What will participants gain from the Challenge?

Through the Challenge, participants will receive:

• Seed funding opportunities, and fast-track access to other competitions.
• Extensive media coverage increases public exposure and brand visibility.
• Mentorship, one-to-one consultation, and co-working spaces in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
• Empowering training, demo days, and investor roadshows to showcase your ideas.
• Integrate startup and technology innovation resources and broaden co-operation channels.

What is the schedule for the Challenge?

The Challenge schedule is as follows:

Online Registration → Preliminary Selection → Regional Preliminary Competition and Roadshow → Pre-final Coaching → Grand Finale (January 2027 on HKU Campus)

What are the eligibility criteria for the Start-up Track?

• The company or institution to which the participating project belongs must be registered and established on or after 28 February 2025.
• Projects must have received no more than one round of equity investment from institutions or individuals (including seed or angel investments).
• There must be at least two core team members.
• Applicants must be students, staff, or alumni of the University of Hong Kong, or be nominated by any of the aforementioned individuals.
• Projects must comply with current laws, focus on business model innovation or technological innovation, and possess uncontested proprietary intellectual property rights or key technologies related to the product or technology. They should also exhibit innovation, uniqueness, and potential for commercial development.
• Projects that have placed in the top three in HKU innovation and entrepreneurship competitions on or before 10 February 2026, are not eligible to participate.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Growth Track?

• The company or institution to which the participating project belongs must be registered and established before 28 February 2025.
• Projects must have completed at least one angel investment round or higher, with cumulative funding not exceeding RMB 100 million.
• The participating companies must have at least 10 employees.
• Applicants must be students, staff, or alumni of the University of Hong Kong, or be nominated by any of the aforementioned individuals.
• Projects must comply with current laws, focus on business model innovation or technological innovation, and possess uncontested proprietary intellectual property rights or key technologies related to the product or technology. They should also exhibit innovation, uniqueness, and potential for commercial development.
• Projects that have placed in the top three in HKU innovation and entrepreneurship competitions on or before 10 February 2026, are not eligible to participate.