Empowering Hong Kong Entrepreneurs in the UK: A Successful Collaboration with iFAST and UHBA

It was our distinct honor to partner with iFAST Global Bank and the United Hong Kong Business Association (UHBA) to host a highly impactful monthly in-person meeting on October 23rd, 2025, at the iFAST Global Bank offices in London. This event brought together the vibrant Hong Kong entrepreneurial community in the United Kingdom for an afternoon of education, networking, and practical insights into navigating the complexities of international business expansion.

Our Distinguished Partners

iFAST Global Bank is a leading digital banking and wealth management platform headquartered in Singapore, with a strong presence across Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, and the UK. As a fully licensed bank in the United Kingdom, iFAST Global Bank provides global banking connectivity to consumers, corporates, and financial institutions through accessible banking products and services. With over 27,400 investment products and comprehensive financial services under their management, iFAST has established itself as a leader in facilitating cross-border financial solutions. Their mission of "Banking Without Boundaries" perfectly aligns with the needs of international entrepreneurs.​

The United Hong Kong Business Association (UHBA) is a dynamic business platform founded by Hong Kong professionals and entrepreneurs who now call the United Kingdom home. UHBA is dedicated to fostering stronger ties between the Hong Kong business community and the UK market through regular networking events, educational workshops, and mentorship programs. The organization serves as a vital connection point for Hong Kong expatriates looking to establish or expand their businesses in the UK.​

Understanding Our Target Audience

This event was specifically designed for Hong Kong entrepreneurs interested in expanding overseas business operations, particularly those in retail, healthcare, professional services, food & beverage, and education sectors.

These ambitious business owners face unique and pressing challenges as they navigate the complexities of international business expansion:

Cross-Border Payment Complexities

SMEs engaging in international trade often encounter high transaction costs, with fees reaching up to 3-5% of transaction values, slow settlement times that can extend up to five days, and a frustrating lack of transparency in the payment process. These financial barriers can significantly impact cash flow and profitability for growing businesses.​

Banking and Financial Services Navigation

Opening business bank accounts in new jurisdictions involves extensive paperwork, strict Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, and compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. Traditional banks often struggle to effectively serve SMEs due to outdated legacy systems.​

International Fund Flow Management

Managing multiple currencies, understanding foreign exchange margins (typically 2-4% charged by traditional banks), and reconciling payments across different banking systems create operational challenges for SMEs attempting to scale globally.​

Digital Marketing Barriers

As revealed in our internal data, SME owners face resource misallocation where they invest significant time and money in marketing with minimal returns, content creation bottlenecks, data overwhelm from fragmented analytics, and high barriers to marketing automation technology adoption.​

Market Competition and Adaptation

Hong Kong entrepreneurs must quickly adapt to competitive business landscapes while managing high operating costs and building local networks in unfamiliar market environments.​

Event Highlights: Bridging Technology and Business Solutions

iFAST's Presentation: Banking Support for SME International Expansion

Steve Chu from iFAST Global Bank presented their comprehensive suite of services designed specifically to help SMEs expand overseas business operations. Their presentation covered:​

Streamlined International Fund Flow

iFAST's platform enables fast transfers with instant or same-day processing, eliminating the lengthy delays that plague traditional banking.​

Multi-Currency Banking Solutions

Their multi-currency cash accounts spanning 11 currencies (including SGD, USD, EUR, GBP, HKD, and CNH) provide businesses with the flexibility to hold, manage, and convert funds efficiently with real-time FX conversion capabilities.​

Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure

iFAST's banking services facilitate seamless cross-currency payments, allowing businesses to send local currency directly to overseas bank accounts without the excessive fees typical of correspondent banking networks.​

Integrated Wealth Management

Beyond basic banking, iFAST offers investment administration services, research support, and comprehensive back-office functions that allow businesses to focus on their core operations.​

V8 Global's Presentation: AI and Marketing Technology to Help SMEs Expand in International Markets

On behalf of V8 Global Company Limited, our General Manager Gina Cheng presented our comprehensive approach to helping SMEs leverage AI-powered marketing technology for international market expansion. Our presentation introduced the AI-REAL Growth Framework, a systematic methodology designed to help SMEs achieve a 90-day multiplication of digital marketing results.​​

The REAL Framework Explained: Our presentation centered on our proprietary four-stage growth methodology:​

R - Research (Deep Market Insights)

We demonstrated how AI-powered audience insights and competitive analysis help businesses precisely understand target customers' demographics, interests, behavioral patterns, and pain points. By leveraging AI tools to analyze competitors' content strategies, keyword performance, and market advantages, SMEs can identify market gaps and develop differentiated positioning.​

E - Evaluation (Rapid Validation and Precision Marketing)

This stage focuses on rapid testing through A/B testing of different content themes, ad copy, and CTAs to quickly identify top-performing elements. We showcased how EDM (email marketing) precision campaigns use automated email sequences based on user behavior and preferences to nurture leads effectively.​

A - Analysis (Data-Driven Sales Automation)

We demonstrated how AI completes repetitive sales tasks including customer screening, appointment scheduling, and email follow-ups, dramatically improving efficiency and reducing labor costs. Through systematic data collection and analysis, businesses can identify sales bottlenecks, predict trends, and continuously optimize conversion rates through A/B testing.​

L - Long-Lasting (Sustainable Brand Building)

The final stage ensures all marketing efforts generate long-term brand value through consistent production of high-quality content that establishes unique market positioning and professional image. Advanced data analytics tools enable continuous monitoring of content performance, user interaction, and sales conversion rates.​

The 9-Stage Growth Funnel Architecture

We outlined our comprehensive funnel strategy that takes prospects from awareness through loyalty:​

Top Funnel (Awareness & Interest)

Capturing attention through targeted ads and engaging content (Reels, images, text), then directing traffic to high-conversion landing pages offering lead magnets like free e-books or webinars.​

Mid Funnel (Consideration, Intent & Conversion)

Automated emails deliver promised resources, guiding leads to detailed blogs and offering low-cost, high-value paid workshops to distinguish serious buyers.​

Bottom Funnel (Evaluation & Purchase)

Delivering paid workshops securely, inviting participants to full courses, and conducting personalized one-on-one consultations to ensure perfect matches.​

Post-Funnel (Loyalty)

Building long-term partnerships by delivering transformational courses and ongoing support.​

The AI Gina Experience: Making AI Tangible and Accessible

The highlight of our presentation was the live demonstration of AI Gina. This wasn't just a theoretical discussion about artificial intelligence—we gave attendees an immersive, hands-on experience to witness firsthand what AI can accomplish for their businesses.​

Event Success and Participant Feedback

The event, held from 2:30-5:00 pm at the iFAST Global Bank offices (9/F, SQB, 77 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SH), concluded with enthusiastic engagement and overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. The business casual networking event, which charged £10 for general participants (free for UHBA members), successfully brought together Hong Kong entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses.​

Participants expressed particular appreciation for:

empowering-hong-kong-entrepreneurs-in-the-uk-a-successful-collaboration-with-ifast-and-uhba

Practical, Actionable Insights: Both iFAST and V8 Global moved beyond theory to demonstrate real solutions applicable to immediate business challenges, providing frameworks and tools that could be implemented right away.

Many attendees requested follow-up consultations to explore how they could implement both iFAST's banking solutions and V8 Global's AI-powered marketing platform within their own businesses. Several participants noted that the combination of addressing financial and marketing obstacles in a single event provided unprecedented value for their international expansion journey.

Take the Next Step: Join Our Free Webinar

For those who missed this successful event or want to dive deeper into the AI-REAL Growth Framework, we're offering a free comprehensive webinar that expands on the concepts presented at the UHBA event.

Register now for our free AI Martech REAL webinar

In this online session, you'll receive:

• Detailed walkthrough of the REAL Framework: In-depth exploration of each stage with practical implementation strategies

• AI Tools Demonstration: Live demonstrations of how AI can generate content, automate workflows, and optimize marketing campaigns

• 9-Stage Growth Funnel Template: Step-by-step guidance on building automated sales funnels that convert

• Short-Form Video Strategies: Proven techniques for creating viral YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels that drive engagement

• Free 45-Minute Consultation: Personalized assessment of your business with a customized market analysis report and tailored solution recommendations​

Whether you're just beginning your international expansion journey or looking to scale existing operations, this webinar provides the knowledge and tools to leverage AI for accelerated growth in global markets.

Looking Forward

This successful collaboration between V8 Global, iFAST Global Bank, and UHBA represents our shared commitment to empowering Hong Kong entrepreneurs as they build thriving businesses across international borders. By combining cutting-edge financial technology, AI-powered marketing solutions, and a supportive business community, we are creating an ecosystem where Hong Kong business owners can overcome traditional barriers to international expansion and achieve sustainable growth.​​

The event clearly demonstrated that in 2025, with AI and short-form video opportunities at their peak, SMEs have unprecedented access to low-cost breakthrough strategies for international market penetration. The convergence of accessible banking infrastructure and powerful marketing automation technology means that businesses of all sizes can now compete globally.​

As the landscape of global business continues to evolve, we remain dedicated to providing the tools, knowledge, and connections that transform entrepreneurial vision into reality. We look forward to future collaborations that continue to serve this dynamic and resilient business community, helping more Hong Kong entrepreneurs successfully establish and grow their presence in the UK and beyond.