HSBC has launched a thought leadership programme with a tech-immersive tour for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients in Asia.

Dubbed “All-in on Innovation”, the three-day event allowed participants to meet with prominent venture capitalists and promising start-ups in California’s tech hub, to gain insights on thriving in the era of rapid technological change.

The programme covered emerging market trends and disruptive technologies that are shaping the future, including generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and deep tech.

It also included an immersive tour of Playground Global, an early-stage investment firm known for nurturing groundbreaking ideas, and Stanford Medical Centre, where participants witnessed life-saving transformations through AI-powered medical operations.

“We are pleased to partner with HSBC Innovation Banking to curate this exclusive platform for our UHNW clients to exchange ideas with like-minded investors and draw inspiration from the authentic ingenuity that defines the tech community,” shares Lok Yim, regional head of global private banking, Asia-Pacific, at HSBC.

Nearly 80% of private investors expect a pickup in venture capital activity over the next 12 months, and 70% of investors in listed tech companies plan to maintain their tech sector weightings, a recent HSBC Global Research survey finds.

The private market has continued to capture the interest of sophisticated investors in recent years. Global private equity assets under management have grown 22% annually over the last five years, reaching US$8.2 trillion as of June 30 2023, according to a McKinsey report.

Individual investors are expected to increase their capital commitments to PE funds at a compound annual growth rate of 18.8% by 2025 to US$1.2 trillion, significantly outpacing institutional growth, Boston Consulting Group and iCapital forecast in another report.

Photo: Bruce Leak, general partner of Playground Global, shares insights about early-stage investing with HSBC clients.