The government's investment promotion agency on Tuesday announced that the annual StartmeupHK Festival will return next month.

Themed "A Future Unlimited", this year's event will be held between October 21 and 25 and will cover topics such as AI, web3 and green technology.

"Last year, we had about 12,000 people attending the festival in person. So we expect a similar kind of number, if not more, from people from around the world. We expect to have maybe 50 percent or so from around the world," said Jayne Chan, head of startups at InvestHK.

The agency is also holding roadshows across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

"We think going to those specific markets and just telling people what's happening here in Hong Kong and what opportunities are on the ground for different industry sectors is going to attract those people," Chan said.

"Hong Kong's role always has been the super connector between the east and west, so we think that the platform will enable a lot of developments and positive discussions to take place, and really help to build the innovation and technology platform here."

Chan said as well as conferences, pitching competitions and exhibitions, the festival also features debates held on a Star Ferry.

"I think that really helps young people to actually understand what kind of points about their businesses that they should really highlight, and how it compares with other founders and entrepreneurs as well," she said.

"Because they may not know what the selling point that might be really important to an investor for example."

Meanwhile, Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Alpha Lau, revealed that more than 4,200 startups have set up shop in the SAR.