The Laboratory for AI-Powered Financial Technologies Limited (“AIFT”) is proud to announce a significant milestone in our mission to commercialize cutting-edge research. Tolo Digitech Limited (“Tolo Digitech”), a spin-off company from AIFT, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the fintech firm FUNDel Limited (“FUNDel”). This strategic partnership focuses on collaboration on the development of an innovative trade finance platform by leveraging trusted logistics data from Hong Kong’s Port Community System (PCS).
Under the MOU, the two parties will explore a strategic collaboration that brings together Tolo Digitech’s expertise in logistics digitalisation, data infrastructure, and applied artificial intelligence and FUNDel’s fintech capabilities in connecting e-commerce merchants, logistics companies, and financial institutions. Drawing on experience in applying AI to analyse complex operational and demand data in real-world settings, the collaboration aims to unlock the value of trusted logistics data to support the development of more efficient, transparent, and data-driven trade finance solutions, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The MOU also reflects the parties’ intention to pursue the collaboration through a strategic equity exchange arrangement, aligning long-term interests and supporting closer cooperation in technology development, product design, and market engagement.
“This collaboration represents an important first step in transforming trusted logistics data into tangible financial value,” said Mr. Victor Liu, CEO of Tolo Digitech. “By leveraging the PCS as a foundational digital infrastructure, we aim to explore how logistics data can better support trade finance innovation while maintaining transparency, governance, and scalability.”
Prof. Henry Ko, founder and CEO of FUNDel, added: “Our partnership with Tolo Digitech enables us to work closely with logistics data and infrastructure providers to design financial products that are better aligned with real trade flows. We believe this collaboration can contribute meaningfully to improving access to finance for SMEs across Greater China and ASEAN.”
The collaboration is aligned with Hong Kong’s broader efforts to strengthen its role as an international logistics, trade, and financial hub through digitalisation. The parties will jointly define the scope, technical architecture, and implementation roadmap in subsequent phases following the MOU. AIFT is thrilled to see our spin-off, Tolo Digitech, play a key role in this ecosystem and looks forward to the innovative solutions that will emerge from this partnership.
About AIFT
The Laboratory for AI-Powered Financial Technologies Limited (“AIFT”) is an innovative research and technology center committed to pioneering research, fostering talents, and commercializing technological applications. AIFT was cofounded by City University of Hong Kong and Columbia University, with Tsinghua University recently joining to inject new research strength into the lab. AIFT is the only FinTech research lab recognized by InnoHK, the HKSAR government’s flagship innovation and technology initiative.
AIFT aims to integrate modern financial theory, artificial intelligence technology, and traditional risk control methods to address three key issues in the supply chain finance: data and price discovery mechanisms, risk control mechanisms, and settlement guarantee mechanisms.
About Tolo Digitech
Tolo Digitech Limited is a spin-off company of the Laboratory for AI-Powered Financial Technologies (“AIFT”), one of the research laboratories established under InnoHK, a research initiative supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
Building on AIFT’s applied research in artificial intelligence, data science, and financial technologies, Tolo Digitech focuses on developing AI-enabled, data-driven solutions at the intersection of logistics, trusted data infrastructure, and financial services. Its work emphasises the responsible use of AI to transform high-quality logistics and transaction data into explainable, auditable insights that support real-world financial decision-making.
Tolo Digitech has successfully obtained seed funding under the Tech 300 programme, supporting the early-stage commercialisation of its AI research outcomes and the development of industry-focused applications.
About FUNDel
FUNDel Limited is a Hong Kong–based fintech company focused on connecting e-commerce merchants, logistics companies, and financial institutions to enable data-driven trade and supply-chain finance solutions.
On 19 January 2026, FUNDel entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (“LSCM”) to collaborate on leveraging trusted logistics data within the Port Community System (“PCS”) to catalyse the development of innovative financial products, particularly to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Through partnerships with public-sector stakeholders, technology providers, and financial institutions, FUNDel aims to bridge logistics data and financial services in a practical, transparent, and scalable manner.
