Cover Alexis Cheng, co-founder of Cornerstone Robotics, with Christina Ong, managing director and head of Business Banking, Commercial Banking at HSBC Hong Kong (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Alexis Cheng, co-founder of Cornerstone Robotics, with Christina Ong, managing director and head of Business Banking, Commercial Banking at HSBC Hong Kong (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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Alexis Cheng of Cornerstone Robotics realised that the problem with surgery cut both ways: patients facing challenges with recovery and surgeons experiencing physical strain. Now his robots are changing the equation
For most people, the idea of surgery is daunting—not just the thought of undergoing a procedure, but the long recovery and pain that may follow. At Hong Kong tech unicorn Cornerstone Robotics, the team is working to change that experience with its flagship Sentire Surgical System.
From a console, surgeons control robotic arms that operate through a few fingertip-sized incisions on the patient’s body. At the same time, the medical team monitors the procedure through a vision cart displaying enlarged, high-definition views of the operative area. The system supports multiple specialities, including complex thoracic and hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgeries.
The company’s co-founder Alexis Cheng says the approach makes procedures less invasive and recovery faster, while also easing surgeons’ physical strain and enhancing precision. “Technology should serve people,” he said. “Hospitals gain by using these systems to train and upskill surgical teams, while society benefits from more balanced and accessible high-quality surgical care.”
Approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration in 2024, the system has been used in over 500 operations. Beyond Hong Kong and the mainland, the company is collaborating with institutions in Singapore and conducting clinical trials in the UK. In November 2025, it closed an oversubscribed US$200 million funding round from existing shareholders and global investors, including institutional and sovereign wealth funds.
Above Cheng founded Cornerstone Robotics to make surgery less invasive so recovery times could be faster (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Cheng founded Cornerstone Robotics to make surgery less invasive so recovery times could be faster (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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“Cornerstone Robotics is charting its own path, competing with established industry players using the resources and talents they have in Hong Kong. This is highly commendable,” says Christina Ong, managing director and head of business banking, Commercial Banking at HSBC Hong Kong. She emphasises the importance of supporting smaller businesses and start-ups, which are vital to driving innovation and economic growth in the region.
Through its Business Banking division, HSBC offers tailored support for startups, from opening bank accounts to offering rental guarantees and kickstart loans. It also provides connectivity to the wider ecosystem and banking support for expansion beyond Hong Kong, helping businesses get off the ground faster. Cheng, who was recognised as a Tatler Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow in 2025, says the bank’s global network has been especially valuable, connecting him with potential partners like healthcare providers, relationships he believes he could not have built on his own.
Ong explains that keeping medical professionals from different institutions involved throughout Cornerstone Robotics’ research and development process is essential, especially given the long and highly regulated journey of bringing a healthtech product to market. Hong Kong, she adds, offers advantages as a base because of its position as an international financial centre, and its medical excellence and proximity to mainland China, “a leader in both manufacturing and innovation”.
Above Ong, managing director and head of business banking, Commercial Banking at HSBC Hong Kong says the bank invests in the future of innovation by supporting start-ups like Cornerstone Robotics (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Ong, managing director and head of business banking, Commercial Banking at HSBC Hong Kong says the bank invests in the future of innovation by supporting start-ups like Cornerstone Robotics (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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Before building his company, Cheng worked primarily in academia, and hands-on experience in robotics gave him a new mission: “Bringing real clinical value to everyday practice and improving healthcare quality.” His long-term goal is to build an advanced robotic-assisted surgical ecosystem that serves more specialities and enables broader hospital adoption.
Ong says Cheng’s determination stands out. “True innovation combines a founder’s core idea with the mindset and leadership needed to overcome every obstacle,” she says. Founders like Cheng, she adds, reinforce her optimism. “By giving them the right support, we’re investing in the future of innovation and helping shape the next chapter of progress for Hong Kong and beyond.”
This article is presented in partnership with HSBC Innovation Banking. Now, meet more Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2025 shaping Asia’s future.
Reminder: “To borrow or not to borrow? Borrow only if you can repay!
HSBC Innovation Banking refers to HSBC’s worldwide innovation banking business and is not indicative of any legal entity or relationship.
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