Beyond the Citi Presents IdeaPOP! 2026 Competition Stage | A Dedicated Session for Finalist Teams

Recently, IdeaPOP! 2026's finalist teams gathered for a full-day post-competition workshop, with Citi hosting the morning session at its Hong Kong office. The students had spent months developing solutions to real-world challenges and earned their place among the competition's finalists.

The stage is where ideas are presented, but learning continues after the competition ends. The workshop opened with remarks by Ms Aveline San, CEO and Banking Head for Citi Hong Kong, who encouraged students to continue exploring, learning, and asking questions.

The programme continued with a session by Mr David Kwan, Founder of JobsTaylor Limited, on "What AI Can Do." Using examples across classification, recommendation, generative, conversational, perception, and agentic systems, he explored where AI can create value and where its limitations remain.

IdeaPOP! has always aimed to extend learning beyond the competition itself. This year, we designed a workshop centred on the teams' projects, giving students the opportunity to further develop their ideas. Citi's support made this possible, with its AI Ambassadors working directly with teams to provide feedback and alternative perspectives.

The morning also included a session with Ms Vicky Kong, Head of Wealth, Asia North and Australia at Citi, and Chief Executive of Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited, who shared her experiences and engaged in discussions with the students.

The programme concluded with a fireside chat featuring Dr Miles Wen, Co-Founder and CEO of Fano Labs Limited, moderated by Sarah O, Head of Digital Growth and Cards and Unsecured Lending Sales at Citibank Hong Kong. Dr Wen shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey and discussed the importance of resilience and adaptability.

We are grateful for the support of all our partners, speakers, and mentors in making this initiative possible. Partnerships like these help extend learning opportunities beyond the competition and support the development of future innovators.