La French Tech Hong Kong and Shenzhen Podcast

di La French Tech Hong Kong and Shenzhen

Episode 18: Podcast with Stéphane Monsallier - The AI Transformation Action Blueprint: Executive Strategy, Model Independence, and the Future of Work

Struggling to move your organization past the AI hype and into true, operational ROI? From writing his first lines of code at age ten to earning a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence back in 1993, Stéphane Monsallier, Founder & CEO of System in Motion and co-founder of La French Tech Shanghai, has spent decades navigating tech ecosystems across Europe and Asia. In this episode, Stéphane strips away the marketing noise to deliver a pragmatic, execution-first blueprint for corporate AI integration. He unpacks: •⁠ ⁠The 3 Barriers to AI Adoption: How to knock down employee fear, shatter the corporate "imagination barrier," and institute structured thought frameworks across your teams. •⁠ ⁠Why Replacing Humans with AI Fails: The costly mistakes of rushing to eliminate departments, the myth of the one-person billion-dollar revenue company, and why the future belongs to augmented, empowered professionals. •⁠ ⁠Geopolitics & Model Independence: How to build resilient, plug-and-play tech infrastructure that remains independent of underlying models •⁠ ⁠The Blueprint for Fast Integration: Why AI transformation must start with an active 3-hour executive training at the top, and how to scale it instantly using internal, self-motivated "AI Champions." •⁠ ⁠Practical prompt engineering tips: Founders can apply this week to boost productivity. The future doesn't belong to automated algorithms, but to augmented professionals. If you are ready to move past the marketing noise and scale operational ROI, this episode delivers the exact enterprise blueprint needed to securely audit data readiness, establish safe innovation playgrounds, and transform your teams into hyper-productive operators. Listen now to master the realistic future of AI execution. Connect with the Guest: Stéphane Monsallier (Founder & CEO) https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanemonsallier/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E18

30 mag 2026

48:25

Episode 17: Podcast with Dean Pike - The Automation Advantage: From 80% Automated Operations to Thousands of Leads

Planning to transform your business and wondering how automation can empower production, optimize manpower, and cut costs? Already building workflows but seeking better tools and support? Or perhaps you’re running a startup with limited resources and need to scale locally, regionally, and internationally? In this episode, Dean Pike — AI and automation strategist, entrepreneur, and Hong Kong ambassador for n8n, shares how he automated ~80% of his operations, scaled cold outreach from hundreds to thousands of leads per month, and transitioned from corporate leadership to full‑time founder. His journey is a blueprint for entrepreneurs, tech professionals, and founders navigating the challenges of growth, burnout, and resource constraints. The discussion focuses on: •⁠ ⁠From Side Hustle to Scale: Dean’s journey building Prop Sourcer during Covid and making the leap from corporate to founder. •⁠ ⁠The MVP of Automation: How to identify, automate, elevate — start small and reclaim founder focus. •⁠ ⁠The n8n Advantage: Why migrating from Zapier unlocked self hosted, flexible, and cost effective automation at scale. •⁠ ⁠AI Powered Outreach: Personalizing cold outreach at 10x volume without extra headcount. •⁠ ⁠Founder Resilience: Why automation is the antidote to burnout — and how to refocus on strategy. •⁠ ⁠The Entrepreneurial Leap: When to pilot, how to choose tools, and what traction you need before going all in. Listen to the episode to get the step‑by‑step playbook and a practical checklist for running & scaling a leaner, smarter business with automation, locally and globally. Connect with the Guest: Dean Pike (Founder, TidyCuvre & PropSourcer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanpike/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E17

29 apr 2026

50:57

Episode 16: Podcast with Antoine Kuhnast — No Money, No Network: How Antoine Built a Deep Tech Startup from Scratch

What does it really take to build a startup from nothing, and scale it internationally? In this episode, Antoine Kuhnast, Founder & CTO of Safehear, shares the unfiltered story behind building a deep tech hardware company, starting as a student with no funding, no network, and no clear roadmap. Through pitching, failures, and real-world testing, he transformed a personal problem into a scalable industrial solution, before expanding from France to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. 🎧 You’ll learn: • How to go from idea to first traction without resources • How to test a new market before committing resources • What early-stage founders often get wrong about product development • The real differences between Europe and Asia in business execution • Why “expanding too fast” can destroy your startup • Why the GBA is a game-changer for hardware startups A practical episode for founders navigating the hard truth of hardware industrialization. Connect with the Guest: Antoine Kuhnast (Founder/CTO of Safehear) https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinek-startup/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E16

30 mar 2026

33:21

Episode 15: Podcast with Kelsey Ngai - Going Global Without Guesswork: How SMEs Win in Cross-Border Trade

Going global sounds exciting, but where do you actually start? Going global is no longer about connections. It’s about data, tools, and execution. In this episode, Fiona Yeung sits down with Kelsey Ngai, Senior Marketing Executive (now Partnership Manager) at Alibaba.com, to unpack how SMEs can expand globally without relying on assumptions, guesswork, or trial and error. Drawing on her experience in cross-border e-commerce, Kelsey explains how businesses can use buyer signals, market data, and practical execution to choose the right markets, improve visibility, and create a more efficient route to growth. From Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to France and beyond, this conversation offers a grounded view of what it takes to scale internationally. This is not theory. It’s a practical, step-by-step framework used by thousands of businesses already scaling across 200+ markets. What You’ll Discover: • How to validate demand before entering a new market• Why the right market is not always the biggest market • How to generate qualified leads in international e-commerce • Why trust, not price, is the real driver of cross-border success • How to use data, AI, and logistics to scale more efficiently • Post-sale strategies to turn one-time buyers into long-term partners Whether you’re just starting or already exporting, this episode gives you clear, actionable moves you can apply immediately. A tactical conversation for entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals who want to build a smarter cross-border e-commerce strategy. Connect with the Guest: Kelsey Ngai (Senior Marketing Executive, Alibaba.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-ngai-1b5704104/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E15

28 feb 2026

45:32

Episode 14: Podcast with Peggy Kwok - Hong Kong Fintech 2030: The Roadmap for AI, Payments, and Tokenisation

Hong Kong is entering a new fintech era, and Peggy Kwok, Senior Vice President, Fintech at Invest Hong Kong, breaks down what founders, investors, and institutions need to know now. From Hong Kong’s next-generation data and payment infrastructure to responsible AI adoption, tokenisation, and cross-border connectivity, Peggy shares how the city is positioning itself as a future-ready fintech hub. What You’ll Discover: • What Hong Kong’s fintech ecosystem looks like today, and which sub-sectors are growing fastest • How the city’s stablecoin, tokenisation, and digital asset roadmap is evolving • What fintech founders need to understand before entering Hong Kong or the GBA • How InvestHK helps firms with licensing, partnerships, and market expansion If you are building a fintech company, investing in fintech, or planning regional expansion, this conversation gives you a clear view of where opportunity is opening up and what to prepare for. Connect with the Guest: Peggy Kwok (Senior Vice President, Fintech, Invest Hong Kong) https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-kwok-51862030/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong -Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E14

31 gen 2026

36:12

Episode 13: Podcast with Chin Yung Lu - From Fintech Week to Global Fast Track: How Hong Kong Powers Startup Expansion

Hong Kong’s Senior Vice President of Startups, Chin Yung Lu, explains how combining Hong Kong Fintech Week and StartMeUpHK Festival creates scale, cross‑sector dealflow and stronger matchmaking for startups, investors and corporates. The events act as a practical “dating” stage for founders to test market fit in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), with pre‑event roadshows, a Global Fast Track pitching program, and an AI assistant “Samantha” to surface targeted meetings. CY highlights Hong Kong’s role as a bilingual, common‑law bridge for China‑facing companies seeking global investor confidence, and stresses realistic planning around costs, traction and fundability. What You’ll Discover: • How the combined flagship events supercharge investor matchmaking • The most common pitfalls founders face when entering Hong Kong and how to avoid them • How AI matchmaking tools like Samantha are changing networking ROI • How sponsors and exhibitors turn booths into dealflow • What VCs want in 2026 • how to make yourself the “prey” investors want to chase. With practical strategies for navigating compliance, and sharp insights into investor expectations, this episode is a must-hear for entrepreneurs ready to expand their horizons. Tune in for the tactical playbook! Connect with the Guest: Chin Yung Lu (Senior Vice President of Startups, Invest Hong Kong)https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinyung-lu/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E13

1 gen 2026

51:01

Episode 12: Podcast with Florian Lang - Breaking Borders with AI: Libertify’s Enterprise Success Story

Planning to scale your startup across APAC and elevate corporate content into high‑impact AI experiences? From winning Hong Kong’s Fintech Fast Track to producing hundreds of thousands of AI-generated videos for Société Générale, Florian Lang, co-founder of Libertify, is redefining corporate communication. In this episode, he unpacks: How Libertify defined its MVP and scaled it into a product delivering ~170K AI-generated videos annually. How the Hong Kong Fintech Fast Track accelerated Libertify’s growth, funding, and enterprise adoption. The challenges of adapting to local market fit while maintaining a global vision. Practical insights for founders: balancing risk, listening to markets, and scaling with trust Whether you’re a founder, executive, or tech professional, this episode is a strategic listen for navigating cross-border growth and leveraging AI for competitive advantage. Connect with the Guest: Florian Lang (Co-founder, Libertify)https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-lang-53bab2198/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E12

29 nov 2025

53:17

Episode 11: Podcast with Ying Yu - The GBA Playbook: Insider Strategies for Prototyping, Fundraising, and Cross-border Growth

Thinking of entering the GBA and scaling across China and the world? In this episode, our guest Ying Yu, Head of China Markets at Invest Hong Kong, unpacks how the city is shaping the future of global business. From Hong Kong’s role as a fundraising and startup hub, to the Greater Bay Area’s rapid prototyping and scale-up ecosystem, Ying shares insider perspectives on: • Why Hong Kong is the fastest route from MVP to market — fundraising, talent and go-to-market support• How CEPA and GBA pilot policies reduce cross-border friction for product, services and trade • How to protect IP and legal rights when you expand regionally and globally• Practical next steps for founders: go-to-market, partnerships and funding channels Whether you’re building an early-stage startup or preparing to scale, this episode lays out the tactical playbook for moving from Hong Kong into the GBA and beyond. A strategic listen for executives planning Asia expansion or reallocating capital across the region. Connect with the Guest: Ying Yu (Head of China Markets, Invest Hong Kong)⁠yyu@investhk.gov.hk⁠ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E11

30 ott 2025

39:18

Episode 10: Podcast with Andy Wong - From Idea to IPO: Fast-Tracking Tech in Hong Kong

In this episode, Andy Wong, Head of Innovation and Technology, and Life & Health Science at Invest Hong Kong, unpacks how the city is positioning itself as Asia’s ultimate launchpad for startups and tech enterprises. From government-backed R&D subsidies and fast-track visas for global talent, to the one-hour Hong Kong–Shenzhen pipeline that takes ideas from prototype to real production, Andy reveals why Hong Kong is becoming the super-connector between global capital, world-class talent, and China’s vast market. What You’ll Discover: • How can startups tap into government incentives such as venture capital, tax incentives, subsidies related to R&D activities? • What makes Hong Kong’s IPO market one of the world’s top destinations for biotech and tech listings? • How does the GBA “one-hour living circle” accelerate the journey from R&D to production? • Which visa and talent schemes are helping founders hire AI, biotech, and deep tech experts from around the world? • Why is Hong Kong the perfect sandbox for testing products before scaling into Mainland China and Southeast Asia and also globally? • What role do Cyberport and Hong Kong Science & Technology Park, and the new Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park play in nurturing Asia’s next generation of unicorns? This episode is your insider’s guide to understanding why the world is eyeing on Hong Kong’s innovation future. Connect with the Guest: Andy Wong (Head of Innovation & Technology and Life & Health Sciences, Invest Hong Kong)⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wong-11365464/⁠ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

E10

29 set 2025

38:36

Episode 9: Podcast with Deric Wong - Inside the Mind of a Cross-Border Marketing Maverick

What does it take to build brands that resonate across borders—from the pulse of Gen Z in mainland China to the global-minded youth of Hong Kong? In this episode, Deric Wong, Chief Business Officer of Eternity X and ex-CEO of Dentsu China & Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Hong Kong; unpacks the art and science of cross-border marketing. From B2B storytelling and platform strategy to the future of AI-powered branding, this is your insider’s guide to navigating Asia’s most dynamic markets. Whether you're scaling a startup or steering a legacy brand, Deric’s insights will challenge how you think, plan, and connect. This is the playbook you didn’t know you needed. Connect with the Guest: Deric Wong (Chief Business Officer, Global at EternityX)https://www.linkedin.com/in/dericwong/ Connect with the Host: Fiona Yeung (Community Lead, La French Tech Hong Kong - Shenzhen) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionayeung/

31 ago 2025

1:05:45

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