Reimagining Capital for the Greater Good: A New Market for SME Financing

In a period marked by widening inequality, growing social needs and increasing fiscal pressure on public funding, the relationship between wealth, finance and philanthropy is evolving. How capital is organised and deployed is increasingly shaping not only economic outcomes, but also our collective ability to address pressing social challenges.

In this context, Charles Li will share perspectives on how financial innovation and market infrastructure can expand the ways in which capital contributes to tangible societal outcomes. The discussion will consider how strategic philanthropy, impact-focused investment and innovative financing structures are beginning to bridge traditional boundaries between charitable giving and private capital—and what this means in practice for funders and frontline organisations alike.

Drawing on Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre—with deep capital markets, strong global connectivity and a growing family office ecosystem—the session will explore how different forms of capital can work in a more complementary way. At its core, the session will examine how existing systems and emerging approaches can direct more capital towards long-term societal priorities, while maintaining the discipline and scale needed to deliver meaningful impact.