Animoca Brands and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation have launched Build East, a demo day for Hong Kong teams working on agentic AI. Eight teams will pitch for possible entry to the Minds Investment Programme.
The initiative will reserve four places for HKSTP Park companies and four for teams from the wider Hong Kong community. Selected teams will present projects built using Minds by Animoca Brands, described as the core product layer for the investment programme.
Applications are now open to Hong Kong-based developers, founders, and early-stage teams using Minds. The event will be held at Hong Kong Science Park, where the eight shortlisted teams will present to investors, ecosystem figures, and an overseas delegation from Saudi Arabia.
Teams admitted to the Minds Investment Programme after further assessment may receive support from a pool of up to USD $10 million. The programme offers a tailored package that can include Cognition Credits, developer relations support, introductions across Animoca Brands' portfolio of more than 600 companies, and, where appropriate and subject to due diligence, capital investment.
Local focus
The launch adds to efforts by Hong Kong organisations to position the city as a base for emerging artificial intelligence businesses. Build East is intended to identify local projects using agentic AI tools and connect them with investors and partners beyond the territory.
Minds by Animoca Brands is a platform for persistent AI agents. It is designed to let users deploy and manage what Animoca Brands describes as sovereign, always-on AI agents without running local servers or managing hardware and software.
The event structure also reflects HKSTP's role in Hong Kong's technology sector. The parks operator supports 13 unicorns and brings together about 2,500 technology companies from 26 countries and regions, alongside more than 17,000 research professionals.
Animoca Brands, headquartered in Hong Kong, has expanded beyond its roots in digital assets and gaming into AI-related products and investments. Its investment portfolio spans more than 600 companies and digital assets, giving it a broad network for startups seeking commercial ties and funding.
Leadership views
Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, set out the company's view of Hong Kong's position in the sector.
"As a global company headquartered in Hong Kong, we are absolutely thrilled to work with HKSTP to help accelerate the development of agentic AI in this vibrant and forward-looking city. Hong Kong's combination of builder density, capital depth, and global connectivity render it uniquely well-suited to establish itself as a leading economic and development hub for the agentic era. Build East provides a timely platform enabling agentic AI builders in Hong Kong to connect with global investors as the city's role in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation continues to evolve," said Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands.
HKSTP said the programme aligns with its wider AI agenda and support for founders building new tools and applications.
"HKSTP is proud to co-host Build East alongside Animoca Brands and Minds. This event reflects our REIMAGINE AI+ commitment and our role as Hong Kong's home for the founders building the next generation of intelligent agents," said Eric Or, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer at HKSTP.
Funding route
The up to USD $10 million available through the Minds Investment Programme is not structured as a single award for one team. Instead, the total pool may be allocated across successful applicants, with the mix of non-cash support and investment determined individually after evaluation.
That approach points to a selection process that extends beyond the demo day itself. Entry to Build East gives teams a chance to present to investors and ecosystem partners, but acceptance into the investment programme remains subject to further review.
For early-stage companies in Hong Kong, the appeal is likely to rest as much on access as on financing. Introductions across Animoca Brands' portfolio, combined with technical support tied to Minds, could give founders a route into commercial and development networks that might otherwise be difficult to reach.
The organisers have limited the field to teams based in Hong Kong, underlining the initiative's local economic focus. At the same time, the audience mix suggests an effort to expose those teams to international capital and business connections rather than keep the programme purely domestic.
The result is a compact showcase aimed at a specific layer of the market: local startups and builders working with agentic AI tools and seeking funding, visibility, and external partnerships in a city competing to raise its profile in advanced technology.