Kelvin Wu
Founder & Chairman
International financier, entrepreneur and philanthropist with over 27 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, and corporate management.
About · Group · Est. 2007
Nineteen years of building — not just investing.
AI.D Group is a long-hold operating group, not a fund. We advise, invest, and develop — across five pillars, from eight offices, over nearly two decades.
Our story · Since 2007
Founded in Hong Kong in 2007. Rebranded as AI.D Group to capture the AI-native economy.
AID Group was founded in 2007 in Hong Kong as a media-focused private equity firm by Kelvin Wu and Joel Chang. Joined by Snir Zano in 2017, from that moment, our vision was clear: to be a leading global investment partner for paradigm-shifting technology.
The name AID represents our three operating principles — Advise, Invest, Develop. For us to get involved, we need to be able to do all three. These are not just words; they define how we approach every partnership, every investment, and every relationship we build.
Now rebranded as AI.D Group, we are consolidating our portfolio around five interconnected pillars — the AMNIP framework — to capture the AI-native economy.
Track record · Proven at scale
Nineteen years, three PE funds, and a ledger we can stand behind.
0+
Investments
US$0.0B
Assets under management
0
Global offices
Convictions · What we believe
Not a thesis. Four things we genuinely believe in, invest in, and live by.
01 · Conviction
We embrace AI
Artificial intelligence is not a tool we adopt reluctantly — it is the foundation we build on. From multi-agent operating systems to AI-native hospitality and drug discovery, we believe AI will reshape every industry we touch, and we intend to lead that transformation.
02 · Conviction
We love Niseko
Niseko is more than a ski resort. It is one of the world's most undervalued premium destinations — a place where world-class nature, Japanese culture, and global capital are converging. We have committed deeply to this community, building hotels, restaurants, homes, and an economy we are proud of.
03 · Conviction
We want better health
Longevity is personal to us. We believe that how we age is within our control, and that access to advanced genomics, precision diagnostics, and personalised interventions should not be a privilege. Through Thai Omics, AID Genomics, Nanyang Biologics, and Project HBOC, we are building the infrastructure for a healthier world.
04 · Conviction
We enjoy media
Great storytelling moves people. We have always been drawn to content — from Hollywood and anime to short drama and mobile gaming. We partner with the best creators, distributors, and IP holders in the world because we believe entertainment is one of the most powerful forces for human connection.
Our journey · 2007 → present
Nineteen years of quiet compounding.
- 2007
AID is Born
AID Partners founded in Hong Kong by Kelvin Wu and Joel Chang. Three core principles established: Advise with honesty, Invest with conviction using own capital, and Develop hands-on.
- 2008
Golden Harvest Acquisition
~US$90M buyout of Golden Harvest. Kelvin becomes CEO, Joel CFO. A pan-Asian cinema platform is created, operating metrics improve 100%, and market capitalisation exceeds ~US$300M — the first proof that the AID model works.
- 2010
Legendary Pictures Investment
~US$172M private placement led by AID in partnership with IDG Capital and Asian investors. Kelvin becomes Founding CEO of Legendary East (Beijing), establishing the bridge between Hollywood and China.
- 2013
HMV Acquisition — Bankruptcy Turnaround
Acquisition of the distressed HMV brand, rebuilt into the "Ideal" lifestyle brand. Demonstrates AID's specialisation in trust-based assets, not just financial ones.
- 2016
Legendary Exit — Wanda Acquisition
Legendary Pictures acquired by Wanda Group for approximately US$3.5B, validating AID as a cross-border strategic builder and delivering a landmark return for investors.
- 2018
Telegram TON ICO Investment
AID Group invests in Telegram's TON (The Open Network) ICO — one of the largest token sales in history — positioning the group at the forefront of blockchain infrastructure and the emerging decentralised economy.
- 2019
AID Genomics Founded — Israel
AID Genomics established in Israel with a focus on molecular diagnostics, oncology, and hereditary disease. Snir Zano co-founds the company as CEO.
- 2020
Pandemic Inflection Point
Built six diagnostic labs in 45 days, creating high-throughput PCR infrastructure with ~100,000 tests per day. AID Genomics becomes the largest molecular diagnostics platform in Israel, generating over US$100M in revenue.
- 2023
Ecosystem Building — Japan & Niseko
Niseko hospitality ecosystem developed across hotels, restaurants, and community infrastructure. REMOW / Shueisha JV launches to globally distribute Japanese IP including manga and anime.
- 2025
AI-Native Transition
The 1898 Niseko opens as AID's first AI-native property. An AI lab is built at the hotel featuring hospitality AI for guest personalisation, an anime generation pipeline, and the trilingual Omotenashi AI platform.
Leadership · The people behind the work
A team of builders — founders, operators, and long-term partners.
Joel Chang
Co-Founder & Co-Chairman
Founding Partner with over 27 years of strategic, financial and advisory experience. Previously COO of Mason Group, managing US$400M in cross-border M&A.
Snir Zano
CEO · 95percent.ai · AID Genomics · Screenbites
Architect of AID Genomics' PCR infrastructure. Co-founder of 95percent.ai and Screenbites. Leading AID Group's AI-native transformation.
Kelly Li
Director · AID Japan · Chairperson · 1898 Hotel Group
Founder and CEO of Hokkaido KoL K.K. Chairperson of the 1898 Hotel Group. Venture Partner at AID Capital.
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The annual letter is printed and mailed — request a copy and we'll send one with the next cycle.