Kev-On Air EP7 | Opening perspectives: Kelvin Tang on sharing experience and insight on entrepreneurial journey

Hong Kong is known for nurturing individuals in traditional professions like banking, law, and medicine. Thus, entrepreneurship may not be the typical career path that individuals choose to pursue. Yet, a native Hong Kong entrepreneur has emerged to break this stereotype.

Our guest today, Kelvin Tang, co-founder and CEO of PONS. AI, is a Hong Kong-born and raised entrepreneur. In today's interview, he shares the experiences that have sparked his interest and motivated him to persevere on the path of entrepreneurship.

Tang's background is a rare and inspirational one, characterized by a wide variety of interests.

"I have a creative background, scientific background and business background." Tang summarized it. He attended Cameral School and University College London (UCL) for neuroscience studies in the United Kingdom (UK). Whilst studying at UCL, he co-founded and played in a band, Pandora, for 4 years. He then ventured into the business realm, by pursuing a Master's degree in Business Studies, at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Tang's courage in exploring diverse interests and versatility in engaging in cross-sectorial studies are key qualities that make him the outstanding person that he is today. His driven personality is reflected in his narrative, "I just wanted to wake up feeling excited about what I do. So that's my North Star".

The establishment of the company, PONS. AI, in Hong Kong, was based on Tang's analysis of Hong Kong as an East-West Connector, which matches his background. Despite experiencing a rocky start due to the pandemic, Tang expresses his optimism, assuring aspiring entrepreneurs, "I think with the challenges, it comes opportunities" and "I always try to find a way to benefit from all situations".

PONS. AI uses technology to create marketing-ready images, reducing time and costs for brands. They are aiming for a billion customer engagements by the end of 2025. Tang spoke frankly, quoting Steve Jobs, "Chase your passion, and when you look back, everything starts to make sense."