In a landmark move to bridge Australian capital with the rapidly expanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector, Tanggram, a leading Australian fintech and wealth platform, has announced a joint initiative with NextGen Partners, the investment arm of Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund (AEF). The partnership targets raising A$50 million from Australian wholesale investors by December 2026 to fuel high-growth, AI-first companies in a market projected to exceed US$1.8 trillion by 2030.
Under this strategic partnership, Tanggram will establish and manage an Australian wholesale feeder fund that leverages its digital wealth platform and extensive community network to bridge Australian capital and high-impact opportunities within AEF’s global entrepreneurial ecosystem. The fundraising campaign will feature milestone closings planned for Q1 2026, Q3 2026, and December 2026, offering investors multiple entry points into the world of transformative AI innovation.
Collaborative Female Leadership at the Forefront of Venture and Technology
The partnership is jointly spearheaded by two visionary female executives with a proven track record of turning potential into impact: Cindy Chow, Executive Director and CEO of AEF and Partner at NextGen Partners and Erica Xie (pictured), Co-Founder of Tanggram and the “Emerging FinTech Leader of the Year” at The Finnies 2024.
“This collaboration is all about unlocking access,” said Erica Xie, Co-founder of Tanggram. “We’re enabling Australian investors to directly engage with world-class AI ventures backed by Alibaba’s innovation network. Tanggram sits at the intersection of technology and wealth management — translating complex global opportunities into accessible, high-quality investments for our community.”
“AEF’s story began in Hong Kong ten years ago, but since the beginning our vision has always been global. With the launch of NextGen Partners last year, we set out to identify the world’s most promising AI startups—those poised to solve structural problems. Our new partnership with Tanggram is a powerful example of this in action, connecting Australian investors to our global network of AI ecosystem and unlocking new possibilities. Together, we will accelerate the commercialization of breakthrough technologies and empower a new generation of leaders to define the future of growth globally,” said Cindy Chow, Partner of NextGen Partners.
Connecting Australian Investors to Global Growth Opportunities
Through this partnership, Tanggram will play a leading role in investor engagement to connect Australian capital with NextGen Partners’ global portfolio of established, AI-driven startups. These ventures have progressed beyond early-stage development and are now scaling globally through the Alibaba ecosystem.
NextGen Partners, backed by AEF’s resources, is uniquely positioned to bridge promising startups to the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and global markets. The fund is dedicated to propelling AI-driven growth-stage startups that are solving real-world challenges in sectors such as Consumer Retail, Financial Services, Healthcare, Construction & Building, and Art & Entertainment. Managed by seasoned Alibaba veterans, the fund offers unparalleled access to Alibaba Group’s extensive ecosystem, accelerating the scale and impact of high-potential startups.
Since its inception by Alibaba Group in 2015, AEF has invested over US$100 million into more than 80 startups, attracting co-investment exceeding US$2.8 billion. Notable investments include leading ventures such as SandboxVR, Sleekflow, and Airwallex.
Tanggram: Redefining Wealth Through Fintech
Founded in Melbourne, Tanggram is renowned for its innovative “invest-while-you-shop” app — a user-centric platform that blends smart wealth creation with lifestyle rewards. The app enables Australians to invest in professionally managed alternative asset strategies that were previously accessible only to institutional investors.
The Tanggram Spark option, one of its flagship investment products, currently offers a great annual return, with monthly distributions and a three-month lock-in period. Impressively, Spark has met its target return for more than 71 consecutive months since its launch in November 2019.
Tanggram’s model has earned strong industry recognition, including multiple nominations as one of Australia’s leading wealth management apps, reflecting confidence in its ability to deliver risk-adjusted returns aligned with its objectives.
