Abstract: Not just 'a building', but 'an ecosystem'.
On May 1, 2025, a 25-story building named CAI Tower on Tin Hau Road in Hong Kong is quietly becoming a new focus for the development of AI and Web3 in Hong Kong. This building is not an ordinary office building, but rather purchased by renowned angel investor Cai Wensheng for approximately HKD 650 million, positioning it as an AI-Web3 entrepreneurship center and a social platform for global digital nomads.
Recently, MetaEra CEO Jessica visited CAI Tower for an in-depth dialogue with Cai Wensheng and toured the entire building with him. "Why did I buy a whole building?" Cai Wensheng explained to Jessica at the entrance of the building, "If it was just to invest and make money, I could easily buy Bitcoin."
But this time, he chose a more challenging and long-term path—redefining the existing CAI Tower building as an entrepreneurial center integrating AI and Web3.
From Garage Café to buying CAI Tower
The story begins two years ago, when the new cryptocurrency policies in Hong Kong attracted widespread attention, triggering a wave of industry migration. Cai Wensheng discovered a surprising fact: although the Talents Scheme and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme have brought in several hundred thousand elite talents from mainland industries to Hong Kong, there was almost no space truly suitable for them to engage in entrepreneurial exchanges.
"I want to find a place where there is an open space like Garage Café downstairs and a free co-working area upstairs," he said. "But the reality is that underground properties in Hong Kong are too expensive, and office buildings are not suitable, making it hard to find a proper venue."
Thus, he made a bold decision: to buy the building. After inspecting twenty to thirty properties, he ultimately selected CAI Tower. "It's only a few minutes' walk from the subway, convenient for daily life, each floor has a balcony, independent air conditioning, and even the bathroom does not require a key. There's a gym and sports hall not far downstairs, allowing entrepreneurs to switch easily between work and exercise; good health is also key to entrepreneurial success." These details, in Cai Wensheng's view, are precisely the "human-centered design" that entrepreneurs need most.
More importantly, this building will be open 24/7 in the future, allowing for free entry and exit without cumbersome registration processes, completely breaking the shackles that traditional office buildings impose on entrepreneurs.
Whole building plan: Focused on the AI+Web3 entrepreneurial ecosystem
In this building, each floor is assigned a specific plan:
1st floor: AI-themed café, fully open to the public for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry practitioners to communicate freely;
2nd floor: Activity space, regularly hosting lectures, sharing sessions, parties, etc.;
3rd floor: AI Experience Store, showcasing the latest global AI hardware and software products, and even available for purchase;
8th-11th floors: AI-Space co-working area, open for applications from AI and Web3 entrepreneurs, free residency for 3 to 6 months upon approval;
12th-21st floors: Selectively inviting AI and Web3 companies to settle in;
Top floor: AI Club, providing high-end social and negotiation space for entrepreneurs in the building.
"As an angel investor, my experience tells me that deciding whether to invest in just one hour is unfair to everyone. So I hope to give entrepreneurs a buffer period," Cai Wensheng emphasized. "You only need to submit a business plan, and if our team evaluates it and sees potential, you can come in. The only condition is that I have priority investment rights."
This model is neither traditional incubators nor similar to YC Labs or Garage Café. Here, entrepreneurs are no longer just passively waiting for the investor's 'interview', but have the opportunity to truly showcase their abilities and project development potential over a period of 3 to 6 months.
Exploring the essence: The chemical reaction between AI and Web3
When asked why to place AI and Web3 in the same space, Cai Wensheng stated firmly: "The relationship between AI and Web3 is mutually promoting and mutually fulfilling!"
In his view, AI improves productivity, and Web3 enhances production relationships. Without the decentralized collaboration mechanisms brought by Web3, it is challenging for AI to break through the existing structures to achieve true scalable applications; conversely, if Web3 lacks the support of AI, it will remain trapped in the circle of financial speculation, unable to transition to real industrial landing.
It is precisely due to the optimistic view on the interaction between AI and Web3 that when faced with questions regarding the resident groups of CAI Tower, Cai Wensheng somewhat obstinately emphasized: CAI Tower is only open to AI and Web3 practitioners. Despite the building being as high as 25 floors, each floor covers only about 200 square meters, limiting the overall space. If unrelated field teams are introduced, it would be difficult to maintain the unity of the building's positioning and ecosystem.
Sharp observation: The advantages behind buying property in Hong Kong
Why choose Hong Kong? Cai Wensheng provided three key reasons:
Local market scale limitations: The Hong Kong local market is relatively small, primarily catering to local businesses, making it difficult to support the development of large-scale internet companies.
High office costs: Compared to mainland startups (such as Meitu with 1,800 employees, NetEase with 36,000 employees, Tencent with 110,000 employees, etc.), Hong Kong's population of 7 million cannot bear the huge demand for office space.
Changes in the main body of entrepreneurs: Current entrepreneurs in Hong Kong are mostly talents from the mainland, targeting the global market. Additionally, with the decline in housing prices, office costs have decreased. More importantly, nowadays, a unicorn company may require fewer than 10 people, whereas in the past, it usually needed 500 people.
These changes provide more opportunities for Hong Kong in the future entrepreneurial field. At the same time, Hong Kong possesses some advantages that mainland does not have:
Internet freedom: There are no internet restrictions in Hong Kong, and tools like GitHub can be accessed without barriers;
Loose regulatory environment: Developing AI models does not require filing, and game development also does not need a license;
Friendly tax policies: Hong Kong's corporate income tax is a maximum of 16.5%, personal income tax is a maximum of 17%, and there are no capital gains tax, dividend tax, or overseas income tax in Hong Kong.
"These directions are very important for Hong Kong's future development, and I have also communicated with the government about them," Cai Wensheng said, "It's just that the advancement of such projects often requires some time." So he decided to try personally, starting from places he could control.
Although Hong Kong already has entrepreneurial bases such as Cyberport and Science Park, there are still limitations in geographical location and living facilities. CAI Tower, however, is located in the core area of Hong Kong Island, just a few minutes' walk from Tin Hau MTR station, adjacent to Victoria Park, with abundant commercial and dining resources surrounding it, perfectly catering to the daily needs of entrepreneurs.
Not just 'a building', but 'an ecosystem'
Cai Wensheng understands that he cannot complete the entire ecosystem construction alone. Therefore, he plans to introduce more partners in the future, including consulting firms, legal service institutions, investment and financing platforms, etc., to jointly build a complete entrepreneurial service system.
Currently, the application channel for AI-Space co-working area is under construction and will be open to the public once the website is launched. As for the rental floors, they have basically been fully booked, and Cai Wensheng revealed that he has already extended invitations to well-known Web3 institutions such as HashKey and Distributed Capital.
As for whether this model will be replicated in places like Tokyo, Singapore, New York, San Francisco, and London in the future? Cai Wensheng did not rule out this possibility: "As long as I find a suitable building, I am willing to rent it and do the same thing."
If you are familiar with the entrepreneurial environment of Hong Kong's Cyberport and Science Park, then this method of "buying a building to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem" is not something everyone can emulate. It requires sufficient financial strength, strategic vision, and extreme belief in the future.
And Cai Wensheng evidently possesses all of these.
Conclusion
After the interview, Cai Wensheng accompanied Jessica to tour both inside and outside CAI Tower. Looking out the window, Victoria Park is lush and green, and the city layout is clearly visible. The convenient transportation, broad views, and air circulation also add a touch of 'livability' to this building for entrepreneurs.
In this era filled with uncertainty, Cai Wensheng seems to have built a bridge with CAI Tower. And this bridge not only connects AI and Web3 but also connects digital nomads and aspiring entrepreneurs from all over the world.
The next stop for CAI Tower, we are looking forward to it.