move past proof-of-concept into something that changes how a business operates.No case studies dressed up as strategy. No innovation for the annual report. Just the unfiltered playbook for making corporate-startup partnerships work across the APAC-Middle East corridor and the hard lessons from the ones that didn’t.

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Ted Howland

Senior Director, Group Sustainability

CapitaLand Investment

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Johannes Jaeger

Vice President of Enterprise

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Ashish Jerry Justin

Co-Founder and CEO

Carnot Innovations

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Dr. Ali AlHasan

Founder & CEO

What Does It Take to Move AI from the Lab to the Real World?

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:20 to 10:40

What does it take to move AI from the lab into the real world? In this visually driven keynote, explore how Sony AI is transforming breakthrough research into real-world systems across gaming, robotics, and consumer products. From the Gran Turismo Sophy racing agent to advances in sensory and motor intelligence, discover how AI is being trained, tested, and deployed in dynamic environments. This session reveals what it truly takes to bridge research, performance, and productization at scale.

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Michael Spranger

President

10:30

The Fintech Gateway to Global: From Local Excellence to Overseas Success

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:30 to 10:50

This session will explore how fintech companies can leverage their local strengths and proven business models to overcome market entry challenges and achieve global expansion.

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Syed Musheer Ahmed

Founder & Managing Director

FinStep Asia

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Dr. Miles Wen

CEO & Co-founder

Fano Labs Limited

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JiaoJiao Zhang

Head of Portfolio Coverage

HSBC Innovation Banking Hong Kong

Exporting Innovation: Inside the World's Next Tech Hub

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:30 to 10:40

Hong Kong's blueprint for becoming the launchpad of choice for the global new economy.

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Prof. Sun Dong

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

10:40

Tahaluf’s Welcome Remarks

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:40 to 10:45

The AI Inference is coming ... Are you ready?

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:40 to 11:00

The advancement of foundation models and LLMs is rapid, and their lifecycle is short. Therefore, it is natural for enterprises to focus on leveraging model availability to build AI inference and reasoning capabilities. This session examines whether you are ready for the next generation of inference driven AI applications.

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Dr. Charleston Sin

Head of AI and Data

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)

10:45

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:45 to 10:50

10:50

Strategic Bridges: How Cross-Border Growth Happens

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:50 to 11:00

The most significant economic transformations of our time are no longer happening within borders, but across them. As capital, technology and business networks move more actively between the Middle East and Asia, new growth corridors are taking shape. Through the lens of ewpartners’ experience connecting Asian companies with Middle Eastern opportunities, this session explores how strategic bridges are built in practice, and how trusted partners turn market interest into real commercial outcomes.

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Jerry Li

Founder & Managing Partner

Re-engineering Global Money Rails: APAC, Interoperability & Scale

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
10:50 to 11:30

As global finance fragments and real-time money movement becomes a strategic imperative, the future of financial infrastructure is being redesigned, rail by rail. Nowhere is this transformation more visible, or more complex, than in Asia-Pacific, where scale, regulation, and innovation intersect at speed.This panel brings together leaders shaping money movement from every layer of the stack: global banks, payments platforms, ecosystem architects, digital-asset infrastructure providers, and next-generation tokenised networks. We will move beyond vision to execution, examining what scales, where interoperability breaks down, and how APAC is shaping the architecture of global money in an era of real-time finance, regional divergence, and platform-driven growth.

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

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Nicole Sandler

Chief Ecosystem Officer

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Dr. Yanan Wu

Chairman and CEO

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Nenter Chow

CEO

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Colin Payne

Head of Innovation

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

11:00

Expanding Boundaries: The Multimodal Future of Inclusive AI

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:00 to 11:10

In his talk on "Expanding Boundaries: The Multimodal Future of Inclusive AI," SenseTime Chairman and CEO Dr. Xu Li will give a talk on the evolution of artificial intelligence from text-based models to fully multimodal and agentic systems. He envisions a world where AI transcends simple assistance, enabling ordinary individuals to execute complex, professional-level creations. By combining LLM, multimodality, agent and physical AI, this shift will fundamentally redefine how we work and build. Ultimately, this session highlights how we can foster inclusive growth and empower communities across both Asia and the Middle East.

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Dr. Li Xu

Chairman of the Board and CEO

Agentic Commerce and the New Consumer Economy

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:00 to 11:30

As AI systems evolve from recommendation engines into autonomous agents capable of discovery, decision-making, and transaction execution, a new era of commerce is emerging. From intelligent shopping assistants and AI-driven retail operations to transaction-grade explainability and consumer trust, this session explores how agentic AI is reshaping customer journeys, merchant ecosystems, and the future of digital commerce. How should retailers, platforms, and consumers prepare for a world where AI agents increasingly act, decide, and transact on our behalf?

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Oliver Tan

Managing Director

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Mei Chen

Global Retail Executive

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Kai Cheng

Founder

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Wolf Ruzicka

Chief Commercial Officer

First Money In: What VCs Actually Look for Before the Traction Is There

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:00 to 11:40

The pitch deck is the easy part. This conversation goes inside the head of an early-stage investor: what signals matter before revenue, why most APAC and MENA founders misread what "conviction" actually means, and what separates a fundable company from a fundable founder. One serial entrepreneur who's been on both sides of the table and one seed-stage VC manager get brutally honest. No fundraising folklore - just the real framework.

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Guillermo Ginesta

Managing Director

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Cristina Ventura

General Partner & Chief Catalyst Officer

White Star Capital

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Ryan Manuel

Founder

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Qusai AlSaif

Chief Executive Officer

Sadu Capital

11:10

Shaping Strategic Industries: How Hong Kong Lands the Next Generation of Global Tech Leaders

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:10 to 11:20

Hong Kong is making a clear move for the next generation of global tech champions. In this keynote, Peter Yan will share how the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) is bringing strategic enterprises into the city and helping them scale across AI, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and fintech. The session will spotlight how Hong Kong is turning its connectivity, capital and innovation ecosystem into a launchpad for companies building the future.

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Peter Yan

Director-General

Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

11:20

Capital, Capability and Market Access: Scaling Through Hong Kong and Saudi

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:20 to 11:45

For tech companies looking to scale globally, Hong Kong and Saudi offer more than market access. This fireside chat explores how both ecosystems can connect companies with capital, partners and practical pathways for growth between Asia and the Middle East.

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

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Alpha Lau

Director-General of Investment Promotion

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Mohammed Alariefy

Assistant Deputy Minister for Digital Entrepreneurship

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia

11:30

AI as the Operating System of Finance

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:30 to 12:10

Banking, data, and fintech leaders explore how AI is becoming the decision layer of financial systems. From risk and fraud to operations and compliance, this session focuses on what scales inside regulated institutions, and how governance, data, and architecture determine success.

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Nicole Sandler

Chief Ecosystem Officer

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Jessica Liu

CEO

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Alina Timofeeva

Managing Partner

Tamayouz Business Solutions

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David Walker

Chief Technology and Operations Officer

Where are Asia's Next AI Unicorns Hiding?

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:30 to 12:00

Where are Asia’s next AI unicorns emerging? Investors and founders discuss the sectors attracting capital and the unique innovation models shaping the region.

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Harry Man

Founding Partner

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Alex Zhavoronkov

Founder & CEO

Insilico Medicine

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Somsubhra GanChoudhuri

Co-founder & CEO

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Dr. Christina Yan Zhang

CEO

The Metaverse Institute

11:40

Is Venture Exit Window Finally Back?

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:40 to 12:00

For three years, venture capital endured its longest liquidity drought in a decade, leaving LPs staring down nearly $200 billion in negative cash flow and 59,400 VC SG Analytics-backed private companies competing against just 4,386 public US companies for a way out. Now 2026 is being billed as the year the door swings open: SpaceX has filed for a June Nasdaq listing at a $1.75 trillion valuation TECHi®, OpenAI is preparing a Q4 2026 IPO targeting $1 trillion IndexBox, and M&A deal value has surged past pre-pandemic peaks.But is the window really open or just cracked open for a privileged few?

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Jed Ng

Founder

Angel School VC

11:45

Unlocking Asia & Global Growth – HKSTP As the Launchpad for Global Tech

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
11:45 to 12:00

As LEAP East’s exclusive Tech Ecosystem Partner, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) connects innovators to the Chinese Mainland, Asia, and global markets – accelerating ideas from R&D to commercial success. In this keynote, discover how HKSTP opens doors to world-class infrastructure, talent, and policy support, turning breakthroughs into worldwide impact.

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Terry Wong

CEO

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)

12:00

Scaling Enterprise AI Across Asia

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:00 to 12:20

A strategic conversation exploring how enterprises across Asia are moving from AI experimentation to real-world deployment, balancing innovation, operational scale, governance, and measurable business impact.

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Madhav Timalsina

Vice President & Group Director - Head of Greater China Markets

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Julia Clyne

Founder

The Co-Intelligence Advisory

Capital Without the Dilution Tax: Venture Debt, Emerging Market Financing, and the Tools Founders Don't Know They Have.

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:00 to 12:40

Most APAC and MENA founders treat equity as the only option. It isn't. Venture debt, revenue-based financing, Shariah-compliant structures, and blended instruments are reshaping how the most capital-efficient founders in emerging markets grow, without giving away the company to do it. Two investors who deploy across the corridors that matter most share when debt beats equity, how to structure a round that doesn't haunt you at Series B, and why the founders who understand their full capital toolkit consistently outperform those who don't.

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Kyane Kassiri

Solo GP

Delusional Capital

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Vishal Harishchandra

Chairman and CEO

Ocean AI. The Valkin Group

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Alan Kuan Hsu

Synergy Creator

Synexia Ventures

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Varun Agarwal

Partner

Stride Ventures

Ambition at Infrastructure Scale: How Saudi Turns Digital Vision into Operational Reality

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:00 to 12:20

Saudi’s digital transformation is being built at infrastructure scale, combining national ambition, public-sector platforms, global enterprise technology and on-the-ground execution. This fireside chat explores how Saudi is turning digital vision into real operational systems, and how cross-sector partnerships are helping build the infrastructure and capabilities behind long-term transformation.

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

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Majed Al Otaibi

Chief Government Product Officer

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Lawrence Yu

Chief Strategy and Businesses Development Officer

Lenovo Group Middle East, Türkiye and Africa Region

12:10

Inside the AI-Native Bank: Culture, Infrastructure and Intelligent Finance

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:10 to 12:30

Explore how AI is reshaping digital banking from the inside out. From credit and fraud prevention to culture, governance, and next-generation payment infrastructure, this session examines what it takes to build and scale truly AI-native financial institutions.

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Alina Timofeeva

Managing Partner

Tamayouz Business Solutions

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Tat Lee

Chief Executive and Board Member

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Nicole Sandler

Chief Ecosystem Officer

12:20

When AI Touches the Physical World

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:20 to 12:40

As AI moves from digital to physical environments, a new paradigm is emerging called Physical AI. Drawing on large scale deployments across industries, this session explores how real-world intelligence is transforming manufacturing, logistics, retail and healthcare. From operational data to AI alignment and human in the loop systems, discover what it takes to scale AI in mission critical environments and how this shift will redefine industries and economies.

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Yousuke Okada

Founder & CEO

The New Tech Diplomacy: From Tech Exchange to Strategic Advantage

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:20 to 12:55

As technology becomes central to national competitiveness, countries are taking a more active role in shaping how innovation moves across borders and translating tech exchange into strategic advantage

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

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Hon Sunny Tan, BBS

Chairman

Hong Kong Productivity Council

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Bing Liu

Deputy Consul-General (Commercial) & Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Hong Kong and Macau

Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)

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Chris Woodward

Director General

British Consulate-General Hong Kong

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Saud Hamad Algublan

Vice President of Services Exports

Saudi Exports Development Authority

12:30

The Death of Checkout: Embedded Finance & Invisible Payments

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:30 to 13:10

Finance is disappearing into platforms. This session examines how embedded finance, real-time payments, and platform-native models are reshaping commerce, banking, and inclusion, revealing where value is captured as payments become invisible and financial services integrate directly into digital experiences.

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

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Jayant Kulkarni

Global Product Head Merchant Services

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Lito Villanueva

Executive Vice President / Chief Innovation & Inclusion officer

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)

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Sean Fu

Senior Vice President Greater China

Global Payments

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Michele Fung

Head of APAC

12:40

From Foundation Models to Enterprise AI

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:40 to 13:00

Foundation models are rapidly becoming the intelligence layer powering enterprise transformation. As organizations move beyond experimentation, success depends on integrating AI into business operations, products, and decision-making at scale. This keynote explores how foundation models, AI platforms, and industry-specific applications are enabling the next generation of enterprise AI across sectors including finance, manufacturing, mobility, healthcare, and public services.

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Tanya Xiang

Director of Overseas Tech Solutions

Baidu AI Cloud

Why Hong Kong: Best Practices & Trends for Founders Ready to Scale

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:40 to 13:00

Hong Kong is accelerating as Asia’s hub for innovation. In this fireside chat, Jayne Chan from InvestHK and Benjamin Quinlan from Quinlan & Associates will share perspectives on how global lessons, future trends, and practical strategies translate into opportunities for scaleups in Hong Kong. Expect a lively two‐way conversation blending government, corporate, and founder viewpoints with actionable insights on scaling, fundraising, and leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a launchpad into Asia and beyond.

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Jayne Chan

Head of Startups

Invest Hong Kong

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Benjamin Quinlan

CEO & Managing Partner

Quinlan & Associates

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Belinda Esterhammer

CEO

The DO Asia

12:55

The Industrial AI Imperative

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
12:55 to 13:10

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

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Dr. Ashraf AlTahini

CEO

Aramco Digital

13:00

VS Partners' Session: The Institutional Allocation to RWA: Tokenized Gold, Digital Assets and Investment Strategies

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:00 to 13:30

Join Alpha Ladder, MetaComp and Gulf Connect for a focused discussion on where RWAs and digital assets are heading, the frameworks allocators are using, and the practical realities of settlement, custody and regulation. The panel brings together perspectives across capital markets, payments and digital assets, with broad discussion of market trends across asset classes, including XAUT as a capital market token.

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Vanessa Xu

Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer

VS Partners

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Eva Sun

Vice President

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Bo Bai

CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder

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Quynh Le

Regional Expansion Lead - APAC

What Happens When AI Systems Operate Where Humans Cannot?

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:00 to 13:20

AI is becoming critical infrastructure for the space economy, enabling autonomous satellites, real-time orbital decision-making, and large-scale data analysis. As commercial activity in space accelerates, AI is unlocking new opportunities across telecom, climate intelligence, and defense, transforming space into a scalable, data-driven industry.

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Dr. Bidushi Bhattacharya

former NASA scientist-turned-astropreneur. CEO

VS Partners: The Institutional Allocation to RWA: Tokenized Gold, Digital Assets and Investment Strategies

July 8, 2026
13:00 to 13:45

Gold has anchored reserves for centuries. Tokenisation is now moving it on-chain, alongside a widening set of real-world and digital assets. For institutional allocators, the question is no longer whether these assets belong in a portfolio, but how to size, settle and hold them.

This session is a side event at LEAP East, the first Asian edition of LEAP, the global tech event out of Saudi Arabia, held 8 to 10 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with 300-plus speakers across AI, fintech and Web3.

Join Alpha Ladder, MetaComp and Gulf Connect for a focused discussion on where RWAs and digital assets are heading, the frameworks allocators are using, and the practical realities of settlement, custody and regulation. The panel brings together perspectives across capital markets, payments and digital assets, with broad discussion of market trends across asset classes, including XAUT as a capital market token.

Gulf Connect X LEAP East

July 8, 2026
13:00 to 18:00

Gulf Connect, initiated by Sina Finance and SuperBridge Council in association with LEAP East, is a strategic platform that strengthens collaboration between Asia and the GCC across investment, technology, industry, and policy. During LEAP East Hong Kong 2026, the invitation-only Gulf Connect Executive Exchange will bring together sovereign wealth funds, investors, policymakers, technology leaders, and industry executives to explore frontier technologies, industrial transformation, investment opportunities, and future regional growth.

13:10

MUFG’s Open Innovation Strategy

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:10 to 13:25

In this session we will talk about CVC and open innovation strategies of MUFG, the largest banking group in Japan. MUIP has invested in more than 60 global fintech and AI startups and arranged more than 50 collaborations with the bank.

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Nobutake Suzuki

President & CEO

MUFG, Innovation partners Co, MUFG Group

From Testbed to Scale-Up: How Innovation Ecosystems Build Global Growth

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:10 to 13:45

Pilots prove ideas. Ecosystems build scale. This session explores how Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and Saudi Arabia are helping startups and technology companies turn testbeds into market-ready growth, powered by capital, infrastructure and cross-border partnerships.

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Ahmed Al-Darwish

Managing Partner

Noa Capital Partners

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Chibo Tang

Managing Partner

Gobi Partners

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Mohammed Almeshekah

Founder & General Partner

Outliers Venture Capital

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Afnan A. Ababtain

Human Resources & Entrepreneurship General Manager, Entrepreneurship and Startup Department

Ministry of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

13:20

Powering the Next Frontier of Sustainability Intelligence

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:20 to 13:40

The future of sustainability is intelligent, predictive, and embedded at the heart of business strategy. This session examines how AI is redefining sustainability - shifting from static reporting to dynamic, data-driven action. By embedding intelligence across operations, enterprises can transform sustainability from a compliance exercise into a strategic lever for resilience and long-term growth.

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Farrukh Shad

Head of Sustainability Business for the Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region

Schneider Electric

13:40

Trust Is the New Infrastructure: Security, Identity, Fraud & Regulation at Scale

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:40 to 14:20

How financial systems embed trust across technology, policy, and real-world use cases.As financial systems become real-time, cross-border, and increasingly embedded, trust is no longer a layer, it is the infrastructure itself. Security, identity, fraud prevention, and regulation now shape how financial products are designed, scaled, and adopted.This session examines how banks, fintechs, infrastructure providers, and regulators are building trust into financial systems by design, rather than treating security and compliance as afterthoughts. It explores how regulatory frameworks, identity models, and fraud controls are converging with technology to enable scale, without sacrificing resilience or user experience.Rather than focusing on threats alone, the discussion centres on practical use cases where trust infrastructure enables growth, interoperability, and inclusion across Asia and global markets

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Alina Timofeeva

Managing Partner

Tamayouz Business Solutions

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Tianwei Liu

CEO and Co-Founder

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Petra Janez

Financial Counsellor

Ministry of Finance Slovenia

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Takatoshi Shibayama

Head of APAC

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Yoyee Wang

Head of Business-to-Business

How AI Is Transforming Software Engineering

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:40 to 14:00

AI is reshaping the software development lifecycle, from coding assistance and intelligent testing to automated quality assurance and deployment workflows. This session explores how enterprises are integrating AI into engineering operations to improve speed, reliability, scalability, and product delivery.

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Ahmad M. Dulli

General Manager of Technology Excellence

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Julia Clyne

Founder

The Co-Intelligence Advisory

13:45

Forging New Frontiers: Expanding from Hong Kong to the Middle East and Beyond

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:45 to 14:20

This panel session will bring together senior executives from strategic technology enterprises from the Chinese Mainland and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) of the HKSAR Government. The discussion will centre on sharing first-hand success stories and valuable operational insights from their ventures in the Middle East, other Belt-Road countries and beyond. The session would highlight the opportunities present in these regions. It will also demonstrate how tech enterprises can leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages to effectively expand their global presence and establish sustainable, mutually beneficial international partnerships.

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

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Tony Qiu

VP of Meituan & CEO

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Kay Yang

CEO

Westwell Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited

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Stephan Wang

Head of ASEAN Markets

WeBank Technology

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Bryan Peng

Executive Director

Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the Government of the HKSAR

CODE Partner Session: The Future of Life Sciences: AI, Biotechnology & Next-Generation Innovation

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
13:45 to 14:15

Artificial intelligence and biotechnology are transforming how the world approaches healthcare, agriculture, food security, and drug discovery. Saudi startups are driving this transformation by developing breakthrough technologies that accelerate research, improve diagnostics, optimize food systems, and enable the next generation of life science innovation.This panel brings together founders building cutting-edge solutions across AI, biotechnology, pharma, and food technology to explore how cross-border collaboration with China can accelerate commercialization, manufacturing, research, and global market expansion

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Asrar Damdam

Founder & CEO

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Sultan Alhayyani

Founder and CEO

Pure Advance

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Dr. Ali AlHasan

Founder & CEO

14:00

Sovereign AI Is an Infrastructure Problem, Not a Model Problem

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:00 to 14:20

Nations across Asia and the Middle East are racing to deploy AI at scale — but model access is no longer the binding constraint. The real competition is over compute sovereignty: who controls the infrastructure, where data lives, and which economies can run inference within their own borders. Drawing on national AI strategies across the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea, this session examines why sovereign AI is ultimately a data center decision, and what it means for the Asia-Middle East innovation corridor taking shape today.

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Wei Sheong Toh

VP and General Manager, Worldwide Channels and ASEAN Sales

Rebellions Inc.

14:15

CODE Partner Session: The Future Factory: Saudi AI, Advanced Manufacturing & Deep Tech

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:15 to 14:45

Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming its industrial landscape through AI, advanced manufacturing, and deep-tech innovation. This panel brings together founders building technologies that are redefining how factories, infrastructure, and industrial operations are designed, managed, and optimized.The discussion will explore how Saudi startups are developing next-generation industrial solutions; from AI agents and industrial automation to semiconductors, additive manufacturing, and intelligent infrastructure and why collaboration with Chinese manufacturers, technology providers, and investors is essential to accelerating global growth.

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Abdulaziz Alsebaie

Founder & CEO

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Majed Almeania

Co-Founder and CFO

DEMA Energy

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Ammar Alali

CEO

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Mohammed Alghaith

CEO

Electronic Photonics

14:20

From Capital to Co-Creation: How Institutions Back & Scale Financial Innovation

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:20 to 14:40

As fintech matures, capital alone is no longer enough. The next generation of financial innovation is being shaped by co-creation, deep, long-term partnerships between banks, investors, and institutions that can take technology from pilot to global scale.In this fireside chat, we will unpack how institutions are redefining their role in fintech growth.The conversation explores how banks and long-duration capital providers evaluate innovation beyond valuation and hype, focusing instead on strategic fit, governance, regulatory readiness, and real commercial pathways. From venture to private equity to bank-led co-creation, the speakers share what it takes for startups to move from experimentation to integration inside complex financial systems.This session offers founders, investors, and operators a rare look at how institutional capital actually works, what separates investable fintech from scalable fintech, and why collaboration, not disruption alone, will define the next phase of financial innovation.

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Ali Alsaileek

Co-Founder & CEO

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Shane Shin

Founding Partner

Shorooq Partners

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Nobutake Suzuki

President & CEO

MUFG, Innovation partners Co, MUFG Group

How AI Could Save Your Life...Even 100 Million Miles Away

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:20 to 14:40

In a world where AI is advancing at unprecedented speed, healthcare faces a critical challenge: how to harness its power responsibly to save lives rather than put them at risk. In this keynote, Dr. Atul Gupta, Philips’ global Chief Medical Officer of Diagnosis & Treatment, explores how clinically grounded AI is transforming care – from empowering frontline clinicians in remote settings with AI-enabled imaging and connecting them to global expertise, to guiding complex procedures through augmented reality and robotics, and predicting life-threatening conditions before they occur through wearable technologies. He pushes this vision to the most extreme frontiers – including space – sharing his views on how breakthroughs designed to care for patients millions of miles away can unlock a new era of safe, high-quality healthcare for billions on Earth, redefining innovation not by how fast we move, but by how right we get it.

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Atul Gupta

Chief Medical Officer

Seamless Scale: Building the Trusted Rails for Global Expansion

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:20 to 14:40

Behind every smooth cross-border experience is a complex layer of trust: payments, compliance, identity, risk and local market execution. In this fireside, leaders from fintech and payments discuss how companies can build the infrastructure and partnerships needed to expand globally with speed, security and confidence.

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

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Kai Wu

Chief Revenue Officer

14:40

When AI Leaves the Screen

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:40 to 15:00

AI is moving beyond software interfaces and into the physical world. From autonomous delivery and intelligent mobility to robotic services operating in public spaces, a new generation of AI systems is beginning to sense, navigate, and act independently in real-world environments. This keynote explores what happens when AI leaves the screen and becomes part of the infrastructure of everyday life.

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Judah Longgrear

Co-Founder and President of Media

AI in Financial Services – From Application to Governance

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:40 to 14:55

AI is transforming the financial services industry at remarkable speed – from customer experience to the operating model. Yet adoption is outpacing governance, creating a widening trust gap that demands attention.In this keynote, Jack Chan, EY China Chairman and Greater China Regional Managing Partner, presents a clear-eyed view of where financial services stand today: at the intersection of unprecedented opportunity and urgent governance challenges. Drawing on the latest global insights, the session explores how AI is transforming customer behavior and unlocking new sources of value, while outlining a practical framework to help institutions scale AI responsibly and turn investment into measurable business outcomes. Participants will gain a strategic perspective on Hong Kong's unique ecosystem and how CEOs can translate its competitive edges into trusted AI leadership – and leave with a clear point of view on what it takes to win with AI responsibly.

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Jack Chan, JP

Chairman, China, Regional Managing Partner, Greater China

Bridging Capital Corridors: How the GCC and Greater China Are Shaping the Next Wave of Financial Innovation

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:40 to 15:20

As capital and innovation become increasingly cross-border, new financial corridors are emerging between the GCC and Greater China. This panel will explore how investors, financial institutions, policymakers, and founders are building partnerships that unlock access to new markets, capital pools, and innovation ecosystems across both regions. From venture investment and fintech expansion to regulatory alignment and digital infrastructure, the discussion will examine how two of the world’s fastest-growing markets are shaping the next wave of global financial innovation.

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Johnny Chan

Chief Investment Officer

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Simon Sharp

Partner

Global Ventures

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Khaled Lababidi

Partner

Arbor Ventures

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Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje

Partner

Rasmal Ventures

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Levi Lewandowski

Head of UAE

14:55

The Ecosystem Multiplier: From Models To Markets - What Makes AI Deployable at Scale

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
14:55 to 15:30

This session brings both lens to the table: investors who are actively shaping where conviction turns into capital across the AI stack, and a founder & operator who has built AI into the core of a regulated, multi-market digital bank from day one, proving that scalable, profitable AI deployment is not a future state, but an operating reality. This will be a conversation grounded equally in where the money is going, and in what it actually takes to get there.

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Alexandra Vidyuk

CEO & Founding Partner

Beyond Earth Ventures

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Cindy Chow

Executive Director & CEO

Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund

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Amal Dokhan

Managing Partner MENA

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Simon Loong

Founder and Group CEO

15:00

Cyberport: Founder Project Demonstration

July 8, 2026
15:00 to 16:00

Join Cyberport for a focused program and startup showcase highlighting high-potential ventures, ecosystem initiatives, and opportunities for cross-border collaboration.

This session will offer attendees a closer look at Cyberport’s role in supporting innovation, while connecting founders, investors, and ecosystem players through curated presentations and networking.

10 showcasing projects in alphabetical order

Beosin (Web3 blockchain cybersecurity)
Covergo (Insurtech platform)
EventXtra Limited (AI event platform)
Farmio (Supply chain management)
Set Sail AI (Agentic AI agent)
Partyday (Tech-driven sports and entertainment venues)
Sourcy (Cross-border product sourcing and supply chain platform)
Super Panther (Electric trucks and clean‑energy solutions)
PCG (Merchant payment gateway solutions)
Tsing Standard (Smart electric vehicle lifespan testing)

Beyond Fabric: How Bio Innovation and AI Are Rebuilding the Future of Fashion

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:00 to 15:15

The future of fashion will be defined not only by what we create, but by how we create it. As sustainability, material innovation, and digital technologies reshape the industry, Saudi Arabia is building the ecosystem required to accelerate responsible growth through research, partnerships, and industry collaboration.

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Burak Çakmak

CEO, Fashion Commission

Ministry of Culture

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

Rocket Fuel East Round 1

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:00 to 17:00

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Fred Li

Managing Director & Head of University Ventures

Gobi Partners

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Teddy Lui

CEO

HKAI Lab / AEF

Cyberport: Founder Project Demonstration

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:00 to 16:00

Join Cyberport for a focused program and startup showcase highlighting high-potential ventures, ecosystem initiatives, and opportunities for cross-border collaboration. This session will offer attendees a closer look at Cyberport’s role in supporting innovation, while connecting founders, investors, and ecosystem players through curated presentations and networking.

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Harry Man

Founding Partner

15:15

Day 1 Closing Reflections

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:15 to 15:20

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Yamilette Cano

Founder, Speaker & Author

Louder Global

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Mornine .

AiMOGA Robotics

15:20

From Innovation to Scale: Building AI-enabled Fintech Ecosystems that Actually Work

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:20 to 15:40

Fintech ecosystems do not succeed on innovation alone. This session explores how AI, cloud infrastructure, trusted data, and industry collaboration must come together to turn promising ideas into scalable financial services. Drawing on real-world experience across payments, digital banking, risk management, customer engagement, and financial infrastructure, the discussion will examine what it takes to move from pilots to production. It will also address the foundations required for long-term growth: security, resilience, compliance, interoperability, and access to talent all essential to building globally competitive fintech companies and stronger financial systems.

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Robert Lui

Partner

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Rachel Xie

General Manager, Tencent Cloud Middle East & General Manager of Operations, Channel Development & Marketing

Tencent Cloud International, Tencent

15:30

The Agentic Enterprise: Going Global with Digital Sovereignty

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:30 to 15:45

Hans A.T. Dekkers talks about IBM’s approach to digital sovereignty and how it makes the agentic enterprise viable. He shares a framework for enterprises in Asia to scale towards the agentic future while maintaining governance, security, and control.

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Hans Dekkers

General Manager, Asia Pacific & China

15:40

Where Capital Is Flowing in Fintech (2026–2030)

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:40 to 16:20

As fintech enters its next cycle, capital is becoming more selective, more geopolitical, and more infrastructure driven. This panel brings together global bank capital, venture leadership, institutional investors, macroeconomic insight, and operators at scale to unpack where money is really flowing, and why.We will examine how banks, venture capital, and sovereign-aligned capital are reassessing fintech bets across payments, infrastructure, AI, and platforms.We will also consider the perspective from building and scaling financial systems across Asia, where inclusion, interoperability, and resilience are not abstract goals but commercial imperatives.This panel moves beyond trendspotting to reveal what qualifies as bankable fintech in the next decade, which models will struggle to attract capital, and why Asia is increasingly shaping the future of global financial investment.

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

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Nobutake Suzuki

President & CEO

MUFG, Innovation partners Co, MUFG Group

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Pratyush Prasanna

Group CEO

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Cindy Xu

Managing Director, Head of Asia Fintech and China Financial Institutions

15:45

Beyond the Hype: Turning AI into Business Impact

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
15:45 to 16:00

As generative AI reshapes the creative and customer experience landscape, organisations are moving beyond experimentation to focus on real, measurable business impact. In this session, Ben Goodman explores the shifting dynamics of creativity, the expectations of a new generation of consumers, and what it takes for brands to scale visibility and relevance in a global, always-on world. Drawing on insights from across the region, he will outline how leading organisations are turning AI from a set of tools into a connected, enterprise-wide capability that drives growth, competitiveness, long-term value and customer trust.

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Ben Goodman

President JAPAC

16:00

Ecosystem Xchange Mixer Day 1

July 8, 2026
16:00 to 17:00

Join us at the Ecosystem Mixer to wrap up the day with founders, investors, community partners, and ecosystem leaders in a more informal setting. Designed for connection and conversation, the mixer offers a space to meet, exchange ideas, and build relationships across the community.

Remarks: Digital and Innovative Silk Road - the New Asia-MENA Economic Corridor

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
16:00 to 16:05

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Nicholas Ho

Commissioner for Belt & Road

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Ecosystem Xchange Mixer Day 1

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
16:00 to 17:00

Join us at the Ecosystem Mixer to wrap up the day with founders, investors, community partners, and ecosystem leaders in a more informal setting. Designed for connection and conversation, the mixer offers a space to meet, exchange ideas, and build relationships across the community.

16:05

Digital and Innovative Silk Road - the New Asia-MENA Economic Corridor

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
16:05 to 16:35

As Asia and the Middle East deepen their ties, technology is becoming a new driver of regional connectivity. This session explores how digital infrastructure, innovation partnerships and cross-border collaboration can shape a modern Silk Road, opening new pathways for investment, trade and long-term economic growth.

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Prof. Kai Lung Hui

Elman Family Professor of Business

HKUST Business School

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Kiki Zhang

CFO

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Dr. Martin Zhu

Co-founder and CEO

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Dr. Yufeng Wan

Partner and Head of Technology Investment

Templewater

16:20

From Policy to Platforms: Building Global Fintech Ecosystems That Scale

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
16:20 to 16:50

Building a successful fintech ecosystem requires more than innovation. This fireside chat explores how policy, investment, talent, and platform development come together to help startups scale, attract capital, and compete globally. The discussion examines what separates thriving innovation hubs from those that struggle to move beyond experimentation.

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Ali Alsaileek

Co-Founder & CEO

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Petra Janez

Financial Counsellor

Ministry of Finance Slovenia

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Josh Du

Chief Investment Officer

Animoca Brands

16:35

TradeTech's Invisible Rails: The Infrastructure Powering SME Globalisation

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 8, 2026
16:35 to 17:00

Three operators reshaping how goods, data and capital move across borders - and why the biggest logistics revolution is still mostly invisible.

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Ian Goh

Managing Partner

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Neil Ni

Chief Strategy Officer

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Paul Loo

Chief Operating Officer

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Peter Wang

Chief Strategy Officer

Hai Robotics

End of Day 1 - 8th July

Day 2 - 9th July

08:00

The Allocators Breakfast –

July 9, 2026
08:00 to 10:00

Exclusive breakfast, co-hosted by HSBC Innovation Banking and Betatron Venture Group. It brings together investors and industry leaders from the Middle East and Hong Kong

09:00

LEAP East Gala Dinner

July 9, 2026
09:00 to 10:00

An exclusive and private Gala Dinner hosted by LEAP Nights, bringing together invited guests for an evening dedicated to innovation, meaningful connections, and the vibrant community shaping the future of technology.

09:50

Opening Performance by HKTB

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
09:50 to 10:00

As AI reshapes industries and economies, global collaboration has become essential to unlocking its full potential. In this keynote, Mr. Simon Chan will explore how Hong Kong, as an international innovation and technology hub, is uniquely positioned to bridge the Chinese Mainland, Asia, the Middle East, and global markets. Drawing on Cyberport’s vibrant ecosystem of over 2,300 tech companies and over 500 network partners, he will highlight how Cyberport ecosystem steers AI+ innovation, technology translation, commercialisation, and cross-border partnerships to actualise AI and tech empowerment for real impact. The keynote will also underscore Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, enabling enterprises, start-ups, and investors to collaborate, scale, and drive progressive growth in the evolving intelligent economy.

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Simon Chan, BBS, JP

Chairman

Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited

09:55

Opening Remarks

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
09:55 to 10:00

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

Opening Remarks

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
09:55 to 10:00

10:00

Paving the Future of Health Innovation: Hong Kong’s Biotech Ecosystem

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

As Hong Kong rapidly grows into one of Asia's most critical biotech ecosystems, this inspiring opening session will highlight the strategies, policies, investments, and international collaborations turning the city into a global life and health tech super-connector and a commercialisation gateway. HKSTP brings LHT companies expand overseas and attracts global companies land in HK for high quality R&D. HKSTP plays a pivotal role across full value chain from lab to market, leveraging world class universities alliance and key industry players to accelerate R&D and drive commercialisation. By tapping into a rich talent pool and capital investment, HKSTP turns big ideas to big impacts. One goal: value creation for LHT park companies success.

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Eric Or

Chief Ecosystem Development Officer

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)

Opening Remarks Day 2

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

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Melody Kwan

Presenter | Content Creator

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:00 to 10:05

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Yamilette Cano

Founder, Speaker & Author

Louder Global

Powering Global AI Innovation: Hong Kong as a Super Connector & Super Value-adder for Cross-Regional Growth

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

As AI reshapes industries and economies, global collaboration has become essential to unlocking its full potential. In this keynote, Mr. Simon Chan will explore how Hong Kong, as an international innovation and technology hub, is uniquely positioned to bridge the Chinese Mainland, Asia, the Middle East, and global markets. Drawing on Cyberport’s vibrant ecosystem of over 2,300 tech companies and over 500 network partners, he will highlight how Cyberport ecosystem steers AI+ innovation, technology translation, commercialisation, and cross-border partnerships to actualise AI and tech empowerment for real impact. The keynote will also underscore Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, enabling enterprises, start-ups, and investors to collaborate, scale, and drive progressive growth in the evolving intelligent economy.

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Simon Chan, BBS, JP

Chairman

Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited

10:05

Why Invest in Saudi Arabia? Navigating the Kingdom’s Investment Landscape

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:05 to 10:40

Learn how investors and companies can engage with the Kingdom and capitalize on its long-term growth potential, including a brief overview of the Kingdom’s entrepreneurship, innovation, and information technology investment ecosystem.

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Wang Chunli

General Manager, International Offices – China

Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia

10:10

The Next Frontier for Therapeutics: AI Driven Innovation

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:10 to 10:40

Technology is enabling the next generation of scientific breakthroughs that is evolving what is possible to achieve with medicine. We explore the transformative potential of AI and machine learning that are enabling drug discovery and treatments that were not possible before.

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Sakib Rabbani

Founder & CEO

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Daniel Wee

Chief Execution Officer

MENA to APAC: Defining the Next Era of Wealth

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:10 to 10:30

The boundaries of wealth are shifting. As investors look beyond familiar markets in search of new opportunity, the corridors connecting the Gulf and Asia-Pacific are emerging as defining arenas for the future of capital. This panel explores what it means to manage wealth in an era of expanding horizons; where ambition outpaces convention, and the old playbooks no longer hold.

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Bilal Abou-Diab

Co-Founder and CEO

Vault Wealth

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Sarah AlSaleh

General Partner

Outliers Venture Capital

AI + Everything: China’s Innovation and Global Impact

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:10 to 10:45

China’s AI ecosystem is moving from model breakthroughs to real-world deployment. This forum brings together founders, investors and operators to discuss where China’s AI companies are scaling next, how they are applying AI across industries, and what it takes to compete in global markets.

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Victoria Guo

Partner

SEC Newgate China

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Yanping Xiang

CEO

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Fan Zhang

Founder & CEO

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Harry Man

Founding Partner

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Hong-Eng Koh

Global Chief Public Services Industry Scientist, Global Public Sector Business Unit

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd

10:30

Service Robots vs. Humanoids: Who Actually Wins the Workplace?

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:30 to 10:50

Robots split into two camps: built around the task, or built around us. As humanoids close the gap, they start competing for human roles — receptionist, server, frontline staff — not just background labor. This session breaks down what each form factor actually costs and returns today, and where the line sits between a tool that disappears into operations and a machine standing in a human role.

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Roman Ruksha

Co-founder & CEO

N.O.N. Humanoid

10:40

Hong Kong – Global Superconnector for Life & Health Enterprises

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:40 to 11:20

Hong Kong is a fast-track hub for life sciences, bridging Mainland China with global markets. Backed by a strong R&D talent pool, a world-class healthcare system, and sustained government investment in innovation, the city is also a leading biotech fundraising centre. With fast clinical trials and regulatory enhancements designed to streamline drug and medical device registration, faster clinical trials are helping companies translate ideas into real-world impact more quickly. Join global pharmaceutical and diagnostics leaders, investors and industry experts to explore key policies, investment trends.

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Sakib Rabbani

Founder & CEO

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Dr. Maggie Lo

Chief Manager (Life and Health Technology)

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Qiang Lyu

General Manager Hong Kong and Macau

AstraZeneca

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Ronald Lo

General Manager

Roche Diagnostics

Building AI into Regulated Finance

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:40 to 11:20

As financial institutions accelerate AI adoption, trust, security, and governance are becoming as important as innovation itself. From fraud detection and intelligent automation to customer engagement and decision-making systems, organizations must balance the benefits of AI with growing demands for explainability, cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management. This session explores how financial institutions can deploy AI responsibly in highly regulated environments, build trust with regulators and customers, and create governance frameworks that support innovation at scale.

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Jason Lau

CISO, Board of Directors

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Prof. Andy Chun

Professor of Practice

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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Steffanie Yuen

Managing Director, Head of Hong Kong

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

10:45

The Asia Expansion Equation: Financing Growth Across Borders

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:45 to 11:20

As Asian companies expand into new markets, growth increasingly depends on more than ambition alone. It requires access to capital, financial partners, market infrastructure and institutional confidence. This session brings together leaders across investment, banking and capital markets to explore how companies can finance cross-border growth, navigate new market expectations, and build the partnerships needed to scale.

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

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Cliff Chau

Managing Partner

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John C. Lee

Vice Chairman/ Co-Head of Asia Country Coverage, Global Banking

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Johnson Chui

Managing Director and Head of Global Issuer Services

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

10:50

Building Capital Efficient Cross Border Startups

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
10:50 to 11:10

Learn from Leo capital's experience on how to scale to the US and beyond without burning millions of dollars. Leo will cover how to set up, market, sell globally, and raise your next rounds internationally. This workshop is for globally ambitious B2B founders.

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Shwetank Verma

Co-founder and Managing Partner

Leo Capital

11:10

Japan-Global South Innovation Corridor 2026

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:10 to 11:50

Discover how Japan’s regional economies are driving innovation and creating new opportunities for growth. This session explores the latest market trends, cross-border collaboration strategies, and partnership models connecting Japanese corporations with global startups. Learn how these synergies are unlocking new value within the startup ecosystem and strengthening Japan’s ties with global markets.

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Yu Aruga

Managing Director, Investment Committee Member

ICMG Ventures

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Junichiro Etoh

Managing Director

JRE VENTURES

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Yoichi Adachi

Lead of Global Business Development

Yamanashi Chuo Bank

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Masanori Morishita

CEO

11:20

Reimagine the FSI Ecosystem – Financial AI Fabric Powered by IOWN

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:20 to 11:40

As AI reshapes the financial services industry, institutions are rethinking how AI infrastructure should evolve to meet growing demands for performance, security, compliance and speed. This keynote explores how the Financial AI Fabric can help create a trusted, sovereign and scalable AI ecosystem—enabling real-time intelligence, faster decision-making and greater financial agility.

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Steven So

Chief Operating Officer

NTT Com Asia

Banking 4.0: The Age of Intelligent Money and Autonomous Finance

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:20 to 11:35

As AI moves deeper into banking, the question is no longer whether banks will become digital, but how intelligent they can become. Barbaros Uygun explores what Banking 3.0 means for credit, customer experience, operations and decision-making, and how digital banks can compete in a more automated financial world.

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Barbaros Uygun

CEO and Executive Director

From Lab to Unicorn: Building a Biotech Success Story in Asia

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:20 to 11:50

Lessons learned from leaders that managed to turn scientific innovation into globally competitive biotech companies. A first hand account of the funding, commercialization, and regulatory challenges that were overcome to turn academic research into a successful Venture.

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Michael Rinaman

Managing Director of Strategy, Research and Insights

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Jia Zhuang

Executive Director

ATLATL Ventures

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Nisa Leung

Managing Partner

Aulis Capital

11:35

From GT Sophy to Table Tennis Ace: Why Reinforcement Learning Will Power the Next Generation of AI

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:35 to 11:50

Recent breakthroughs such as GT Sophy, the superhuman racing agent developed for Gran Turismo, and Table Tennis Ace, a robotic system capable of competing with human players in one of the world’s fastest and most dynamic sports, demonstrate a profound shift in artificial intelligence. These systems are not simply predicting the next token or recognizing patterns—they are learning to make decisions, adapt in real time, and master complex interactions with the physical and digital world.In this talk, we will explore how reinforcement learning (RL) enabled these achievements, why game-playing and robotic control remain some of the most demanding benchmarks in AI, and what they reveal about the path toward more capable, autonomous systems. We will examine how RL complements foundation models, allowing AI to move beyond knowledge and reasoning into action, planning, and continuous adaptation.As AI expands from chat interfaces into agents, robots, vehicles, and interactive environments, the ability to learn from experience may become as important as the ability to learn from data. Through the stories of GT Sophy and Table Tennis Ace, we will argue that reinforcement learning is not merely a specialized research area—it is a foundational technology for the future of AI, enabling systems that can operate, improve, and collaborate in the real world.

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Michael Spranger

President

11:40

The Economics of AI Adoption in Asia

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:40 to 12:00

This session examines the economic forces shaping AI adoption across Asia, including productivity gains, labor market shifts, and investment dynamics.

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Prof. Kai Lung Hui

Elman Family Professor of Business

HKUST Business School

11:50

Tech for Healthcare: How AI is revolutionizing Drug Discovery

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:50 to 12:05

New technologies like AI & Quantum computing are revolutionizing drug discovery by predicting biological interactions and reducing costly trial failures. This keynote explores how AI-driven platforms are reshaping pharmaceutical R&D and dramatically shortening the path from discovery to clinical trials.

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Alex Zhavoronkov

Founder & CEO

Insilico Medicine

Beyond GPUs: Building the Next AI Compute Stack

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:50 to 12:25

AI’s next leap will not be powered by GPUs alone. As demand for compute accelerates, new architectures, optimization methods and infrastructure models are emerging to make AI more efficient, scalable and resilient. This session brings together leaders across chips, quantum-inspired computing, infrastructure and investment to explore what the next compute stack could look like, and why efficiency, diversification and sovereignty are becoming critical to the future of AI.

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Finn Hatherell

Venture Partner

Next Sequence

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Esther Wong

Founder and CEO

3C AGI Partners

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Hiroshi Nakata

Chief Operating Officer & Board Member

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Mohammad Alrehaili

Senior Vice President | Managing Director

HPE Middle East

Physical AI in Manufacturing: Early Signs

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
11:50 to 12:10

This fireside chat will cover what is and what is not working when it comes to physical AI, with particular emphasis on embodied AI in manufacturing and service industries. Arshad Chowdhury from Betatron Venture Group will share his firm’s findings related to opportunities and challenges in vetting and investing in physical AI companies.

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Arshad Chowdhury

Managing Partner

Betatron Venture Group

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Laurie Fuller

Venture Partner

Raiven Capital

12:00

The Human Stack: The Last Unfair Advantage

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:00 to 12:30

The last unfair advantage is the human touch. In a market where AI tools have flattened the GTM playing field, the founders extending reach, cutting CAC and closing harder deals are the ones running a different stack - built on judgment, trust, and the moves no algorithm can replicate. Andreas Mueller, Melissa Meredith and Aida Takyrbasheva on the human stack underneath the AI one.

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Andreas Mueller

Founder & CEO

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Melissa Meredith

VP of Strategy

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Aida Takyrbasheva

Founder

Break The Ice

12:05

Chinese Medtech Go Global: Opportunities & Challenges

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:05 to 12:45

Over the past two decades, China's medical device industry has accomplished a transformative leap from import reliance to domestic substitution and original innovation leadership, with upstream core medical materials breaking overseas monopolies to underpin global biopharmaceutical manufacturing, high-end therapeutic equipment securing positions among world-class players in oncology treatment, and proprietary minimally invasive technologies being exported internationally to set new clinical standards. However, Chinese medtech enterprises face inevitable hurdles on their path to global expansion, including tightened international regulatory frameworks, shifting geopolitical trade dynamics, and insufficient localized operational capabilities.

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Cliff Chau

Managing Partner

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Li Xiaofeng

Chairman

Solicitude Medical Technology (Group) Limited

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Dr. Yao Yi

Chairman

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Luo Fuliang

Co-Founder

Hygea Medical

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Dr. Jimmy Wei

CEO

Chime Biologics Ltd

12:10

Corporate IP & Tech: The Untapped Fuel Powering Startup Support in Today's Tech Ecosystem

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:10 to 12:30

This talk explores how the vast patent portfolios and technologies held by multinational corporations are being unlocked and channelled into the hands of early-stage startups, creating a new paradigm for innovation and startup enablement. From bypassing costly R&D cycles and strengthening investor pitches to accelerating market entry and opening doors to a global network of partners, attendees will walk away with a fresh perspective on how dormant corporate IP is quietly reshaping the way startups are built, supported, and scaled in today's technology landscape.

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Jason Loh

CEO & Founder

Piece Future

12:30

Agentic AI in Global Trade Finance: Trust, Governance and Cross Border Supply Chains

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:30 to 12:50

Global trade moves $32 trillion a year, yet still runs on email, PDFs and manual KYC. Embedding AI agents into this flow is no longer a technology question — it is a governance one. Vishal Harishchandra, Founder & CEO of OceanX AI, will share how a regulated, agentic-AI platform is automating trade finance and supply chain decisions across four jurisdictions — while satisfying bank-grade controls, AML/KYC, sanctions screening and auditability. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for evaluating regulated AI deployments and a clear view of where agentic finance is heading.

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Vishal Harishchandra

Chairman and CEO

Ocean AI. The Valkin Group

Unlocking Growth in Emerging Digital Economies

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:30 to 12:50

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Hakeem Alrasheed

General Manager - International Department

12:40

Old Money, New Moves. A Next-gen Family Office Conversation On VC, PE & The Private Markets Opportunity

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:40 to 13:15

The next generation of family office leaders from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia are inheriting vast pools of capital- and rewriting the rules on how to deploy it. This session brings together emerging stewards of multi-generational wealth to explore why VC and PE are moving from alternative to essential in the modern family office portfolio, and what it takes to build conviction, deal flow, and governance in private markets from scratch.

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Ahmed Al-Darwish

Managing Partner

Noa Capital Partners

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Alex Ma

Managing Principal

AO Holdings

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Sultan Ghaznawi

Chairman and Managing Director

Scene Holding

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Dr. Jörg Goschin

Chief Executive Officer

KfW Capital

12:45

A Bridge to the Mind: Blurring the Lines between humans and Machines through BCI

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:45 to 13:15

Experts discuss the technical leaps in high-bandwidth neural implants that is enabling mobility, communication and control for everyday quality of life improvement that is not just for physically impaired persons.

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Amber Tong

Journalist

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Phoenix Peng

Founder & CEO

12:50

Can Nations Build AI Alone? The Rise of Global Innovation Corridors

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
12:50 to 13:10

As countries develop national AI strategies, this session explores how cross-border partnerships and innovation corridors are shaping the next phase of global AI development.

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Aldric Chau

General Manager, Digital

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Prof. Yang Hongxia

Founder & Chief Scientist

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

13:00

Global Women in AI Hong Kong Chapter Launch

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
13:00 to 14:00

Join us for the official launch of the Global Women in AI (GWAI) Hong Kong Chapter, hosted as part of LEAP East at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.This event brings together founders, AI practitioners, researchers, investors, and policymakers for the inaugural gathering of the GWAI community in Hong Kong. We will explore how AI is transforming leadership, entrepreneurship, and the global workforce, while highlighting the importance of diversity in shaping the future of technology.

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Jessica Lam

Group Chief Strategy Officer

13:10

Who's Building and Powering Asia's Compute Economy?

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
13:10 to 13:30

Scaling AI across Asia requires powerful cloud platforms, regional compute infrastructure, and new architectures designed for enterprise-grade AI deployment.

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Roland Morales

Director of Business Development and Strategy

Hong Kong Data Centre Association

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Wei Sheong Toh

VP and General Manager, Worldwide Channels and ASEAN Sales

Rebellions Inc.

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Michael Rinaman

Managing Director of Strategy, Research and Insights

13:15

Scaling Global Innovation for Patient Impact: Tech for Cancer Care

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
13:15 to 13:30

Explore the transformation of oncology through a platform that leverages unique technologies and components to treat cancer.

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Minami Maeda

CEO

Rakuten Medical

Saudi’s Creative Economy: Where Culture, Technology, Esports and Entertainment Converge

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
13:15 to 13:50

Saudi’s cultural and entertainment sectors are becoming a new arena for technology-led experiences. From music and film to esports and fashion, this session looks at how creative industries are using platforms, digital tools and immersive formats to engage audiences, build new markets and expand Saudi’s cultural influence on the global stage.

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

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Burak Cakmak

CEO

Fashion Commission, Ministry of Culture, Saudi Arabia

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Rawan Al Butairi

CEO

Saudi Esports Federation

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Faisal Baltyuor

Film Producer and CEO

Red Sea Film Foundation

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Nada Alhelabi

General Manager

MDLBEAST Foundation

13:30

The Academic Edge: Scaling Medical Research into Life-Changing Medicine

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
13:30 to 14:00

Join us for a conversation that explores K-Pharma’s journey from a Keio to a pioneer in regenerative medicine and the strategic hurdles of scaling iPS cell technology to treat intractable neurological diseases

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Yu Aruga

Managing Director, Investment Committee Member

ICMG Ventures

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Masato Matsumoto

Managing Director & CFO

When Financial Institutions Become Autonomous

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
13:30 to 14:10

As AI agents begin orchestrating underwriting, compliance, fraud detection, customer servicing, and operational workflows, financial institutions are entering a new era of autonomous decision-making. This discussion explores what an AI-native financial institution could look like, where human oversight remains essential, and how organizations can balance efficiency, governance, and trust as AI takes on increasingly critical decisions.

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Grant Pan

CEO, Ark Hong Kong

CFO, Noah Holdings

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Jian Huang

Partner, Head of HK & GBA

Control Risks

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Cliff Ching

Head of AI Platform & Innovation

AXA HK & Macau

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Wei Hopeman

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Arbor Ventures

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Neil Tan

Founder & Chairman

Artificial Intelligence Association of Hong Kong (AIHK)

13:50

From AI Ambition to Enterprise Value

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
13:50 to 14:10

Join EY and Microsoft for a candid fireside chat that moves beyond the hype to explore how organizations are driving frontier transformation with AI – turning ambition into measurable enterprise value. Hear what’s working, what’s not, and how EY and Microsoft are partnering with customers to lead this next wave of transformation across strategy, governance, talent, and technology, with practical, real-world insights you can act on now.

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

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Patrick Winter

Asia-Pacific Area Managing Partner

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Ali Powell

Corporate Vice President, Asia Technical Services

14:00

Robotics in Healthtech: From Training To Surgery

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:00 to 14:30

Medical Robotics and AI are playing a critical role in modernizing the health sector. In this session we explore the application of these technologies in training doctors, diagnose patients and provide treatment.

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Mitchell Price

Director

Future Strategy Group

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Prof Philip Chiu Wai-yan

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

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Prof. Max Meng

Chief Scientist

Yuanhua Robotics

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Eddie Zhang

Head of Technology Research & Development

Noah Medical

Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund Partner Session: Navigating the AI Supercycle: NextGen Partners on the Emerging AI Landscape and the Investment Opportunity Set

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:00 to 15:00

Join NextGen Partners for a dynamic 45-minute dialogue exploring high-stakes investment opportunities within the emerging global AI landscape, with a strategic focus on the Chinese AI ecosystem. Our team members Kenny and Gary will dissect the intense US-China AI race, decode our current positioning in the AI supercycle, and pinpoint exactly where the highest-conviction opportunities lie. They will also share how NextGen delivers distinct, actionable value-add to portfolios navigating this rapidly evolving tech frontier.

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Kenny Ho

Partner

NextGen Partners

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Gary Leung

Director

NextGen Partners

Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund Partner Session: Navigating the AI Supercycle: NextGen Partners on the Emerging AI Landscape and the Investment Opportunity Set

July 9, 2026
14:00 to 15:00

Join NextGen Partners for a dynamic 45-minute dialogue exploring high-stakes investment opportunities within the emerging global AI landscape, with a strategic focus on the Chinese AI ecosystem. Our team members Kenny and Gary will dissect the intense US-China AI race, decode our current positioning in the AI supercycle, and pinpoint exactly where the highest-conviction opportunities lie. They will also share how NextGen delivers distinct, actionable value-add to portfolios navigating this rapidly evolving tech frontier.

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Kenny Ho

Partner

NextGen Partners

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Gary Leung

Director

NextGen Partners

14:10

The World's Next Industrial Innovation Hub

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:10 to 14:25

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Aysar Tayeb

Chief Strategist, Corporate Innovation

The New Finance Playbook: From Ai-Native to Ai-Augmented

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:10 to 14:45

Finance is entering a new AI chapter. Some players are building new digital finance infrastructure with AI at the core, while others are upgrading the systems that already move money, manage risk and serve customers at scale. This session explores how AI is reshaping the financial operating model, from financial-grade AI infrastructure and digital identity to smarter banking, client experience and enterprise technology. It will look at what changes when AI moves from experimentation into real financial operations, what is needed to make adoption secure and scalable, and who is best positioned to win.

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

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Benson Wong

Managing Director/ Head of digital

J.P. Morgan International Private Bank

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Stephen Tsang

Chief Revenue Officer

NTT Com Asia

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Garry Sien

Chief Solutions Officer, International Business

Ant Digital Technologies

14:25

AI, Energy & Infrastructure....From Vision to Value: Operationalizing Industrial AI at Scale

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:25 to 14:45

Demonstrate how organizations can move from AI ambition to measurable business outcomes by building the right digital foundations, integrating AI across operations, and deploying Industrial AI securely and at scale ++ Use cases.

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Ali AlShehri

Acting President, Digital Connectivity

Aramco Digital

14:30

The CRISPR Revolution: From Lab Bench to Bedside

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:30 to 14:40

This session explores the journey of CRISPR technology from its origins as a bacterial defense mechanism to its current status as a transformative clinical reality. It focuses on how precision genome editing is moving beyond the laboratory to treat previously incurable diseases.

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Tian Zhu

Co-founder & CEO

14:40

From Lab to Global Impact: Accelerating Health & Biotech Innovation Through Ecosystem Collaboration

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:40 to 15:20

The journey from a breakthrough scientific discovery to a market-ready health solution is rarely a solo endeavor. In this session, we hear from the diverse players driving the Greater Bay Area’s life and health science revolution. From global top tier medical faculty and diversified healthcare conglomerate to AI-driven biomedical startup, our panelists will explore the future of health innovation. We will uncover how strategic partnerships, cross-border synergies, and state-of-the-art incubation are helping companies navigate R&D bottlenecks, scale operations, and bring life-changing technologies to the global market.

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Dr. Eddie So

Senior Manager, Ecosystem Development (Life & Health Science)

Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP)

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Prof. Justin Wu

Associate Dead (Health Systems), Faculty of Medicine

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

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Da Liu

Managing Director of the CR-CP Life Science Fund

Founder of Hong Kong Life Sciences Investment Association

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Dr Taerin Lee

CEO

14:45

Cross-Border AI Computing: Insights from the Xiamen Outlook 2026

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:45 to 15:05

A first look at the Xiamen Cross-Border Computing Outlook 2026. Drawing on the Xiamen Free Trade Zone's combination of FTZ status, a bonded platform, and a cross-border RMB pilot, the session shares insights on how China's AI computing capability can reach the Middle East and Southeast Asia — covering domestic-chip-backed computing supply, RMB-denominated API services, and frameworks for compliant cross-border data flows.

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Luke Lyu (吕国强)

Editor-in-Chief

iFeng Digital Economy Channel (Phoenix New Media)

The Biological OS: How AI is Decoding Life and Longevity

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
14:45 to 15:20

AI is changing what is possible in the lab, from discovering new drugs faster to modelling disease and exploring the science of longer, healthier lives. This panel brings together leaders in biotech, medical innovation and investment to discuss how AI is moving from research curiosity to real-world healthcare engine, and what it could mean for the future of medicine.

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Amber Tong

Journalist

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Alex Zhavoronkov

Founder & CEO

Insilico Medicine

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Minami Maeda

CEO

Rakuten Medical

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Frank Yang

Founding Partner & CEO

Blue Ocean Capital Group

15:00

Ecosystem Xchange: Gobi Partners X HSBC

July 9, 2026
15:00 to 16:00

Gobi Partners brings together investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders to explore how startups can navigate Asia’s evolving tech landscape. Through a panel discussion, selected startup showcases, and closing networking, attendees will gain practical insights into cross-border fundraising, regional expansion, and the partnerships shaping growth across Asia.

Rocket Fuel East Round 2

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:00 to 17:00

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Conrad Tsang

Founder and Chairman

Strategic Year Holdings Limited

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Aaron Tan

CEO & Founder

Gobi Partners X HSBC Partner Session

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:00 to 16:00

Gobi Partners brings together investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders to explore how startups can navigate Asia’s evolving tech landscape. Through a panel discussion, selected startup showcases, and closing networking, attendees will gain practical insights into cross-border fundraising, regional expansion, and the partnerships shaping growth across Asia.

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Lashare Chen

CEO

Hongke Electronic Technology

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Renee Pan

Managing Director

Gobi Partners

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Hunter Chan

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Simon Wong

Board Director

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Jane Xiao

Chief Scientific Officer

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Frankie Fan

Co-Founder and CEO

15:05

Day 2 Closing Reflections

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:05 to 15:15

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Yamilette Cano

Founder, Speaker & Author

Louder Global

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Mornine .

AiMOGA Robotics

15:20

From Artificial to Actual Intelligence: Brain inspired biological computing

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:20 to 15:40

An exploration of the shift from traditional AI to Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI) through bio-hybrid computers and their application in computing, data centers, testing drugs, and modeling diseases.

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Hon Weng Chong

Founder & CEO

Cortical Labs

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Esther Wong

Founder and CEO

3C AGI Partners

Supporting and Integrating the Evolution of AI - Toshiba’s Business Direction

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:20 to 15:35

The evolution of AI is proceeding at an accelerating and irreversible pace. In this presentation, I will offer insights into how Toshiba—a company that has been developing businesses to support social infrastructure for 150 years—is interpreting the current era and driving its business forward.

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Shunsuke Okada

Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer

15:35

The One-Motor Trap: Why Most AI Initiatives Stall — and What to Re-Architect Instead

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:35 to 15:50

When factories first got electricity, they dropped one big motor where the steam engine had stood — and waited nearly forty years for a productivity gain that arrived only once they re-architected the whole floor around it. Most organizations are making the same mistake with AI: adopting it without re-architecting for it. This keynote reframes AI as a re-architecture moment, not an adoption one, and sets out the three shifts leaders can act on now — in their data, their workflows, and their org — to build a foundation that can actually carry what AI promises.

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Giedre Malinauskaite

Chief Strategy Officer

15:40

LIVE DEMO: Cortical Labs CL1 Biological Computer

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:40 to 15:50

Get a first hand look at what programmable organic neural networks, born on a silicon chip and living inside a digital world can accomplish on the world’s first code deployable biological computer

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Hon Weng Chong

Founder & CEO

Cortical Labs

15:50

Beyond Borders: How China’s Tech Innovators are Scaling Globally

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:50 to 16:25

Chinese tech companies are no longer only competing at home. A new generation of founders and business leaders are taking bold ideas, advanced products and fast-moving business models into global markets.This session explores what it really takes to scale beyond China, from building trust with international customers and adapting to local markets, to finding the right capital, partners and long-term growth strategy. With CMBI bringing an investor’s lens, the discussion will also look at what makes a Chinese tech company truly ready for global scale.

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Sherry Xiaoxiao Qi

Deputy head of the PE investment department, Managing director

CMB International

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Cathy Kun Liu

Senior Vice President

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Li Wang

Co-founder & COO

Even Realities

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Dan Shu

Partner & CFO

Shenzhen XGRIDS Innovation Co., Ltd.

Engineered Health: The Future of Immunotherapy

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
15:50 to 16:30

Cell therapies are transforming treatment for cancer, rare diseases, and genetic disorders. As the technology matures, Hong Kong is emerging as a key region for clinical trials, manufacturing capacity, and patient access.

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Sean Davies

CEO

Green is the New Black

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Jielun Zhu

Co-Founder, CFO & CBO

Excalipoint Therapeutics Inc.

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Julie Wu

President & CFO

Full-Life Technologies

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Dr. Hua Zhang

VP and CSO

Biotherapeutics (HK) Limited

16:00

Ecosystem XChange Mixer Day 2

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
16:00 to 17:00

Join us at the Ecosystem Mixer to wrap up the day with founders, investors, community partners, and ecosystem leaders in a more informal setting. Designed for connection and conversation, the mixer offers a space to meet, exchange ideas, and build relationships across the community.

16:25

Scaling Global Fintechs from Southeast Asia

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
16:25 to 17:00

This session illustrates how the global tech map is shifting: Southeast Asia is no longer just a destination for capital, but a primary source of population-scale fintechs designed for global export.

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Yinglan Tan

Founding Managing Partner

Insignia Ventures Partners

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Pratyush Prasanna

Group CEO

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Dr. Yanan Wu

Chairman and CEO

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Tianwei Liu

CEO and Co-Founder

16:30

Lessons Learned From The Platform Era of The Obesity Market

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 9, 2026
16:30 to 17:00

The obesity market is undergoing a fundamental change with GLP-1 based therapies rising in popularity and eroding the stigma around pharmacotherapy. In this session we look into a future beyond GLP-1 and into consumer business models shaping this market.

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

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Prof Aimin Xu

Founder

ImmunoDiagnostics

End of Day 2 - 9th July

Day 3 - 10th July

09:50

Bridging Borders, Accelerating Innovation: HSITP as the Ultimate Gateway for Mainland and Global I&T Expansion

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
09:50 to 10:00

Positioned at the heart of the Hetao Co-operation Zone, HSITP leverages the unique "One River, Two Banks" and "One Zone, Two Parks" framework to drive New Quality Productive Forces.In this keynote, Vincent Ma, CEO of HSITP, will share how the park is built as a world-class industry-academia-research platform and a competitive R&D transformation and pilot production base. Discover how HSITP functions as a premier testing ground for institutional and policy innovation—pioneering the seamless, cross-boundary flow of key innovation elements including personnel, materials, capital, and data to unlock unparalleled growth for global tech leaders expanding into the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

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Vincent Ma

CEO

Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park

09:55

Opening Remarks

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
09:55 to 10:00

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Elliott Gotkine

Emmy Award-winning

TV news correspondent

10:00

Opening Remarks Day 3

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

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Melody Kwan

Presenter | Content Creator

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

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Yamilette Cano

Founder, Speaker & Author

Louder Global

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Mornine .

AiMOGA Robotics

Smart Hong Kong – Transforming the City through Innovation and Technology

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:00 to 10:10

As we gather to shape the future of smart and urban living, this keynote frames Hong Kong’s vision in embracing innovation and technology to build a world framed Smart Hong Kong characterised by a strong economy and high quality of living.

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Cari Wu

Acting Deputy Commissioner for Digital Policy (Digital Infrastructure)

Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

AI+X and Making the Impossible Happen

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:00 to 10:15

The biggest disruption to any industry isn’t AI, it’s irrelevance. The organizations that thrive will be those willing to reinvent themselves before they have to, the ones who LEAP ahead of the others. Discover how innovation and higher education are being disrupted by AI+X and other transformative shifts.

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Dr. Muhammad Al-Saggaf

President

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)

10:10

Driving Innovation in Hong Kong’s Digital Economy

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:10 to 10:20

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the global economic and social landscape. This address explores the strategic initiatives driving Hong Kong’s digital economy forward by capitalising on the city's unique advantages in AI development. The discussion will cover how our strategic policies leverage R&D, advanced digital infrastructure, AI governance, industry support, cross-boundary data flow, and talent development as well as how we empower public services through AI.

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Dr. NG Ping Chung

Deputy Commissioner for Digital Policy (Data Governance)

Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

From Smart Campus to Smarter Cities: Powering the Next Urban Economy

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:10 to 10:25

This session explores how HKSTP’s campus ecosystem serves as a launchpad for urban innovation. Starting from our Smart Campus, we showcase award-winning infrastructure and measurable achievements, and greener touchpoints embedded across the user journey.Through a unified platform, we enhance the end-to-end experience, seamlessly connecting services, facilities, and community engagement. Together with our park companies and partners, we co-create solutions with real-world impact.HKSTP pioneers the use of smart solutions in a live environment demonstrating how sustainability and technology come together to shape smarter, more connected cities and power the next urban economy.

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Filla Mak

Chief Property and Asset Officer

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)

B2B AI Platform + Ecosystem: Scaling in a World of Fragmented Demand

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:10 to 10:30

This session unpacks the Platform + Ecosystem strategy of an AI company to turn the fragmented demand of the B2B market into sustainable growth, including how to build a configurable AI platform that standardizes the core technology, how to orchestrate a thriving AI developer ecosystem, and how to implement the unique business model for 10 years.

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Iris Liu

Co-founder

Extreme Vision

10:15

The Day Hong Kong Stopped Looking for Coins: How Octopus Became the Digital Backbone of Everyday Life in Hong Kong

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:15 to 10:30

Tim Ying will share how Octopus evolved from a transit card into critical urban infrastructure, and what this evolution signals for the next generation of embedded digital economies.

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Tim Ying

CEO

Octopus Holdings Limited

10:20

Quantum Thinking, Real-World Problems

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:20 to 10:50

Quantum-inspired algorithms and advanced optimization systems are beginning to solve challenges traditional computing struggles to handle. From energy grids and logistics networks to manufacturing and critical infrastructure, this session explores how next-generation computational approaches are being applied to real-world industrial problems today. Where are these systems already delivering measurable impact, and how close are we to practical quantum advantage at scale?

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Hiroshi Nakata

Chief Operating Officer & Board Member

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Brad Kim

Chief Quantum Officer

MegaZone Cloud

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Mohamed El Dallal

CEO of PodMedia Network

Chair of the IEEE Entrepreneurship Global Committee for 2026

10:25

The Next Frontier for Physical AI Driven Spaces

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:25 to 10:40

We take a look at the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in shaping the spaces of tomorrow and its integration in digital transformation, infrastructure, mobility, and community engagement.

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Anita Chen

Chief Strategy Officer

10:30

So You Want To Be A VC? The Odds Are Tougher Than You Think.

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:30 to 11:15

Over the past decade, a parallel ecosystem has matured that lets investors build real track records, deploy meaningful capital, and back generational companies, often in parallel with, or as a stepping stone to, a traditional fund. AngelList alone now administers over $171 billion in assets, powers 25,000+ active investment vehicles, and has helped fund 108 unicorns through syndicates. Last year, one SPV platform enabled 3,000+ investors to back 420 deals: from SpaceX and OpenAI to pre-seed rounds with individual deals delivering 70x in 18 months (ElevenLabs) and 10x in 6 months (Praktika AI). Add solo capitalists, rolling funds, scout programs, and angel communities, and the professional investing landscape has meaningfully broadened.

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Mohammed Alzubi

Founder and Managing Partner

Nama Ventures

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Jed Ng

Founder

Angel School VC

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Erdinc Ekinci

Founding Partner

Co-capital.vc

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Gurpreet Ghuliani

Operating Partner

Titanium Ventures

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Kenneth Kwong

Founder and CEO

The Living Platform: How AI and Immersive Tech Redefine Urban Value

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:30 to 11:05

Cities are becoming more intelligent, connected and experience-led. From smart districts and mobility platforms to entertainment and esports, this session explores how AI and immersive technology are reshaping the way people move, gather, play and spend time in urban environments.The discussion will look at how future cities can move beyond.

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

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Allan Zeman

Chairman

Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd

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Danny Tang

Co-founder and CEO

Hero Esports

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Aaron Tan

CEO & Founder

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Essam Haroun

Executive Director, Fan Experience

Local Organising Committee AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027TM

10:40

Advancing Energy Tech: Bridging Innovation and Real-World Transformation

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:40 to 10:55

As innovation across the energy landscape advances, electrification, automation and digitalization are unlocking new levels of efficiency and sustainability at scale. We consider how AI-powered systems, intelligent devices, and advisory-led digital services are enhancing performance, strengthening resilience, and supporting long-term sustainability.

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Jonathan Chiu

President

Schneider Electric Hong Kong

10:50

Engineering AI Systems for the Real Economy

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:50 to 11:10

This session would explore how AI is evolving from model-driven capabilities into more autonomous, system-level intelligence, covering areas such as agentic AI, decision-making systems, and how these architect0075res are beginning to operate in more complex, real-world environments.

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Fan Zhang

Founder & CEO

10:55

Infrastructure in the Intelligence age: Building adaptive and cognitive systems

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
10:55 to 11:25

As our urban challenges evolve so do our need for dynamic and responsive infrastructure that go beyond digital transformation. We discuss how AI, IoT, and machine learning are transforming traditional infrastructure in telecommunications, transportation, real estate, and energy.

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Kelly Johnston

Chief Operating Officer

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Joanne Hon

Managing Director

Equinix Asia Pacific

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Simon Wang

CEO

HelloPower ANZ

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Steve Lewis

Partner, Hong Kong Leader of Infrastructure Advisory and Global Leader of Infrastructure Technology

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Hendy Harianto

Group Chief Information Technology Officer

Meratus Group

11:05

Autonomous Everything: The Dawn of Physical AI

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:05 to 11:40

Autonomy is moving from controlled pilots into real urban environments. From robotaxis and autonomous delivery vehicles to air mobility and smart city infrastructure, physical AI is starting to reshape how people and goods move through cities. This panel brings together leaders deploying autonomous systems at scale to discuss what must happen next, from safety and regulation to infrastructure readiness, public trust and commercial viability.

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

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Dr. Ted Suen

CEO

ASTRI - Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute

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Tiancheng Lou

Co-Founder & CTO

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Will Zhao

Executive President

11:10

Creator Marketing AI Agent & Video AIGC

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:10 to 11:30

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Fahad Alosaimi

General Manager

DeiNai Saudi Arabia

11:15

PE in the Room: What Private Equity Actually Wants From Tech Founders

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:15 to 12:00

Most founders think PE is for later, but growth-stage PE is reshaping how tech companies scale across Southeast Asia and the Gulf. What do PE managers look for that VCs don't? How do PE-backed founders change operations, governance, and speed? And when does PE money accelerate vs. complicate the exit path?

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Issam Al-Mamlouk

CEO

I.M. Mamlouk & Co.

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Ioto Iotov

Founder & Managing Partner

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Brian Sheng

CEO & Co-Founder

11:25

From Commute to Experience: The Entertainment and Productivity Revolution Inside AVs

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:25 to 11:40

When driving becomes optional, time becomes valuable. We investigate how autonomous vehicles are becoming mobile offices, entertainment centers, and wellness sanctuaries. Examine emerging technologies including AR/VR integration, holographic displays, advanced audio systems, and seamless connectivity that transform travel time into productive or leisure time. Case studies will showcase partnerships between automakers, content providers, and workspace solutions redefining what we do during our journeys.

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Richard Chung

Executive Advisor

Toyota Boshoku Corp.

11:30

Reshaping Logistics with Physical AI Transportation Robot Network

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:30 to 11:50

As trillion freight market diving into “iphone moment”, Transportation Robot is becoming the largest & earliest application scenario of Embodied AI. This speech will unfold how KargoBot's AI+Robot+Service strategy will unlock the next-gen trillion freight market value. KargoBot is an L4 autonomous driving Robotruck company, and has became the first in the industry to practiced fully-driverout robotruck operation and put into positive commercialization model. Currently, KargoBot operates the world's largest robotruck fleets, with the no.1 scale of autonomous freight mileage, and has launched the world's 1st transportation robot for heavy duty freight.

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Dr. Junqing Wei

CEO

11:40

Quantum in the Real World: From Lab Advantage to City-scale Impact

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:40 to 12:00

Quantum computing is moving from research promise to practical use cases. This fireside looks at where quantum can create real advantage, from materials discovery and logistics optimization to financial modelling, and what it will take for cities, industries and enterprises to turn breakthrough science into measurable impact.

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Finn Hatherell

Venture Partner

Next Sequence

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Brad Kim

Chief Quantum Officer

MegaZone Cloud

From Congestion to Connection: The Tech Powered Future of Transport in Asia

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:40 to 12:10

Asia’s cities face gridlock, emissions, and explosive population growth but also the chance to leapfrog into a smarter mobility future. This panel explores how EVs, ride share, micromobility, autonomous vehicles, and AI are reshaping urban transport that set a global to set benchmark for the future of movement.

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Mitchell Price

Director

Future Strategy Group

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Richard Chung

Executive Advisor

Toyota Boshoku Corp.

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Will Peters

Regional Head

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Dr. Non Arkara

Senior Expert in Smart City Promotion

Digital Economy Promotion Agency

11:50

The Rise of Intelligent Robotics

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
11:50 to 12:30

AI-powered robotics are moving beyond factory pilots into real-world operations across manufacturing, logistics, retail, and critical infrastructure. This session explores how intelligent machines are transforming physical industries through automation, autonomy, and real-time decision-making, and what it takes to deploy robotics at scale in the real economy.

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Fei Liu

Strategy Technology Officer

KEENON ROBOTICS

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Gordon Yao

President of AGIBOT META, VP of AGIBOT Asia & META

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Al Zhong

Director - Smart Manufacturing, Solutions & Services Group

Lenovo Asia Pacific

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Ben Zhao

Vice President

Booster Robotics

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Victoria Guo

Partner

SEC Newgate China

12:00

The New Geography of Venture Capital: Building Cross-Border AI & Capital Corridors

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:00 to 12:30

As AI reshapes the global technology landscape, venture capital is becoming increasingly cross-border, network-driven, and geopolitically influenced. This conversation explores how investors, fund managers, and LPs are building new capital corridors between the United States and Asia, why emerging manager ecosystems are gaining importance, and how founders can navigate a world where access to markets, capital, and strategic partnerships increasingly spans multiple regions rather than a single hub.

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Ivan Ong

Partner

AFG Partners

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Morgan Wong

Advisor

Headline - Asia

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Gabbas Yerzhanov

Deputy Chairman of the Board

Qazaqstan Investment Corporation

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Murong Yang

Managing Director

Future Capital

From Vision to Reality: Scaling the Next Generation of Tech Giants

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:00 to 12:35

What separates category-creating companies from good ideas? Founders, investors and university voices on the systems that produce enduring tech companies.

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Lisheng Wang

General Partner

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Vanessa Xu

Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer

VS Partners

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Conrad Tsang

Founder and Chairman

Strategic Year Holdings Limited

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Dr. Arwa Alrawais

General Manager of Business Development in ICT

Ministry of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

12:10

Quantum Power! Sustainable Cities though Quantum Computing

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:10 to 12:30

We explore how quantum technology can be leveraged to address cities most pressing sustainability challenges. We take a look at the practical application of Quantum AI technologies to improve energy efficiency, mobility, and even public safety measures.

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Kelly Johnston

Chief Operating Officer

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Hiroshi Nakata

Chief Operating Officer & Board Member

12:30

Saudi or Not: A 6-Question Readiness Check for APAC Founders Thinking About the Gulf

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:30 to 12:50

Half the founders in this room have been asked whether they should expand to Saudi Arabia. Most don't have a clean way to answer that question, and the ones who guess wrong burn 18 months finding out. This clinic cuts through the noise with a practical decision framework built from direct experience accelerating and scaling foreign tech companies into the Kingdom: six questions that separate founders who are ready from founders who are in love with the idea.

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Kelvin Au

Chief Venture Officer

The Human in the Machine

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:30 to 12:50

As AI systems become more conversational, adaptive, and emotionally aware, the relationship between humans and intelligent machines is rapidly evolving. From digital humans and AI companions to intelligent agents embedded in everyday life, this conversation explores how trust, identity, empathy, and human connection will shape the next generation of AI experiences.

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Jeanne Lim

Founder and CEO

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

AI & Data Centers: Powering Growth Sustainably

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:30 to 13:00

The global data center market is racing toward $1 trillion by 2035, turbocharged by AI. But AI workloads demand massive energy — up to 1,000 times more than traditional web searches. How do we build the digital infrastructure we need without breaking our climate commitments?This session brings together leaders in real estate, sustainability, and technology to explore the full picture: the energy challenge, emerging solutions like 24/7 carbon-free energy and nuclear power, waste heat recovery, and what net-zero actually means for hyperscalers. Perfect for investors, developers, and city planners shaping the next generation of data centers.

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Sakib Rabbani

Founder & CEO

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Chungha Cha

Advisor to Chairman

Koramco REITS & Trust

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Paul Tang

Chief Representative Greater China

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Dr. Martin Zhu

Co-founder and CEO

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Chun Yin Mak

Senior Vice President

12:35

How The Agentic Web Will Reshape Everything

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:35 to 12:50

Keynote by Yat Siu, Chairman of Animoca Brands

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Yat Siu

Chairman

Animoca Brands

12:50

Industrializing Intelligence , Subtitle: Scaling Global Compute through the AI Factory

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:50 to 13:05

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
12:50 to 13:10

This keynote provides comprehensive global foresight into the opportunities and challenges defining the future of AI for Science. We will examine the massive $40 trillion institutional investment migration expected by 2030, inviting governments, innovators, corporates, and investors to co-create a future where systemic changes to accelerate the commercialization of major scientific discoveries will deliver maximized returns for people, planet, profits, and prosperity.

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Dr. Christina Yan Zhang

CEO

The Metaverse Institute

13:00

Accelerating Innovation Through Smarter Initiatives - a Euro perspective

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:00 to 13:20

A look at how European cities are moving from strategy to scalable deployment of AI and smart city programs, highlighting practical governance models, infrastructure acceleration, and cross-sector integration.

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Fernando de Pablo Martin

Digital Office Director

Madrid City Council

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Svetlana Tesic

Co-Founder

Mayors of Europe

13:05

Next Generation Family Offices and the Future of Global Investing

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:05 to 13:40

A discussion with next generation leaders from global family offices on how investment priorities are evolving across generations. The conversation will explore technology investing, venture allocations, governance inside family enterprises, and how younger family members are shaping the direction of family capital across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

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Abbas Hashmi

Principal

Saudi Family Holdings

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Leo Lien

NextGen & Principal

Li Mow Enamelling Co.

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Majid Dawood

CEO

Yasaar Limited

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Paul Chu

Chief Executive Officer

PC Ventures

13:10

Creator Economies in Web3: Ownership, Access and New Digital Value

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:10 to 13:50

Web3 is moving beyond speculation toward practical tools for ownership, access and monetization. This panel explores how blockchain infrastructure, creator platforms and digital payment rails can help creators build direct audience relationships, unlock new revenue models and participate more fully in the digital economy.

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Minh Do

Chief Operating Officer

Animoca Brands

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Jonathan Au-Yeung

Head of Product Solutions, Anvita

Ant Digital Technologies

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Sebastien Borget

Co-Founder of The Sandbox, Ambassador of SANDchain

The Sandbox

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Teddy Hung

Head of Business Development and Advisory

Solana Company (Nasdaq: HSDT)

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

13:20

Building Intelligent Cities: How Industrial AI is Powering the Urban Future

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:20 to 13:35

An exploration of how Industrial AI is transforming urban infrastructure through intelligent platforms, connected ecosystems, and data-driven decision-making to build smarter, more resilient, and sustainable cities.

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Mitchell Price

Director

Future Strategy Group

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Yasser AlArfaj

President, Digital Platforms

Aramco Digital

13:35

From Vision to Value: Operationalizing KSA’s Smart & Sustainable Initiatives

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:35 to 13:50

A practical perspective on how Saudi Arabia’s smart and sustainable initiatives are progressing under Vision 2030 We’ll explore what truly makes cities smart, connecting these insights to the Kingdom’s ambitions across cities, sectors, and giga projects.

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Abdullah Alsaiari

Principal of Digital Consulting

13:40

First Principles of Value-driven AI

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:40 to 14:00

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Mario Li

Senior AI Specialist Solutions Architect

Alibaba Cloud

13:50

Physical AI: Autonomous Driving and the Road to Real-World Intelligence

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:50 to 14:05

Autonomous driving is emerging as one of the first large-scale applications of Physical AI, bringing intelligence out of the digital world and into complex real-world environments. In this keynote, Dr. Tiancheng Lou, Founder and CTO of Pony.ai, will explore how self-driving systems are evolving from assisted capabilities to autonomous agents that can perceive, plan, act and continuously improve. Drawing on Pony.ai’s work in L4 autonomous driving, he will examine why imitation alone is not enough, how reinforcement learning and world models are enabling AI to learn what “good driving” means, and what this shift reveals about the broader path toward real-world intelligence.

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Tiancheng Lou

Co-Founder & CTO

AGI Advances into the Physical World

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
13:50 to 14:10

As AGI moves from the digital world into the physical world, general-purpose intelligent robots are emerging as the next revolutionary intelligent device. This session explores how embodied foundation models, reliable robotic hardware, and real-world deployment scenarios are converging to create a new generation of productivity-driven robots. Drawing on applications in semiconductor manufacturing, transportation hub services and public service, the presentation will discuss how general-purpose robots can address structural labor shortages, improve operational efficiency, and continuously learn from real-world environments. It offers a forward-looking view of how robots may become as widely adopted as smartphones and smart vehicles, reshaping industries and expanding human capabilities in the years ahead.

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Kristine Mo

Vice President of Global Market and Ecosystem

AI2 Robotics

14:00

PolyU presents CEO Spotlight: Startup Innovation Challenge

July 10, 2026
14:00 to 15:00

This session is jointly organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the CEO Club. Join us to hear from PolyU startups who will present their innovations through a 3-minute pitch under two technology tracks, namely AI+ and HealthTech.

PolyU presents CEO Spotlight: Startup Innovation Challenge

Ecosystem Xchange - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:00 to 15:00

This session is jointly organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the CEO Club. Join us to hear from PolyU startups who will present their innovations through a 3-minute pitch under two technology tracks, namely AI+ and HealthTech.

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Dong Cheng

Associate Vice President

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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Paul Yeung Hoi Shan

President

PolyU CEO Club

Advancing Connectivity for the AI Era

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:00 to 14:15

AI is no longer a future trend; it is becoming the next global infrastructure shift. From cloud platforms and data centers to smart cities, fintech, gaming, biotech, and connected devices, AI is creating new demands for speed, scale, security, sovereignty, and sustainability.This session explores how advanced connectivity will become the critical foundation for the AI era. As intelligence moves across devices, networks, edge clouds, and data centers, traffic patterns are changing, business models are evolving, and new policy and investment priorities are emerging.Join us to discuss how secure, high-performance connectivity can unlock AI innovation, support responsible digital growth, and enable new opportunities across industries. Together with customers and strategic partners, we are advancing the connectivity to connect intelligence everywhere.

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Kent Wong

Vice President, Head of IP Networks, Asia Pacific

14:05

New Options for The Intelligent World

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:05 to 14:20

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Hong-Eng Koh

Global Chief Public Services Industry Scientist, Global Public Sector Business Unit

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd

14:10

AI at the Edge of Infrastructure

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:10 to 14:30

AI is only as powerful as the infrastructure behind it. As organizations move from experimentation to production, they must build the foundations required to support modern AI workflows, from data and compute to orchestration, deployment, and governance. This discussion explores the infrastructure challenges and opportunities shaping the next wave of AI adoption, and what it takes to build scalable, enterprise-ready AI systems.

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Esther Wong

Founder and CEO

3C AGI Partners

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Juliet Mann

Anchor, CGTN Europe

14:15

The Multi-Market Playbook: Mastering Expansion in a Fragmented World

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:15 to 14:50

The rules of global expansion have been rewritten. Capital chases AI-native companies across borders faster than any previous technology cycle- but landing in a new market remains stubbornly local, with regulation, distribution, and trust all behaving differently in Riyadh than in Singapore or Shanghai. The founders and operators who've cracked multi-market growth share the frameworks that actually travel: how AI-driven companies scale across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and China without losing what made them win in the first place.

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William Bao Bean

Managing General Partner

Orbit Ventures

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Lena Chen

Head of MENA RHQ & Director of Corporate Strategy

Newborn Town

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Saemin Ahn

Managing Partner

Rakuten Capital

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Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje

Partner

Rasmal Ventures

14:20

Beyond Green: Unlocking Strategic Value in the New Sustainability Economy

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:20 to 14:35

Sustainability has transcended its environmental origins to become the defining force reshaping global industry, innovation, and investment. This dynamic session explores how sustainability is no longer just a compliance checkbox—it's the competitive advantage that separates market leaders from the rest.Discover how the sustainability imperative is revolutionizing industrial strategy and driving breakthrough clean technologies from lab to market. Navigate the complexities of the global energy transition as traditional and renewable sources converge into a new power paradigm. Learn how forward-thinking investors are rewriting the rules of capital allocation, embedding sustainability metrics into every decision.

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Rongtao Sun

Head of Strategic Venturing

Aramco Ventures

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Xi Dou

CEO & Co-Founder

Hytzer Energy

14:30

Bridging the AI Divide: Global Collaboration in Open-Source AI Infrastructure

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:30 to 14:40

Promoting AI Infrastructure as a global public good driven by the '3+1' open full-stack strategy. This proposal empowers the international collaboration with digital sovereignty, economic resilience, and a thriving local AI ecosystem.

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Dr. Xiong Wei

TOC Vice President

OpenAtom Foundation and Chairperson, OpenAtom openEuler Committee

14:35

Opening Digital Doors: Solutions for digital inclusion and access

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:35 to 15:05

In this session we highlight the critical role of technologies in bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusion in the digital age with a deeper look at how financial services leveraging AI and Digital Innovation to enhance accessibility to services.

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Michael Rinaman

Managing Director of Strategy, Research and Insights

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Esther Mai

Managing Director & Head, Digital Banking, Client Experience and Analytics

Standard Chartered

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Yassir Pasha

Co-Founder & CEO

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Phoebe Tang Pui-yee

General Manager in Government Relations and Public Affairs

Octopus Cards Limited

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Zubair Junjunia

Founder & CEO

14:40

The Race to Build Asia's AI Infrastructure

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:40 to 15:10

As demand for AI compute continues to grow, countries and enterprises are investing heavily in the infrastructure required to support the next generation of intelligent systems. From digital infrastructure and data centers to open-source platforms and AI computing environments, this session examines how Asia is positioning itself to compete in the global AI economy.

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Dr. Xiong Wei

TOC Vice President

OpenAtom Foundation and Chairperson, OpenAtom openEuler Committee

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Joanne Hon

Managing Director

Equinix Asia Pacific

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Dr. Kun Wang

CEO and Founder

VirtAI Tech

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Adam Shaw

Multi Award Winning Journalist & Presenter

14:50

Break & Room Preparations for Rocket Fuel Finale

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
14:50 to 15:00

15:00

Rocket Fuel Finale

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:00 to 16:30

Rocket Fuel East Finale

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:00 to 17:00

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Joshua Wu

Managing Partner

Granite Asia (formerly Golden Gate Ventures)

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Amal Dokhan

Managing Partner MENA

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Joe Chang

Managing Director

Prosperity7 Ventures

15:05

A Vision For Tomorrow: Next Gen Destination Experiences

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:05 to 15:25

An exclusive conversation exploring how human centric purpose built destinations are leveraging technologies in innovative ways to build sustainable and vibrant communities that is empowering youth to build the tech of tomorrow

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Sami AlJasser

CEO

Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City)

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Andy Fenner

Director General

WYSE Travel Confederation

15:10

Driving Innovation: How IEEE Entrepreneurship Helps Entrepreneurs Grow Globally

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:10 to 15:20

Building a successful startup requires more than a great idea—it requires access to the right network, resources, mentorship, and opportunities. This session explores how IEEE Entrepreneurship supports innovators and founders in transforming ideas into scalable ventures through a global ecosystem of experts, partners, and entrepreneurial programs.

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Mohamed El Dallal

CEO of PodMedia Network

Chair of the IEEE Entrepreneurship Global Committee for 2026

15:20

Real-World Applications Drive Humanoid Robots Toward Commercialization

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:20 to 15:35

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Sam Kwok

Vice President of International Business

AiMOGA Robotics

15:25

Inspired by Nature: Trends shaping a greener future

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:25 to 15:55

Leaders in sustainability discuss how initiatives and technologies that are inspired by nature can be implemented to reduce our impact on the environment while bringing value to stakeholders across multiple industries.

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Chungha Cha

Advisor to Chairman

Koramco REITS & Trust

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Murali Ram

Regional Director ESEAO

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Edmund Chan

Co-Founder

Meat The Next / FoodTech AI Company

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Vriko Yu

Co-founder & CEO

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Terrance Zhu

Board Secretary & Vice President of PCG Power

15:35

MC Closing Remarks

DeepFest - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:35 to 15:45

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Yamilette Cano

Founder, Speaker & Author

Louder Global

15:55

Unmanned & Autonomous: The emergence of Physical AI in Transportation

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
15:55 to 16:25

Physical AI is becoming synonymous with autonomous tech adding intelligence to any machine or robot that can move. We discuss the impact of this exciting new frontier Robotaxis, Delivery Robots, and AI technologies that are driving them forward.

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Chun Yin Mak

Senior Vice President

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Will Zhao

Executive President

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Junwei Yang

Global General Manager

Keeta Drone

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Mark Cheong

Regional Director – North Asia

16:25

Urban Air Mobility: Building the low Altitude Economy

Orbital Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
16:25 to 17:00

The regions rapidly emerging low altitude economy powered by eVTOLs and autonomous drones is transforming everything from mobility to emergency response. We explore the complexity of designing and deploying both the digital and physical infrastructure for urban air mobility.

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Mitchell Price

Director

Future Strategy Group

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Clem Newton-Brown

CEO

Aeroberm (A Skyportz company)

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Hongfei Zhang

Founder & CEO

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Kellen Xie

Senior Vice President

16:30

The People Who Shape What Comes Next

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
16:30 to 16:45

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Julian Pistone

Google Leader turned Filmmaker, Advisor

16:45

Closing Remarks

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
16:45 to 16:50

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Lillian Cheong

Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry

Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

16:50

From Riyadh to Hong Kong: Carrying the LEAP legacy forward

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
16:50 to 17:00

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Michael Champion

CEO

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Annabelle Mander

Executive Vice President and Co-creator of LEAP

17:00

Deliberations & Rocket Fuel Winner Announcements

Main Stage - LEAP East
July 10, 2026
17:00 to 17:10

19:00

LEAP East Nights Fusion

July 10, 2026
19:00 to 23:00

An exclusive LEAP East Nights networking event set in the heart of Hong Kong’s most vibrant district. Guests will experience a curated journey across three premier venues, enjoying live DJ entertainment, international cuisine including halal options, and a dynamic, high-energy atmosphere. The evening is designed to foster meaningful connections, offering a premium setting to engage with a select group of innovators and industry peers.

19:30

Tea House Theatre Experience

July 10, 2026
19:30 to 23:00

The Tea House Theatre Experience is specially designed to introduce new audiences to Cantonese opera – the local form of Chinese opera or xiqu. The 90-minute showcase of songs, instrumental musical pieces and performance excerpts, demonstrates a range of traditional styles through a changing programme of works exploring tales of romance, comedy, tragedy and martial arts. The experience also includes narration by an expert moderator with subtitles in Traditional Chinese and English.

Enjoy our special offer on admission ticket- simply enter the promo code before checkout to redeem. Purchase your ticket here: (Link).Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to ticket availability. Terms and Conditions apply.

Please ensure you have your event badge available upon arrival, as it will be required for entry and verification at the venue entrance.

End of Day 3 - 10th July