New funding and ad support aim to ease capital gaps for small wedding businesses
Updated
February 24, 2026 2:55 PM
Mannequins display white wedding dresses in a bridal shop window. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
The Knot Worldwide, a global wedding technology platform and vendor marketplace, has launched a new grant initiative aimed at small businesses in the wedding industry.
The company, which operates brands such as The Knot and WeddingWire, connects couples with wedding professionals and provides tools to help vendors grow. It says the new WeddingPro Grant Program is designed to address a persistent challenge in the sector: access to capital.
Under the program, up to US$500,000 will be distributed to U.S.-based wedding professionals who run small businesses. The support will come in the form of financial grants, advertising credits on WeddingPro and mentorship. Selected businesses will also receive access to education resources and community support through the company’s network.
The move comes at a time when many wedding businesses remain small and resource-constrained. According to the company’s State of the Vendor Report, more than half of wedding businesses employ fewer than ten people. Three in four professionals surveyed said adaptability is critical to long-term success, while flexible funding remains a barrier. The grant program is positioned as a response to that funding gap.
“Our mission at The Knot Worldwide is to help the nearly 900,000 small businesses on our global platforms get discovered through our centralized vendor marketplace as well as give them the tools and resources to grow their business,” said Raina Moskowitz, Chief Executive Officer, The Knot Worldwide. “We consistently hear from our wedding professionals that access to capital is a barrier to getting started in the industry. With our new WeddingPro Grant Program, we will provide access to both capital and critical support services such as mentorship and education that will enable small business owners to further grow and scale.”
The application window opens on February 23 and closes on March 27. Winners are expected to be notified by May 2026, subject to eligibility verification and compliance with the official rules.
The program is open to U.S. wedding professionals who operate small businesses, have been in business for at least six months, can demonstrate an active revenue stream and earn at least 50% of their revenue from weddings. Applicants must submit a short form and a video outlining their business and how they would use the grant funds over the next 12 to 24 months. They can choose whether they prefer a monetary grant or free advertising support on WeddingPro.
To execute the program, The Knot Worldwide has partnered with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs worldwide. The company says the initiative builds on earlier efforts to support vendors on its platform, which includes about 200,000 wedding professionals in the United States. Its impact will depend on how effectively the support reaches the businesses that need it most. The real measure will be whether it helps them achieve steady, sustainable growth.
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Where Hollywood magic meets AI intelligence — Hong Kong becomes the new stage for virtual humans
Updated
February 7, 2026 2:18 PM
William Wong, Chairman and CEO of Digital Domain. PHOTO: YORKE YU
In an era where pixels and intelligence converge, few companies bridge art and science as seamlessly as Digital Domain. Founded three decades ago by visionary filmmaker James Cameron, the company built its name through cinematic wizardry—bringing to life the impossible worlds of Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and the Marvel universe. But today, its focus has evolved far beyond Hollywood: Digital Domain is reimagining the future of AI-driven virtual humans—and it’s doing so from right here in Hong Kong.
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“AI and visual technology are merging faster than anyone imagined,” says William Wong, Chairman and CEO of Digital Domain. “For us, the question is not whether AI will reshape entertainment—it already has. The question is how we can extend that power into everyday life.”
Though globally recognized for its work on blockbuster films and AAA games, Digital Domain’s story is also deeply connected to Asia. A Hong Kong–listed company, it operates a network of production and research centers across North America, China and India. In 2024, it announced a major milestone—setting up a new R&D hub at Hong Kong Science Park focused on advancing artificial intelligence and virtual human technologies. “Our roots are in visual storytelling, but AI is unlocking a new frontier,” Wong says. “Hong Kong has been very proactive in promoting innovation and research, and with the right partnerships, we see real potential to make this a global R&D base.”
Building on that commitment, the company plans to invest about HK$200 million over five years, assembling a team of more than 40 professional talents specializing in computer vision, machine learning and digital production. For now, the team is still growing and has room to expand. “Talent is everything,” says Wong. “We want to grow local expertise while bringing in global experience to accelerate the learning curve.”
Digital Domain’s latest chapter revolves around one of AI’s most fascinating frontiers: the creation of virtual humans.
These are hyperrealistic, AI-powered virtual humans capable of speaking, moving and responding in real time. Using the advanced motion-capture and rendering techniques that transformed Hollywood visual effects, the company now builds digital personalities that appear on screens and in physical environments—serving in media, education, retail and even public services.
One of its most visible projects is “Aida”, the AI-powered presenter who delivers nightly weather reports on the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). Another initiative, now in testing, will soon feature AI-powered concierges greeting travelers at airports, able to communicate in multiple languages and provide real-time personalized services. Similar collaborations are under way in healthcare, customer service and education.
“What’s exciting,” says Wong, “is that our technologies amplify human capability, helping to deliver better experiences, greater efficiency and higher capacity. AI-powered virtual humans can interact naturally, emotionally and in any language. They can help scale creativity and service, not replace it.”
To make that possible, Digital Domain has designed its system for compatibility and flexibility. It can connect to major AI models—from OpenAI and Google to Baidu—and operate across cloud platforms like AWS, Alibaba Cloud and Microsoft Azure. “It’s about openness,” says Wong. “Our clients can choose the AI brain that best fits their business.”
Establishing a permanent R&D base in Hong Kong marks a turning point for the company—and, in a broader sense, for the city’s technology ecosystem. With the support of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) in Hong Kong, Digital Domain hopes to make the city a creative hub where AI meets visual arts. “Hong Kong is the perfect meeting point,” Wong says. “It combines international exposure with a growing innovation ecosystem. We want to make it a hub for creative AI.”
As part of this effort, the company is also collaborating with universities such as the University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University to co-develop new AI solutions and nurture the next generation of engineers. “The goal,” Wong notes, “is not just R&D for the sake of research—but R&D that translates into real-world impact.”
The collaboration with OASES underscores how both the company and the city share a vision for innovation-led growth. As Peter Yan King-shun, Director-General of OASES, notes, the initiative reflects Hong Kong’s growing strength as a global innovation and technology hub. “OASES was set up to attract high-potential enterprises from around the world across key sectors such as AI, data science, and cultural and creative technology,” he says. “Digital Domain’s new R&D center is a strong example of how Hong Kong can combine world-class talent, technology and creativity to drive innovation and global competitiveness.”
Digital Domain’s story mirrors the evolution of Hong Kong’s own innovation landscape—where creativity, technology and global ambition converge. From the big screen to the next generation of intelligent avatars, the company continues to prove that imagination is not bound by borders, but powered by the courage to reinvent what’s possible.