Drawing from her experience as both an entrepreneur and corporate leader, Hui Jackson bridges the gap between innovative startups and established financial institutions as Director of Accenture's FinTech Innovation Lab Asia-Pacific.

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Based in Hong Kong but global in reach, the Lab has become one of Asia's most competitive and longest-running annual accelerator programmes—accepting just 10 startups from approximately 200 applications each year. Under Hui's leadership, the equity-free 12-week programme helps growth-stage startups refine and test their value propositions with the world's leading financial institutions. Participants build connections with relevant decision-makers, gain valuable insights to scale their businesses, and increase visibility with key industry stakeholders through mentorship and direct feedback from giants like HSBC, JP Morgan, and UBS.

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The programme's impact is substantial: 89 alumni companies have completed the accelerator, generating 552 proofs of concept and collectively raising over $1.1 billion in capital—a testament to Jackson's ability to identify and nurture promising fintech ventures.

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"I am in a very privileged position to support these amazing founders," Hui explains. "When I was building my own startup, I didn't have access to these resources. Now I can mobilise networks to help others succeed."

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Before joining Accenture, Hui founded Sooq Ltd, an e-commerce marketplace featuring curated collections from Hong Kong female artisans. This entrepreneurial experience shaped her understanding of the challenges founders face—from scaling operations and securing funding to adapting to market changes and building effective teams.

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Her professional journey includes roles at Harbour Plaza Hotels & Resorts as Group E-Commerce Manager and at Commission Junction managing strategic accounts for global brands like Starwood Hotels and Emirates. She also served as Partnership & Event Manager for Dimsum.co.uk, a non-profit British Chinese online community that received recognition for its work in the British-Chinese community.

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Hui's education combines Eastern and Western perspectives, with a Bachelor's degree in Law from Sun Yat-sen University, where she was active on the debate team and hosted a student radio programme. She later earned an MSc in Management from Lancaster University and completed Oxford University's Digital Marketing Disruptive Strategy Programme.

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When evaluating startups for the Lab, Hui looks beyond technical innovation to founder qualities: "The star qualities are clear vision, passion, and a willingness to learn like a sponge. The most successful founders invest in building relationships and have a quality that makes people want to help them."

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Her advice to applicants reflects this holistic view: "If you're coming in with the willingness to learn, you can open up many opportunities. If you're coming in just to sell, you'll close off great sharing opportunities."

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Hui believes the programme's greatest value comes from the direct feedback startups receive from financial institutions. "You don't get that opportunity anywhere else," she notes, citing examples of companies that pivoted from B2C to B2B models based on insights gained during the Lab—and are now operating globally with tier-one financial institutions.

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As fintech evolves, Hui continues to seek diverse applicants across AI, Web3, ESG, risk management, and compliance—with a particular interest in attracting more insuretech companies and emerging technologies like quantum computing and agentic AI.

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True to her name—which means "wisdom" in Mandarin—Hui brings both insight and empathy to her role, having walked in founders' shoes herself. Now she helps them navigate the complex world of financial technology, turning promising innovations into market-ready solutions.

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