Charging Ahead: Powering Connections for Urban Living
For Jess Cheng, co-founder and CEO of CHARGESPOT, innovation is more than a buzzword — it’s a way of life. A proud alumna of the HKUST Business School (the School), Jess has redefined urban living with her entrepreneurial venture, transforming how technology can serve society while embodying the spirit of "Innovative Business Visions".
From Corporate Foundations to Entrepreneurial Aspirations
After earning a double major in Marketing and Management in 2005, Jess built a strong corporate foundation at L’Oreal and Swire Resources. However, her desire for fresh challenges set her apart. “I don’t like staying in the same job for too long. I’m always looking for challenges and new perspectives,” she shares. A deeply personal turning point in 2016 gave her the courage to pursue bold ideas.
“When I gave birth to my daughter, she was very ill and passed away at seven months old. That’s when I realized life is short… I started looking into whether I could take more control of my life and start something of my own.” This experience led Jess to create CHARGESPOT, a power bank sharing service that has become a vital part of Hong Kong’s push toward becoming a smart city.
The Birth of CHARGESPOT: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Jess's marketing expertise and her keen observation of market trends spotted the success of power bank sharing in mainland China, she envisioned a similar solution for Hong Kong, a city that thrives on efficiency and connectivity. “A lot of people doubted us, saying, ‘Why would we need to rent power banks when we already own one?’” Jess explains. But she took it as evidence that the need was underestimated, further strengthening her conviction.
Her vision was clear: to create a seamless network where users could rent and return power banks anytime, anywhere. Jess prioritized not only convenience but also product safety and customer trust. “We worked a lot on product safety to give confidence to our merchants and users,” she says. Today, her business products become a foundational element of Hong Kong’s smart city ecosystem.
Innovation as a Guiding Principle
For Jess, innovation is about adaptability and meeting real needs — qualities that also form the core DNA of the School. From designing user-friendly machines with built-in cables to exploring AI for data analysis and customer interactions, she ensures the business stays ahead of the curve. “We want to make our service smarter, more intuitive, and more accessible,” she shares. Her vision includes expanding CHARGESPOT’s network to benefit locals and tourists, while exploring opportunities in new markets.
Expanding globally has had its challenges. “Different cultures have different ways of doing business. In Hong Kong, we value efficiency and learning from errors. But elsewhere, decision-making tends to be more deliberate. You have to find a middle ground,” Jess explains. Her resilience and adaptability have been key to overcoming these hurdles.
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Left: Jess cherished the enriching journey of serving as External Vice President of the Management Department’s Student Society, gaining both leadership experience and lasting memories.
Right: Blending creativity with strategy, Jess turned her management trainee experience into a launchpad for success.
Lessons from HKUST Business School: Building an Innovative Mindset
Jess credits her time at the School for shaping her entrepreneurial approach. “The university taught me to apply knowledge creatively, work with diverse teams, and think critically about solving real-world problems,” she says. Skills like negotiation and collaboration, honed during her university years, continue to fuel her success. “Those years were some of the happiest of my life. HKUST gave me the confidence to take risks and pursue bold ideas.”
In this spirit, Jess encourages other alumni and young entrepreneurs to take risks. “For students or recent graduates, you have nothing to lose. It’s the perfect time to start a business because you don’t have financial burdens yet. Failure is just a step toward success,” she says.
Her advice to her younger self? “Don’t care too much about what others say. Trust your instincts and let time tell.” And this is the same advice she hopes to offer to future business leaders.
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