Did you expect to be recognised?

No, it was a surprise. There’s a long nomination process, followed by lengthy interviews and more reviews, back and forth etc. So I was hoping, of course, but really had no idea until it was officially announced. Which, again, makes this even more humbling.

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You work between Silicon Valley and Hong Kong. How does our city fare when it comes to technology?

I think Hong Kong is in a unique place and time. We’ve long been one of the top financial centres in the world, but with the mainland becoming the powerhouse it is, we have to reinvent ourselves for the generations to come.

Technology and innovation are ways to do so—Carrie Lam and the new administration have actually committed a remarkable budget to those sectors—and there’s plenty of talent to make things happen. We have the opportunity to reposition our identity. It’s all in the early stages, but I can see it happening.

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Technology-wise, what excites you most today?

AI and robotics are certainly on my mind, but, more broadly, I am very interested in seeing how cloud-based software can and will be disruptive in traditional industries.

You are a member of the Tatler Tribe, the panel that helps select our annual Generation T List. How has the experience been?

I’ve felt very honoured to be able to give my input for that initiative. I think it’s very exciting that Tatler is pushing something like Gen.T. Hong Kong is renowned for its tycoon families.

Being able to recognise the young, up-and-coming and independent entrepreneurs making a difference not just in Hong Kong but in the region is incredibly important. It’s worth celebrating, particularly so that the next generation can look up to these people.

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Have you been watching any startups and young ventures here?

SenseTime [an AI venture] is definitely one. It’s a great example of a Hong Kong company that has Mainland China as its main market and is doing incredibly well. Then you have Gogovan [co-founded by 2017 Gen.T lister Steven Lam] and Lalamove, of course—unicorns and very recognisable.

But there are also a few companies that people don’t necessarily identify as Hong Kong-based that are very interesting. Hypebeast [founded by 2017 Gen.T lister Kevin Ma], Casetify [founded by another 2017 Gen.T lister, Wesley Ng] and 9GAG are just a few examples. There’s an ecosystem in place, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it will reshape things.

Read more about Kent Ho here