Wishing all an abundant and inspiring new year ahead!
Stepping into 2025, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible growth and transformation that 2024 brought into our lives.
Experiencing the Hong Kong FinTech Week for the first time as a newcomer was eye-opening, it was more than just an industry event - it felt to me like a mini-preview to how the future is being shaped as we speak.
So in late October, I found myself at the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024 (HKFTW24), navigating (or maybe more like trying to stay afloat) in a sea of fintech buzzwords in both Web2 and Web3 space (GenAI, tokenization, Real World Assets etc.).
As someone new to fintech—coming from an tech and e-commerce background—stepping into this world felt both exciting and overwhelming.
I’d joined Canopy in Q2 2024, a wealth data analytics platform serving wealth managers (FOs, EAMs etc) and private banks, and it was an eye-opening experience for me in this fancy-schmancy fintech industry.
The most striking lesson for me? Fintech is more than just finance + technology—it’s all about people & network. It’s a lot on connecting with people, building trust, fostering inclusivity, and driving innovation & collaboration in the current fragmented global ecosystem.
I hope to document my experience and share my personal takeaways from attending this HKFTW, providing a fresh perspective from someone new to this industry.
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Day 1 & 2: HKFTW24 At AsiaWorld-Expo
Opening Keynote: Shaping FinTech’s Future
The event kicked off with an inspiring keynote by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government.
He outlined Hong Kong’s unique position as a leading FinTech hub and emphasizing its robust ecosystem: a comprehensive financial landscape, deep talent pool, strengthened policy focus on responsible AI, as well as its growing ties with the Middle East and unique position bridging China and world.
Cool stage set up - heard from the organizing team that they took 2 months just to get this stage up, and it’s worth every effort!
AI Meets Web3: A Vision for Integrated Innovation
Next Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of the HKSAR announced the new policy stance for the responsible application of AI in finance and fostering AI-Web3 integration.
His keynote was a reminder that innovation must be paired with risk mitigation - a sentiment that echoed throughout the festival.
Mr. Hui revealed a new law, set to be enacted by year’s end, that will extend Hong Kong’s tax concessions to include virtual assets. This is a game-changer for the crypto space, solidifying Hong Kong’s position as a forward-thinking fintech hub.
Next up, he did a live demo of interacting with a virtual person on-screen, with live questioning and the video live-answering. Here’s a short clip! (also pardon the poor quality - time for an iPhone upgrade!)
BlockChain and DeFi
Beyond the hype of cryptocurrencies, blockchain is making its way into mainstream finance through applications that increase transparency, trust, and security. Whether it’s decentralised finance (DeFi) or more robust data security protocols, the implications for wealth management are huge. Words like tokenisation, RWAs and digital assets were sprinkled all over the place.
Building Trust in Wealth Management and Wealth Tech
Canopy’s CEO, Mu was invited as a guest panelist, together with Jessica Cutrera (President of LEO Wealth), Steffanie Yuen (MD, Head of HK of Endowus), moderated by Eudora Wang (Deputy Editor, Greater China DealStreetAsia).
A key point raised during the discussion was that in wealth management, trust is foundational. Clients are entrusting us not only with vast amounts of financial data but with their wealth strategies and their financial futures.
Trust in wealth tech is as critical as any technology itself because, at the end of the day, we’re dealing with people’s livelihoods, legacies, and aspirations.
At Canopy, building trust means ensuring absolute data integrity, rigorous privacy and security measures in every step of our processes. Whether it’s aggregating complex financial data across asset classes or providing visual insights, we approach every aspect of our platform with a focus on security and clarity for our clients.
Visited more panels throughout the day!
Day 3: Tour in the Greater Bay Area
We did a day trip to Shenzhen, where we learnt about the different fintech startups in Shenzhen and one standout experience was the Tencent Showroom Tour.
Their team shared insights into the convergence of AI, blockchain, and big data in shaping financial services. The possibilities felt boundless—from enhancing customer experiences with AI-driven personalization to blockchain’s role in ensuring secure and transparent transactions.
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My Personal Reflections
A Leap into Fintech
Stepping into the Fintech world, I felt super overwhelmed - the Fintech umbrella is SO BROAD that I worried a lot if I could ever keep up (which I don’t think I ever can because it’s constantly iterating itself).
I’m very sure I’m only scratching the surface.
What surprised me, though, was the openness of the Fintech community. Their eagerness to share knowledge and support newcomers has been a constant source of encouragement. Looking back, I wish I had let my guard down sooner.
But being thrown into a completely new environment triggered a lot of insecurities. I worried about how others saw me—afraid they’d think I wasn’t good enough. Everyone seemed so polished, so capable, so high-achieving. It was intimidating.
Through my role at Canopy, I’ve discovered something deeply meaningful. Our work in WealthTech—a niche within Fintech—has shown me the power of purpose.
We’re not just dealing with data or technology; we’re empowering wealth managers and family offices to make better financial decisions, shaping futures in the process.
Empowerment has always been a value close to my heart. To see it reflected in my work is inspiring and grounding. It’s given me a sense of belonging in an industry that once felt out of reach to me.
And I’m still learning every single day.
From HR Perspective: Building the Right Culture
Fintech thrives on agility, innovation, and collaboration. As Canopy’s HR, my goal is to build a culture that empowers our team to stay fearless, willing to take calculated risks and adaptable through initiatives or sometimes just fostering an open dialogue.
Communication is so important that we should always aim to overcommunicate in any and every instance. It’s something that I consciously keep in mind every day.
A Call for More Women in Fintech
The underrepresentation of women in fintech is hard to ignore, but change is happening. More women are stepping into the space, bringing with them unique perspectives that enrich the industry.
Qualities like empathy, long-term thinking, and collaborative problem-solving aren’t just strengths—they’re essential in creating a more inclusive and innovative Fintech landscape.
Diversity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity for meaningful progress.
Looking Forward with Excitement
Attending the Hong Kong FinTech Week as a first-timer was an eye-opener. I came in feeling like an outsider, not sure if I could navigate the waters of this industry.
But I returned back to Singapore with something much more valuable: a sense of purpose, newfound confidence, and a reminder that the FinTech community is incredibly supportive.
I can’t wait to put these insights into action, whether it’s by enhancing our tech, deepening partnerships, or fostering a stronger internal culture.
I’m grateful to be part of this journey and I wish for you a fulfilling journey ahead too.
Stay inspired, Suxian
What challenges have you faced stepping into a new industry? Share your journey—I’d love to hear! Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too :)
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