On 7 July 2026, eight local teams will pitch for access to the up to US$10M Minds Investment Programme in front of global delegates‍

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‍Animoca Brands and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today announced Build East, a premier demo day they are co-hosting on 7 July 2026 to showcase local talent focused on agentic AI. The initiative will see eight standout Hong Kong-based teams pitch their projects for potential access to the Minds Investment Programme.

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The Minds Investment Programme was created to support early-stage builders integrating Minds by Animoca Brands (“Minds”) as their core product layer. Teams which are successfully accepted into the investment programme, subject to assessment from time to time, will receive an individually tailored mix of benefits, such as Cognition Credits, developer relations support, high-value ecosystem introductions across Animoca Brands’ portfolio of over 600 companies, and, where appropriate and subject to due diligence, capital investment from an aggregate pool of up to US$10M.

‍Building the agentic era‍

Minds by Animoca Brands is a persistent AI agent platform that removes complexity while preserving full control and customization for users of any knowledge or skill level. It enables anyone to quickly deploy and manage sovereign, always-on AI agents, called Minds, without having to operate local servers or manage any hardware or software.

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Build East seeks to identify and support promising Hong Kong-based projects building with Minds, by evaluating them for eligibility for the Minds Investment Programme. 

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The cohort structure for Build East is evenly split: four demo slots are reserved for premier HKSTP Park companies, and four demo slots are open to the wider community.  On demo day, the eight teams will pitch their projects to an audience of investors, ecosystem leaders, and global delegates, including a delegation from Saudi Arabia. Selected teams will be eligible for acceptance into the Minds Investment Programme, subject to further evaluation. Visit the Minds Builder Hub webpage for more details.

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Build East will take place on 7 July 2026 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Hong Kong Science Park. HKSTP is the exclusive “Tech Ecosystem Partner” of LEAP East 2026, which begins the following day. 

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HKSTP has built a thriving innovation and technology ecosystem, supporting 13 unicorns and bringing together approximately 2,500 technology companies from 26 countries and regions, and over 17,000 research professionals.

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‍Leadership perspectives

‍Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, said: "As a global company headquartered in Hong Kong, we are absolutely thrilled to work with HKSTP to help accelerate the development of agentic AI in this vibrant and forward-looking city. Hong Kong’s combination of builder density, capital depth, and global connectivity render it uniquely well-suited to establish itself as a leading economic and development hub for the agentic era. Build East provides a timely platform enabling agentic AI builders in Hong Kong to connect with global investors as the city’s role in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation continues to evolve.”

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Eric Or, chief ecosystem development officer of HKSTP, said: "HKSTP is proud to co-host Build East alongside Animoca Brands and Minds. This event reflects our REIMAGINE AI+ commitment and our role as Hong Kong's home for the founders building the next generation of intelligent agents." 

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‍How to apply

‍Applications to Build East are now open. Hong Kong-based developers, founders, and early-stage teams who are leveraging Minds by Animoca Brands are encouraged to submit their projects to secure a demo slot at Build East. The deadline for applications is 22 June 2026. Teams can apply directly via the Minds Builder Hub at http://build.hellominds.ai/program/build-east. 

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‍About Animoca Brands

‍Animoca Brands Corporation Limited (ACN: 122 921 813) is a global digital assets leader building and investing in impactful technologies and ecosystems to reimagine future economies through AI and the agentic web. It has received broad industry and market recognition including Fortune Crypto 40, Top 50 Blockchain Game Companies 2025, Financial Times’ High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific, and Deloitte Tech Fast. Animoca Brands is recognized for building digital asset platforms such as the Moca Network, Open Campus, Anichess, and The Sandbox, as well as institutional-grade platforms; providing digital asset services to help Web3 companies launch and grow; and investing in frontier Web3 technology, with a portfolio of over 600 companies and digital assets. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.

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Contact: press@animocabrands.com