SEED
SEED is a joint co-ideation programme in partnership with HKSTP for students and graduates.
SEED is an early-stage startup support programme designed specifically for innovative or startup projects in any discipline or industrial sector. Awardees will be provided with training and coaching opportunities, as well as be supported for participating in various startup competitions.
Programme Partners
SEED programme currently collaborates with two external ecosystem partners to provide startups additional benefits.
HKSEC is non-exclusive with HKSTP Ideation programme or Oxfam G4G, which means you can participate in both programmes with the same project. However, please read the HKSEC website carefully to ensure that your project is suitable and you meet the eligibility criteria. Additional materials submission for HKSEC will be required.
Oxfam G4G on the other hand is mutually exclusive from HKSTP Ideation. However if you think that your project suits Oxfam G4G programme better, please consider to select this option during application. TEC can offer fast-track quotas for Seed shortlisted projects to Oxfam G4G. However, please read the Oxfam website carefully for additional screening criteria. Fast-tracked teams can also enjoy at least 4 hours of training sessions from September to October, including a pitching skills workshop. If you successfully get admitted to Oxfam, TEC can still offer you similar benefits as HKSTP Ideation awardees, such as 6-month iDendron membership.*
*Please note that the same project can only be admitted into either Oxfam G4G or HKSTP ideation. Read the details of both programmes carefully, as you will be asked which programme you prefer in the application form.
Apply and Enquire
This Programme runs twice a year with cut-off dates on the last Sundays of February and August. Please contact Tim Cheung at 3910 2726 or tim.cheung@hku.hk for more details.
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What Do We Offer?
 Structured Entrepreneurship Training
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Opportunity to admit to HKSTP Ideation Programme with up to HKD100K Funding |
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Public Exposure |
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Opportunity to receive 6-month iDendron Membership for HKSTP Ideation Programme Awardees
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 Community and Networking |
 Nomination for External I&E Competitions |
Eligibility
- Principal Applicant must be an HKU member (student, staff, or alumnus of HKU or its affiliated institutions) with at least 20% ownership in the applying or to-be-established company AND
- Have an innovative idea from any discipline, including class work, final year projects, research initiatives, or self-initiated projects AND
- For Individual applicants: Are an HKID holder aged 18 or above, OR
- For Company applicants: Have a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong for less than 2 years by the application start date, OR
- For Team applicants: Have a team (must incorporate a limited company in Hong Kong within 2 weeks once approved by the HKSTP IDEATION admission panel.
Selection Process & Criteria
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Process The selection is based on paper-based assessment; for those that are interested in HKSTPIdeation Programme, there will be an additional interview or pitch recording evaluation by a vetting committee. |
Criteria
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Programme Timeline
HKSEC
- Established in 2007
- Social venture startup competition
- Organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, sponsored by the Home Affairs and Youth Bureau
- Aims to accelerate the growth of youth-led social enterprises (SEs)
Programme details and Award: https://hksec.hk/
If you are interested, TEC is offering nomination quotas for HKSEC 2024 (details will be released by HKSEC soon, with a timeline similar to HKSEC 2023). The nominated teams will have a higher chance of entering the semi-final stage, where HKSEC resources will be provided to teams from this stage.
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Oxfam G4G
Oxfam Hong Kong was appointed by the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund (SIE Fund) to create ‘Oxfam Grant for Good’, which is designed to encourage everyone from all walks of life to come up with innovative solutions to address poverty and social exclusion.
TEC can offer fast-track quotas for Seed shortlisted projects to Oxfam G4G. Teams will pitch to the Judging Panel in early December and receive the results tentatively by the 2nd week of December.
The admitted team will start the Oxfam G4G programme in March 2025 at the earliest.
As quotas are limited, screening for projects may be requested. If your project’s nature does not align with Oxfam G4G, adjustments may be required. If the nature is more suitable for HKSTP ideation, you may be suggested to apply for ideation instead of Oxfam G4G.
AWS
AWS package will be offered to Seed Awardees, including:
- Credit: Up to 15K AWS Activate credits
- Support Plan: Up to 3K credits for Business Support plan for entire 12 months
- Office Hour Request: 1-to-1 office hour with AWS Solutions Architects on tailored
- technical inquiries: Training Variety of online and In-person training sessions for you to attend
- Stay Connected: Join exclusive private community for Activate members in Hong Kong
What Do We Offer?
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Structured Entrepreneurship Training • Three-week training for entrepreneurial skills, incl. business modelling and market validation
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Opportunity to receive up to HKD100K Funding from HKSTP Ideation Programme
|
Opportunity to receive 6-month iDendron Membership for HKSTP Ideation Programme Awardees s
|
|
Community and Networking
|
Nomination for External I&E Competitions |
Public Exposure
|
Eligibility
- Principal Applicant must be an HKU member (student, staff, or alumnus of HKU or its affiliated institutions) with at least 20% ownership in the applying or to-be-established company AND
- Have an innovative idea from any discipline, including class work, final year projects, research initiatives, or self-initiated projects AND
- For Individual applicants: Are an HKID holder aged 18 or above, OR
- For Company applicants: Have a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong for less than 2 years by the application start date, OR
- For Team applicants: Have a team (must incorporate a limited company in Hong Kong within 2 weeks once approved by the HKSTP IDEATION admission panel.
Selection Process & Criteria
|
Process The selection is based on paper-based assessment; for those that are interested in HKSTPIdeation Programme, there will be an additional interview or pitch recording evaluation by a vetting committee. |
Criteria
|
Programme Timeline
HKSEC
- Established in 2007
- Social venture startup competition
- Organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, sponsored by the Home Affairs and Youth Bureau
- Aims to accelerate the growth of youth-led social enterprises (SEs)
Programme details and Award: https://hksec.hk/
If you are interested, TEC is offering nomination quotas for HKSEC 2024 (details will be released by HKSEC soon, with a timeline similar to HKSEC 2023). The nominated teams will have a higher chance of entering the semi-final stage, where HKSEC resources will be provided to teams from this stage.
Oxfam G4G
Oxfam Hong Kong was appointed by the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund (SIE Fund) to create ‘Oxfam Grant for Good’, which is designed to encourage everyone from all walks of life to come up with innovative solutions to address poverty and social exclusion.
TEC can offer fast-track quotas for Seed shortlisted projects to Oxfam G4G. Teams will pitch to the Judging Panel in early December and receive the results tentatively by the 2nd week of December.
The admitted team will start the Oxfam G4G programme in March 2025 at the earliest.
As quotas are limited, screening for projects may be requested. If your project’s nature does not align with Oxfam G4G, adjustments may be required. If the nature is more suitable for HKSTP ideation, you may be suggested to apply for ideation instead of Oxfam G4G.
AWS
AWS package will be offered to Seed Awardees, including:
- Credit: Up to 15K AWS Activate credits
- Support Plan: Up to 3K credits for Business Support plan for entire 12 months
- Office Hour Request: 1-to-1 office hour with AWS Solutions Architects on tailore
- Technical inquiries: Training Variety of online and In-person training sessions for you to attend
- Stay Connected: Join exclusive private community for Activate members in Hong Kong