The family man and founder of venture capital fund Spectrum 28 lands a spot on this year's prestigious Young Global Leaders list

Kent Ho, Tatler 500 lister and founder of early-stage venture capital fund, Spectrum 28, has been named a 2018 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The prestigious accolade represents “the very best potential of their generation and are advancing new models of sustainable social innovation” according to the organisation.

Tatler Asia
Above Photography: Nic and Bex Gaunt

The Kentucky-born, Stanford-educated venture capitalist invests in experimental and pioneering tech companies. Spectrum 28’s scope of investments is broad, with a portfolio that spans digital health, genomics, retail and hospitality, fintech and construction, and even drones. 

“Our investments go across the spectrum but the one thing that I’m always striving for is driving impact. I’m a big believer that tech will improve society and drive productivity, and that’s ultimately what I really care about,” Kent told Hong Kong Tatler when he appeared as a cover star in our April 2017 issue. 

This year, Kent was also part of the Tatler Tribe, a panel of industry leaders we assemble to help us select the strongest nominees for the Generation T List.

See also: Kent Ho: The Startup King Who's Shaping Our Future

Kent spent a decade in Silicon Valley before settling in Hong Kong in 2012 and today, he sees it as his mission to “tie the two together”; to bring the innovative thinking that defines Silicon Valley to Asia, and to connect Asia’s corporations with the technology in the US. 

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Above Kent Ho with wife Emily Lam-Ho at the Hong Kong Tatler Ball 2017 (Photo: Hong Kong Tatler)

Kent is one of 11 Young Global Leaders selected from Hong Kong and Greater China. 

Each year, WEF announces 100 Young Global Leaders—selected from a pool of thousands of nominees—who are all under the age of 40. The list includes artists, business leaders, public servants, technologists and social entrepreneurs. Candidates must dedicate part of their time to jointly address global challenges like the environment, education and poverty. 

See also: Kent Ho Has Invested In A String Of Billion-Dollar Start-Ups. Here’s How He Does It

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