An increasingly risk-averse culture and a lack of early-stage support may push young start-up founders to look overseas, critics warn
6-MIN READ6-MIN ListenLeopold ChenPublished: 8:30am, 7 Aug 2026Updated: 8:31am, 7 Aug 2026At just 18, Hong Kong tech enthusiasts Rexan Wong Chak-chi and Ken Mochizuki are both rushing to deliver their business ideas.However, their choices of launch pad could not be further apart. While Wong is eyeing Silicon Valley in the United States for better support, Mochizuki is keen to stay in the city and contribute to the local community.
While the city boasts cutting-edge university research, critics have warned that an increasingly risk-averse culture and a lack of early-stage support may push young tech talent towards overseas ecosystems.
Wong developed an interest in AI when he was 15 after joining a class on building mobile applications.
He later connected with many leading tech entrepreneurs through X, formerly known as Twitter, and built an AI-powered app called Text Behind Image in 2024. He said the app allowed its 500,000 users to design images with text behind featured objects.
