Our Story
Built to make AI
work for you.
Synthwave was founded in Hong Kong by practitioners who believed AI services should be delivered with transparency, patience, and genuine care for the organizations we work with.
← Back to HomeWho We Are
Practitioners first,
consultants second.
Synthwave was established in 2016 by a small team of data and software engineers who had grown frustrated watching organizations invest in AI initiatives that didn't reflect how those organizations actually operated. Too many projects began with technology and worked backwards to the problem. We wanted to do the opposite.
Over eight years, we've built a focused practice around three service areas — conversational AI, data infrastructure, and exploratory proof-of-concept work — each one chosen because it addresses real, recurring challenges that we hear from clients across Hong Kong and the wider region.
We operate from Tsim Sha Tsui and deliberately stay small. That's not a limitation — it's a choice. Smaller means every engagement gets senior attention, clearer communication, and a team that genuinely understands your situation before recommending anything.
Honesty Over Optimism
We'd rather tell you something won't work than let you spend money finding out. Candid guidance is part of what we offer.
Process Before Product
We invest time understanding your workflows before proposing any technical solution. The best AI fits naturally into how you already operate.
Long-Term Relationships
Many of our clients have worked with us across multiple engagements. We prefer relationships where we can understand an organization's evolving needs over time.
Local Grounding
Hong Kong has its own regulatory environment, market structure, and operational culture. We understand this context and factor it into our work.
The Team
People behind
the practice.
Marcus Kwok
Co-Founder & AI Architect
Marcus leads technical design across all engagements. Before Synthwave, he spent six years building data infrastructure for financial institutions in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Sophia Lam
Co-Founder & Dialogue Specialist
Sophia focuses on conversational AI design and client engagement. Her background spans UX research and natural language processing, with a particular interest in systems that communicate clearly.
Ray Ng
Senior Data Engineer
Ray designs and builds the data pipelines that underpin our clients' AI systems. He brings deep experience in ETL architecture and data governance across logistics and retail sectors.
Standards & Protocols
How we keep
the work rigorous.
Data Privacy & PDPO Alignment
All engagements are conducted in alignment with Hong Kong's Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Data handling protocols are agreed and documented before any work begins.
Structured Testing Protocols
Every system we deliver goes through structured evaluation cycles. We define success criteria at the start of each project and assess against them throughout.
Documentation Standards
We document what we build thoroughly — architecture decisions, data flows, configuration details — so your team can maintain and extend work independently after handover.
Confidentiality Agreements
We operate under mutual confidentiality agreements on all client projects. Client data, business processes, and strategic information remain protected.
Iterative Review Cycles
We build in regular checkpoints with clients throughout each engagement. You have a clear view of progress, findings, and any emerging constraints at every stage.
Professional Memberships
Our team maintains active involvement with Hong Kong ICT industry bodies and regional AI practitioner communities, keeping our knowledge and standards current.
Our Position
Considered AI practice for organizations that want to get it right the first time.
Across Hong Kong's financial, professional services, retail, and logistics sectors, organizations are exploring what artificial intelligence can offer. The question most of them face isn't whether AI might be useful — it usually is — but how to approach it in a way that's proportionate, responsible, and genuinely tied to real business needs.
Synthwave occupies a distinct position in this space. We're not a large consultancy that delegates execution to junior staff. We're not a product company selling a platform. We're a focused team of practitioners who engage directly with clients, bring senior expertise to every engagement, and deliver work that we're willing to stand behind.
Our three service areas — conversational AI design, data pipeline architecture, and AI proof of concept work — represent a deliberate scope. We chose these areas because we have deep competence in them, and because they address the points where organizations most often need structured, expert support. We don't try to do everything; we do these things well.
Work with Us
Ready to start
a conversation?
We're based in Tsim Sha Tsui and happy to meet in person, speak by phone, or correspond by email. Whatever works best for you.
Get in Touch