At just 18, Hong Kong tech enthusiasts Rexan Wong Chak-chi and Ken Mochizuki are both rushing to deliver their business ideas.
However, their choices of launch pad could not be further apart. While Wong is eyeing Silicon Valley in the United States for better support, Mochizuki is keen to stay in the city and contribute to the local community.
Their contrasting approaches highlight Hong Kong’s advantages and challenges as it strives to become a global innovation and talent hub under China’s strategic blueprint, with artificial intelligence (AI) and research transformation listed among the priorities of the city’s first five-year plan, to be released by the government later this year.
While the city boasts cutting-edge university research, critics have warned that an increasingly risk-averse culture and a lack of early-stage support may push young tech talent towards overseas ecosystems.
California dreaming
Wong developed an interest in AI when he was 15 after joining a class on building mobile applications.
He later connected with many leading tech entrepreneurs through X, formerly known as Twitter, and built an AI-powered app called Text Behind Image in 2024. He said the app allowed its 500,000 users to design images with text behind featured objects.