Hong Kong Trade Body to Present 24 Startups at Paris VivaTech 2026

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced on June 7 that it will operate a dedicated 'Hong Kong Tech Pavilion' at the VivaTech 2026 conference in Paris, presenting 24 Hong Kong-based technology startups to international investors and industry partners. The pavilion represents a formal effort by the HKTDC to connect Hong Kong's startup ecosystem with global capital markets through one of Europe's largest technology trade events.

What Happened

The HKTDC confirmed the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion will feature 24 startups across technology sectors at VivaTech 2026 in Paris. VivaTech is an annual technology and startup conference that draws investors, corporations, and entrepreneurs from across Europe, Asia, and beyond. The HKTDC, a statutory body established by the Hong Kong government to promote trade and investment, is organising the pavilion as a curated showcase designed to facilitate introductions between Hong Kong companies and international funding sources.

The announcement was made via ACN Newswire on June 7, 2026. No further details about the specific startups, the technology sectors represented, or the anticipated investment targets were included in the initial release.

Background

VivaTech, held annually in Paris, is one of Europe's most prominent technology and startup conferences. It regularly attracts major corporate sponsors, venture capital firms, and government trade delegations from across the globe. The event functions both as an exhibition platform and a deal-making environment, with dedicated national and regional pavilions common among participating trade organisations.

The HKTDC has previously used international trade shows and technology conferences to promote Hong Kong companies overseas. The council operates under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and has a long-standing mandate to facilitate overseas market access for Hong Kong businesses. The decision to field a pavilion at a European technology conference reflects continued efforts to position Hong Kong startups in markets beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

Hong Kong's startup ecosystem has grown in recent years, supported by government-backed funding schemes and the city's position as a regional financial hub. The territory has sought to establish itself as a bridge between Asian technology companies and Western investors, a positioning that the HKTDC has actively promoted through participation in international events.

What the Pavilion Involves

The pavilion will feature 24 startups selected by the HKTDC. The council described the initiative as aimed at connecting these companies with global investment opportunities, though the release did not specify which sectors the startups represent, the criteria used for selection, or the structure of any planned investor meetings or pitch sessions during the event.

VivaTech 2026 is scheduled to take place in Paris. The HKTDC has not publicly released a full list of the 24 participating companies as of the date of this report.

Context: Regional Competition for Startup Visibility

Several Asian governments and trade bodies field dedicated pavilions at major European and North American technology conferences, including delegations from South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Israel. These pavilions serve as a structured mechanism for smaller technology companies to gain visibility with investors and corporate partners who might not otherwise encounter them.

For Hong Kong specifically, participation at VivaTech follows a period during which the city has worked to reassert its standing as a technology and innovation hub. The HKTDC has organised similar delegations to events including CES in Las Vegas and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in previous years.

The HKTDC is expected to release further details about the participating startups and the pavilion programme ahead of the VivaTech 2026 event in Paris.