The weight of billion-dollar deals never fazed Colin Hong. For over 25 years, he thrived in Hong Kong's pressure-cooker financial printing industry, orchestrating complex operations across Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. His division served more than 400 listed companies, handling everything from IPO filings to annual reports. When HSBC needed their Asia-Pacific printing procurement managed, they turned to Colin's expertise.

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But in 2018, this seasoned corporate executive made a startling decision: he walked away from his established career to build an AI startup that would challenge Google and Microsoft at their own game.

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The turning point came through an unexpected phone call two weeks after a routine networking event. Someone Colin barely remembered introduced him to Professor Francis Chin, an AI researcher at Hang Seng University. Professor Chin held impressive credentials—recognised by Stanford University among the top two per cent of scientists globally—and was developing AI translation models for IPO filings. This was precisely the pain point Colin had wrestled with throughout his career.

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"I know the pain points. I know what the user needs. I know what the clients want," Colin reflects. Their collaboration brought together Colin's deep industry expertise with Professor Chin's cutting-edge research, later joined by Dr Bethany Chan, a computer science PhD who is also a qualified barrister and CFA charterholder.

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DeepTranslate emerged from this unlikely partnership with a clear mission: deliver AI-powered translations for financial and legal documents that outperform generic tools from tech giants. The startup focuses laser-sharp on Chinese-English translation for compliance documents, annual reports, ESG filings and IPOs.

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The startup's strategy is refreshingly honest about its limitations. "We cannot compete with Alibaba, Meta, Microsoft, or Google," Colin admits. "We don't have the money. But we provide very niche solutions." This focused approach has delivered impressive results: DeepTranslate doubles translation quality while cutting turnaround times in half for clients handling sensitive, multi-billion-dollar transactions.

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The transition from corporate executive to startup founder demanded a complete mindset overhaul. Where once Colin managed teams and stakeholder expectations, he now handles everything "from payroll to paper roll." The brand recognition that once opened doors disappeared overnight. "When you're carrying a big corporate brand, it's easier to make appointments," he observes. "Now the same people suddenly don't have time for me."

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Cash flow discipline became another hard-earned lesson. Colin's first business venture years earlier had failed when funding dried up, teaching him to measure every decision against long-term sustainability. Now, partnerships with exchanges and other service providers help extend DeepTranslate's reach without stretching resources thin.

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Looking ahead, Colin predicts AI adoption in financial services will reach nearly 100 per cent within two years. DeepTranslate is already preparing, developing tools that help audit firms verify numerical consistency across complex financial documents—addressing another industry pain point he spotted during his corporate years.

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