On our second Insights episode with Hong Kong PropTech Association (HKPTA), we talk to Head of Digital Transformation & Innovation – Akina, who has had extensive experience in Silicon Valley and boasts a track record of having built a successful unicorn in Hong Kong.

She has a very concise roadmap for how the organization and important stakeholders in Hong Kong’s real estate and PropTech spaces can come together to accelerate the growth of technology, and catch up with years of stagnation. According to Akina, there are a few things both PropTech start-ups and big real estate firms can do better.

She suggests start-ups to focus on survival. Go where the money is, instead of stubbornly sticking to a pre-conceived product. She highlights the ability to re-invent and pivot, citing Hyundai’s entry into the US as a prime example of how a company looking to sell one product (consumer motorbikes) capitalised on a completely different opportunity (mountain biking). Meanwhile, real estate companies should dedicate an influential person within the firm to specifically handle startup cases, especially if they want to bypass some of their bureaucractic hurdles. Most start-ups barely last half a year whereas corporate due diligence processes can last up to two years.

While tightening the bolts on either end, Akina herself believes that a platform like HKPTA could be the bridge Hong Kong is looking for. She hopes to add value to all stakeholders (developers, MNCs, start-ups, users, investors) involved by centralizing key business processes, negotiating proof of concepts and essaying the role of a match-maker within Hong Kong, to China or even internationally by shipping Hong Kong solutions overseas.

Akina goes onto explain what a proof of concept is and how it can foster innovation. She also discusses other chokeholds PropTech development faces, and what the future could look like as technology continues to advance rapidly.

Watch the video above to catch one of our densest Insights episodes to date!

▶ About the guest:

Akina Ho is the Head of Digital Transformation & Innovation at Hong Kong PropTech Assocation, with innovation expereince both in Silicon Valley and Hong Kong. The association consists of a team of professionals, experts and entrepreneurs from various industries such as PropTech, media, Real Estate and Finance. Their goal is to create a collaborative ecosystem that brings together property developers, investors, and emerging PropTech startups. They are dedicated to foster communication, drive innovation agenda within the property industry, and encourage technology-enabled solutions to improve lives, businesses, cities, and the environment.

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