Cover Martin Zhu, co-founder and CEO of i2Cool, with Jiao Jiao Zhang, head of portfolio coverage, Hong Kong, HSBC Innovation Banking (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Martin Zhu, co-founder and CEO of i2Cool, with Jiao Jiao Zhang, head of portfolio coverage, Hong Kong, HSBC Innovation Banking (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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Tatler+
Borrowing a trick from nature, Hong Kong start-up i2Cool has developed an electricity-free solution to cooling the future as global temperatures rise
Summer heat can be insufferable, especially in tropical regions. When no amount of water, ice cream or cool air from fans can stop you from becoming drenched in sweat, switching on the air conditioner often feels like the only quick fix. Yet these machines are costly to run and, over time, trap us in a vicious cycle, as they emit greenhouse gases that accelerate climate change.
In Hong Kong, technology start-up i2Cool has developed a cooling solution that doesn’t need electricity—a paint that forms a coating of polymers and nanoparticles on building surfaces. By reflecting most sunlight and radiating heat away, the coating can reduce surface temperatures by up to 42 degrees Celsius, lowering indoor temperatures and reducing the need for air conditioning.
The technology is inspired by the hair structure of the Saharan silver ant, which can maintain a low body temperature even in extreme heat above 70 degrees Celsius, says Martin Zhu, the co-founder and CEO of i2Cool. He developed the paint while studying for his PhD at the City University of Hong Kong with his co-founder and then-supervisor, Edwin Tso, the associate dean of the university’s School of Energy and Environment.
Above Zhu and his co-founder Edwin Tso developed a paint that can reduce the surface temperatures of buildings by up to 42 degrees Celsius (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Zhu and his co-founder Edwin Tso developed a paint that can reduce the surface temperatures of buildings by up to 42 degrees Celsius (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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The pair decided to shift from academia to starting their own venture after seeing promising results from tests conducted on a campus rooftop. “When I read the lab results and realised how much energy we could save, I knew sustainable technology like this would be a necessity,” recalls Zhu, who was recognised as a Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow in 2025.
Since it began in 2022, i2Cool’s paint has been applied in more than 500 locations, including the Hong Kong Coliseum and Dubai Mall, the Middle Eastern city’s largest shopping centre. The product has helped clients cut energy consumption by between 30 and 50 per cent, says Zhu, and has reduced carbon emissions equivalent to planting more than 850,000 trees as of late 2025.
Jiao Jiao Zhang, head of portfolio coverage, Hong Kong, HSBC Innovation Banking, says she is struck by how Zhu and his team turned an observation of nature into a commercial innovation. She also points to the paint’s clear value in improving energy efficiency, an area she believes is increasingly prioritised by governments and businesses around the world.
With such potential, Zhang is confident that her team, which supports start-ups and high-growth companies across Greater China, can help maximise i2Cool’s impact.
Launched in June 2023, HSBC Innovation Banking is a dedicated proposition offering specialised services and financing solutions for the global innovation ecosystem. Leveraging the bank’s extensive global network and expertise, its portfolio coverage team provides a comprehensive suite of services – including venture lending, global expansion support, strategic advisory and capital-raising – to support companies at every stage of their growth journey.
Above Zhang tells Zhu how her team at HSBC Innovation Banking helps start-up founders turn tech breakthroughs into real-world impact (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Zhang tells Zhu how her team at HSBC Innovation Banking helps start-up founders turn tech breakthroughs into real-world impact (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
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With a presence in Hong Kong and mainland China, i2Cool is now scaling up manufacturing and expanding further into Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East to serve high-heat markets. “I see i2Cool becoming the global standard for passive cooling,” Zhu says. “We want to expand our product range and make our cooling technology accessible everywhere, so future generations can live on a cooler, healthier planet.”
That determination to make a dent in the world is shared by many emerging entrepreneurs. Reflecting on her experience supporting founders through milestones such as funding rounds and public listings, Zhang says, “Innovation changes human life. I’m privileged to contribute to the growth stories of the next generation by incubating visionary ideas and turning them into real-world impact.”
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.
Credits
Creative Direction: Kat Yeung
Art Direction: Isaac Woo
Photography: Zed Leet
Producer: Emma Chan & Yoyo Chow
Styling: Lok Lam
Make-Up: Meegan Seak
Hair: Billy Hai
Outfit: Ralph Lauren, Richard Mille, Sandro & Pedro
