Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme

The Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme (Tech-Up) aims to empower young tech entrepreneurs to transform their concepts into viable business ventures in Hong Kong and/or the Greater Bay Area by providing seed funding, mentorship, and access to key resources.
Tech-up is organised by the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (TEC) of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and supported by Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) through the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Entrepreneurship Scheme), under the Youth Development Fund (YDF) administered by the Youth Development Commission (YDC).
Enquiry:
Email: mandyhy@hku.hk / hkutec@hku.hk
Tel: 3910 2727 / 2495
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What Do We Offer?
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Funding Support HK$600,000
A grant of HK$480,000 and an interest-free loan of HK$120,000
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Up to 24 months Incubation Support
- Mentorship
- Entrepreneurship and Incubation services support
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Structured Entrepreneurship Training
- Lean Launcher Training Programme
- HKU TEC’s Entrepreneurship Academy
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Public Exposure and Networking
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From Prototyping to Market Launch
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Workspaces in HK & ShenZhen
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Eligibility
An application must be made by either a start-up company or a team of at least two members, of which:
- the Person-in-Charge (PIC) must be an HKU member (student, staff, or alum of HKU or its affiliated institutions), and HKU members should own at least 20% ownership in total in the applying or to-be-established company;
OR
- the start-up company must be an existing or prospective HKU IP licensee (with a licensing agreement already signed or being negotiated)
AND
- For company applicants, the entity must be a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong pursuant to the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) for less than 3 years by the Application Deadline;
- For team applicants, they are required to incorporate a limited company in Hong Kong prior to the commencement of the Funding Period;
The PIC and the core team member(s) of each application must be Young Entrepreneurship Applicant(s) (YEAs) who meets the following criteria:
- Age: 18-39 (as of the Application Deadline)
- Holder of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card
- Not subject to any bankruptcy orders or proceedings
- Have not received funding from the Entrepreneurship Scheme under the YDF (including previous and current rounds from any NGOs)
- Have established or plan to establish operations in Hong Kong or GBA cities (other regions not excluded)
Non-YEA members or shareholders shall not possess more than 20% of the equity of the start-up company as of the Application Deadline and during the Funding Period.
Unless with prior written approval from the Government, the Awarded Start-ups shall not assign, transfer, subcontract, or dispose of any of their interests, rights, benefits, or obligations under their business during the Funding Period. If any new partner(s) or shareholder(s) is/are added to an Awarded Start-up, such new partner(s) or shareholder(s) shall also meet the above eligibility criteria.
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How to Apply
The Applicant must complete an online application form and the following documents on or before 6 July 2025, Sunday (23:59 PM GMT+8). Late submissions will NOT be accepted.
- Pitch Deck (no more than 15 slides)
- 3-5 minutes Pitching Video
- CVs of Person-in-Charge (PIC) and Team Member(s)
- Signed declaration form to use HKU IP and copies of IP licensing agreements (if applicable)
Applicants must submit the Pitch Deck, Pitching Video, and CVs by providing a valid, accessible, and downloadable link to the files when submitting the application. These files should be uploaded to a file-sharing platform (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, etc.)
For selected applicants participating in the Final Assessment, the following must also be submitted at least 10 working days prior to the Final Assessment:
- Staff/ Student card or graduation certificate for proof of association with HKU
- Copy the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card of ALL YEAs
- Company documents including BR, CI, AOA and NNC1 (for company applicant)
- Other supplementary information required by the University
Due diligence meetings may be required if necessary.
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Selection Criteria
Assessment Items Percentage Team Competency - Track record and relevant experience
- Execution capabilities and expertise
- Clear division of responsibilities
30% Creativity & Innovativeness - Novelty and creativity of the proposed solution
- Technical feasibility and viability
- Potential for intellectual property development
30% Business Model & Market Potential - Market demand and growth potential
- Feasibility and scalability of the business model
- Priority given to ventures launchable within 6 months post-assessment
25% Social Impact - Demonstrable contribution to societal or industry improvement
- Commitment to social responsibility
- Potential for sustainable positive impact
15% Total 100% -
Programme Structure
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Application Timeline
Schedule Event 9 June Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme Launch Ceremony HKU X Hong Kong Startup Council Demo
13 June Briefing Session at HKU 20 June Online Briefing Session 6 July Application Deadline Mid July Eligibility Check and Initial Assessment Early Aug Announcement of Shortlisted Applications Aug – Sep Lean Launcher Training Programme (Teams that have previously participated in the Lean Launcher programme by HKU or HKSTP may be exempt from the training.)
Mid Sep Final Assessment Late Sep Announcement of Recommended Teams -
Briefing Session
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Briefing session @HKU
Date: 13 Jun 2025 (Fri)@HKUTime: 1-2PMVenue: Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing Two, Faculty of Engineering, HKURegistration link: https://forms.office.com/r/r6eP7q0sLC -
Online Briefing session via ZOOM
Date: 25 Jun 2025 (Wed)Time: 1-2PMRegistration link: https://forms.office.com/r/ZMFVe7sceD
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Programme Timeline and Funding Milestones
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Important Documents
- Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme [Guidelines]
- Declaration Form of Use HKU IP [Oct 2024 edition]
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Lean Launcher Training Programme
We will provide the Lean Launcher Programme to the shortlisted teams from Aug to Sep with 1 day bootcamp and followed by 5 report back session.
The tentative training date: Lean Launcher Bootcamp: 2 Aug, followed by report back session on 11, 18, 25 Aug, 1, 8 Sep. (Tentative)
This comprehensive training initiative is designed to guide participants through the essential processes of in-depth market validation and customer discovery. The programme will equip you with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to effectively assess market opportunities, understand customer needs, and refine your business ideas for greater success.