LEAP East debuts in Hong Kong, bringing 200+ elite investors with $2T AUM and $1T in dry powder to forge a major Middle East-Asia tech corridor.
The financial and technological corridors connecting the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region are tightening as Tahaluf’s marquee tech assembly, LEAP East, builds unprecedented institutional momentum. Ahead of its inaugural Asian showcase at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from July 8-10, 2026, the platform has confirmed the participation of over 200 tier-one investors wielding a collective $2 trillion in assets under management (AUM).
Crucially for the scaling startup ecosystem, these confirmed backers, hailing primarily from Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United States, command close to $1 trillion in undeployed capital, or “dry powder,” actively earmarked for emerging growth sectors. The massive concentration of liquidity signals a structural shift in how cross-border venture capital and private equity deals will be brokered between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and East Asian technology hubs.
Marquee Capital Targets Strategic Sectors
This concentrated financial muscle is targeting sectors seeing rising commercial and strategic overlap between the two hemispheres. Chief among these are artificial intelligence and deep technology, financial services and fintech, health and biotechnology, green energy, and advanced agritech.
The prominent incoming investment syndicate features an elite mix of sovereign wealth funds, institutional asset managers, and corporate venture arms. High-profile confirmed participants include Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Macquarie Capital, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Sinovation Ventures, Gobi Partners, White Star Capital, and ewpartners. On the receiving end of this capital pipeline are more than 150 elite global startups and scaleups, including pioneers like Bering Lab, NanoPalm, DevWing.ai, and DRESIO.
“LEAP East reflects the increasing alignment between Asia and the Middle East as two of the world’s fastest-evolving technology and investment markets,” stated Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President and co-creator of LEAP at Tahaluf, in various reports. “We are seeing significant interest from investors, founders, and technology companies looking to accelerate cross-border partnerships, particularly across AI, fintech, and emerging technologies shaping the future economy.”
HKSTP Anchors the Regional Tech Ecosystem
To anchor these transcontinental deals within a highly integrated environment, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Hong Kong’s largest innovation and technology ecosystem, has stepped in as the exclusive Tech Ecosystem Partner for the event.
The institutional backing spans deeply across both regions. The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government serves as the primary Hong Kong Government Partner, working alongside the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP). This extensive framework provides incoming technology companies with unprecedented access to sovereign wealth networks, cross-regional regulation paths, and long-term expansion avenues.
Building on a Billion-Dollar Foundation
The Hong Kong debut builds directly on the track record of the primary LEAP platform in Riyadh, which has facilitated billions of dollars in technology announcements, commercial partnerships, and sovereign investment activity since its launch in 2022. The conference is strategically designed to shift the dynamic from simple financial backing to deep localization partnerships.
Organized by Tahaluf, the joint venture between Informa PLC, SAFCSP, and the Events Investment Fund, with event production leader Sela, the summit represents a highly synchronized effort to normalize global multi-rail trade. By introducing curated investor programs, startup pitch arenas, and closed-door matchmaking workshops, the event transitions from a traditional tech exhibition into an active, high-yield economic corridor. As international asset managers look to diversify their portfolios and deploy capital into the next generation of automated, intelligent commerce, the upcoming July gathering is set to dictate the terms of transcontinental technology investment for years to come.
About the Author
Jennifer Sakmufuwo Baba is a tech analyst and writer covering artificial intelligence, fintech, and emerging technologies at TechRegard. Based in Nigeria, she's passionate about translating complex tech developments into compelling, accessible stories for diverse audiences. Her work focuses on how technology shapes innovation across Africa and globally.
