As HK FinTech Week 2023 approaches (October 30-November 5), Karena Belin and Karen Contet join Regulatory Ramblings' host, Ajay Shamdasani, to preview the event. They explore the synergy between diverse backgrounds in the tech space, emphasizing the value of different perspectives and continuous learning. Karena and Karen also share insights on AngelHub's role in democratizing tech investment, the changing landscape of crowdfunding, and Hong Kong's potential as a FinTech hub.
About Karena Belin:
Karena is the co-founder and CEO of WHub – a start-up ecosystem builder and the largest start-up platform in the city. Her group helps startups grow and enables stakeholders to connect with the innovative power of the local tech ecosystem. WHub is also an organizer of global conferences.
She is also the co-founder and COO/CFO/RO of AngelHub, Hong Kong’s first and only start-up investment platform licensed by the SAR’s capital markets watchdog, the Securities and Futures Commission, for professional investors and growth tech companies scaling in Asia. Most notably, earlier this year, she was appointed the organizer of Hong Kong FinTech Week – which resumes its physical format on October 30, 2023 – by the Hong Kong Government.
With a double diploma from the University of Mannheim and the MBA business school ESSEC in Paris, Karena worked for Procter & Gamble for 15 years in finance, sales, strategy, and M&A across Europe, North-East Asia, and Greater China.
She has been deeply immersed in the Hong Kong start-up scene for the past decade as a member of the Start-up Committee of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the HKSAR, as well as being on the Organizing Committee of the Innopreneur Awards of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and the HKTDC Belt and Road & Greater Bay Area Committee. She is also an ambassador of StartupAsiaBerlin, an initiative of the German Senate in Berlin, and serves as vice president of TiE HK and a member of the Hyderabad FinTech Forum core team.
Karena is also a "10 Best Female Entrepreneurs of the World by True Global Ventures and Women of Hope" awardee. She has also volunteered at Hong Kong International School in several capacities.
About Karen Contet:
Karen Contet is a tech enthusiast and entrepreneur, serving as the Co-founder & CEO of AngelHub.io, ClubDeal.vc, and WHub.io.
She is also, with WHub, the official organizer of Hong Kong FinTech Week.
Karen's mission is to transform and democratize the private markets, empowering everyone to shape the future of tech.
Under her leadership, AngelHub has evaluated 2,500+ tech firms, invested in 25 companies, including WeLab and Animoca Brands. The platform has deployed over USD 17M and generated USD 9M in returns through successful exits.
AngelHub is the sole SFC-regulated tech investment platform, allowing investors to co-invest alongside fund & institutional investors.
With a rigorous due diligence process and a thriving WHub startup ecosystem, AngelHub equips tech entrepreneurs for success.
WHub has become a leading tech power connector, organizing global conferences gathering over 120,000 participants, hackathons, job fairs, and over 2,000 events.
Karen is an international speaker, French Foreign Trade Advisor, FrenchTech ambassador, and mentor. With 20+ years of experience, her background ranges from JP Morgan trader to IoT startup engineer and web development instructor.
HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.