What HKAI Lab does

HKAI Lab (Hong Kong AI & Data Laboratory Limited) is a not-for-profit AI accelerator platform founded in May 2018 and jointly established by Alibaba Group, SenseTime, and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). The organization operates from Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin and serves early-stage AI startups in Hong Kong seeking to commercialize innovations across urban planning, fintech, B2B solutions, marketing analytics, construction inspection, and enterprise AI applications. Its core products are the HKAI Global Acceleration Program, a twelve-month accelerator offering funding, technology access, cloud resources, workspace, and mentorship, and the "BEAst" in Qianhai Accelerator Program, which extends the model into the Shenzhen Qianhai cooperation zone to bridge Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Each selected startup receives USD 100,000 in seed capital from the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, GPU-equipped high-performance computing resources from Alibaba Cloud, access to SenseTime's deep learning platform, technical support from Alibaba DAMO Academy, free office space at HKSTP, and mentorship from an advisory board of AI scientists and academics. The program operates on a bi-annual cohort basis, selecting approximately 6-10 startups per cohort and targeting 10-20 startups annually.

HKAI Lab does not generate revenue from its accelerator activities. It is fully funded by the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund and SenseTime, with HKSTP, Alibaba Cloud, and Alibaba DAMO Academy providing supporting infrastructure and technical resources. The technology stack available to portfolio companies is partner-sourced rather than internally developed, encompassing deep learning platforms, computer vision, natural language processing, knowledge graphs, and machine learning infrastructure. Notable portfolio companies include Arical (GeoAI for urban planning and architecture), Cloudbreakr (influencer marketing analytics), Dayta (B2B AI solutions for SMEs), Farseer (Chinese-language NLP for financial ecosystems), RaSpect (AI-powered building inspection combining robotics, AI and IoT), Social Face (AI-driven event intelligence), Squared-S (AI portfolio optimization and risk management), and Regtics (AML compliance). The organization complements its accelerator work with seminars, workshops, university engagement (HKU, CUHK, CityU, VTC), and participation in industry events including StartmeupHK and LEAP East 2026.

Name

HKAI Lab

Legal name

Hong Kong AI & Data Laboratory Limited

Website

https://hongkongai.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HKAI Lab is a not-for-profit AI accelerator jointly founded by Alibaba, SenseTime, and HKSTP that runs twelve-month accelerator programs in Hong Kong and Qianhai, providing USD 100,000 seed funding, GPU computing, SenseTime AI platforms, and mentorship to early-stage AI startups across fintech, urban planning, and enterprise applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Startup Accelerator

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied) (EDAMACAG), AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ)

Keywords

• AI startup accelerator
• Venture incubation program
• AI infrastructure support
• Machine learning resources
• Technology entrepreneurship

Headquarters

HQ city

Sha Tin

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Non-profit Initiative (No Direct Revenue): HKAI Lab is a not-for-profit initiative that is fully funded by Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund and SenseTime, with support from Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Alibaba Cloud and Alibaba DAMO Academy. The organization does not generate revenue from its accelerator program; instead, it provides funding and resources to selected AI startups at no cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HKAI Lab is a not-for-profit AI accelerator platform that runs a twelve-month startup empowerment program for AI startups. Selected startups receive USD 100,000 in seed funding, access to SenseTime's deep learning platform and AI solutions, GPU-equipped high-performance computing resources from Alibaba Cloud, technical support from Alibaba DAMO Academy, free office space at Hong Kong Science Park, and mentorship from an advisory board of AI scientists, entrepreneurs, and academics.

Product overview

HKAI Lab operates as a not-for-profit AI accelerator platform rather than a traditional software product company. The core offerings consist of the HKAI Global Acceleration Program (a twelve-month startup empowerment initiative) and the BEAst in Qianhai Accelerator Program. These programs provide selected AI startups with seed funding (USD 100,000), access to SenseTime's deep learning platform, Alibaba Cloud GPU computing resources, Alibaba DAMO Academy technical support, free workspace at HKSTP, and mentorship from an advisory board of AI scientists and academics. The platform acts as an ecosystem connecting AI researchers, startups, and industry participants to build innovation culture in Hong Kong.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HKAI Global Acceleration Program A twelve-month accelerator program designed to empower AI startups to develop and commercialize their AI innovations and technologies, providing funding, AI technologies, cloud computing resources, network connections, and workspace.
• "BEAst" in Qianhai Accelerator Program A joint accelerator program based in Qianhai that supports AI startups with resources and mentorship.
• AI Technology and Infrastructure Support Comprehensive AI technology support including SenseTime's deep learning platform, Alibaba Cloud GPU high-performance computing resources, Alibaba DAMO Academy technical support, and HKSTP incubation services including free office space.
• Seed Funding (USD 100,000) Startup funding of USD 100,000 provided by Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund to selected accelerator program participants as seed capital at no cost to the startups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-20 AI startups supported annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SenseTimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenseTime co-founded HKAI Lab and provides deep learning platforms and AI solutions to selected startups. As a global leading AI platform company, SenseTime contributes its expertise in computer vision, deep learning, and other AI technologies to support the development of Hong Kong's AI ecosystem.
• Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKSTP co-founded HKAI Lab and provides free office space and incubation support through its Incu-Tech program to selected accelerator startups. HKSTP also facilitates connections to its broader science park ecosystem of technology companies and research institutions.
• Alibaba CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationAlibaba Cloud provides GPU-equipped high-performance computing resources and machine learning platforms to HKAI Lab startups. This infrastructure is essential for AI development and model training activities.
• Alibaba DAMO AcademymajorTechnology or IntegrationAlibaba DAMO Academy, Alibaba Group's global research initiative, provides technical support and access to technologies developed by its research programs to HKAI Lab startups.
• Hong Kong O2O E-Commerce Federation (HKOEF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHKOEF co-hosted seminars at HKAI Lab on AI and big data applications in e-commerce, helping to promote AI awareness and opportunities among Hong Kong businesses.
• LEAP EastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHKAI Lab is listed as a supporting organization for LEAP East, a major tech summit debuting in Hong Kong in July 2026. The event connects Middle East and Asia-Pacific technology and capital markets.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• AI4ALL (AI4ALL Open Learning): AI4ALL runs AI education and accelerator-adjacent programs for underrepresented AI founders. Comparable in combining AI education, community-building, and program-based support for early-stage AI teams.

Broad incumbents

• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the global benchmark for startup accelerators, providing seed funding and mentorship at scale. Not AI-specialist, but a comparable accelerator format competing for the same early-stage AI founder pool.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play runs corporate-backed accelerator programs across multiple verticals including AI, with extensive global corporate partner network. Comparable in connecting startups to large tech sponsors and compute providers, though not AI-exclusive.

Direct peers

• AI2 Incubator: AI2 Incubator spins out AI startups from the Allen Institute for AI, providing funding, compute, and research mentorship. It is the most direct functional peer to HKAI Lab — an AI-specialist, compute- and research-backed accelerator.
• HKSTP Incu-Tech Program: HKSTP's own Incu-Tech program provides free office space and incubation support to tech startups at Hong Kong Science Park — directly overlapping with HKAI Lab's hosting relationship and overlapping startup target segment.

Others

• SenseTime (as ecosystem node): SenseTime is both HKAI Lab's co-founder and platform provider. It is included as an ecosystem/strategic peer — comparable only in operating as a deep-learning platform provider and ecosystem builder, not as a direct accelerator.
• Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) Hong Kong programs: HK government programs (e.g., Innovation and Technology Fund, Technology Start-up Support Scheme) provide funding and resources to Hong Kong tech startups. Not a direct accelerator competitor, but an adjacent ecosystem participant serving the same founder base.
• Alibaba Cloud / DAMO Academy startup programs: Alibaba Cloud and DAMO Academy run their own startup enablement and AI programs globally. Comparable in providing compute and AI technical support to startups, including in Asia-Pacific, and serving as a co-funder/partner of HKAI Lab.

Regional players

• SparkLabs: SparkLabs operates accelerator programs across Asia (Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China) and provides seed funding and corporate connections to early-stage tech and AI startups — directly comparable Asia-Pacific accelerator footprint.
• Zhongguancun (ZGC) Science Park Incubator / Beijing AI Accelerator programs: State-supported AI startup incubators in Beijing's Zhongguancun provide seed funding, compute access, and office space to AI startups — comparable structure to HKAI Lab, but operating in mainland China rather than Hong Kong.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hongkongailab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hkai-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HKAI Lab