SparkLabs hires venture partner for HK fintech accelerator
SparkLabs Global has hired Sameer Chishty, founder and chairman of Hong Kong-based merchant bank Streeton Partners, as a venture partner for its new financial technology accelerator in the territory.
Chishty previously served as a partner at McKinsey & Company and then Bain & Company and is currently chairman of AsiaPak Investments, a venture builder organization that focuses on One Belt One Road projects. During three years at Streeton, he has invested more than $250 million in financial services and fintech companies globally.
SparkLabs FinTech is based in Hong Kong but it has a global remit. The program, which is scheduled to launch next year, will support early-stage fintech companies across areas such as payments, consumer finance, cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, blockchain, insurance tech, and digital banks.
"We are thrilled to have Sameer join. We look forward to having his insights and network create a unique advantage for startups in our fintech accelerator program and investors in our early-stage venture capital fund,” said William Chu, managing partner of SparkLabs FinTech, in a statement.
SparkLabs has seed stage and large-stage investment vehicles that operate globally. In the past year, it has launched a $50 million fund targeting early-stage investments in Korea and Southeast Asia as well as $100 million global blockchain and cryptocurrency fund.
The firm’s accelerator network includes programs based in Seoul, Songdo, Beijing, Taipei, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
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