Are you ready to turn your start-up idea into the next big thing?
Join the HSUHK Entrepreneurship Challenge 2026 (E-Challenge) — the ultimate launchpad for creative, and ambitious student entrepreneurs at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong!
This competition is your opportunity to unleash your entrepreneurial potential, gain real-world experience, and compete for funding, mentorship, and recognition.
Who Can Join?
- All current HSUHK students
- HSUHK alumni
- Mixed teams with members from other local universities
- The team leader must be a current HSUHK student
Ideas in all domains are welcome, from social innovation, vibrant cultural initiatives, to cutting-edge tech solutions!
What's in it for the Winning Teams?
- Attractive cash prizes & seed funding to kickstart your idea
- Mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders
- Access to CIE's dedicated co-working space
- Fast-track opportunities to elite acceleration programmes:
Acceleration Opportunities (upon meeting criteria)
| Programme | Potential Funding | Eligibility Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HKSTP Ideation Programme | Up to HK$100,000 | Champion, 1st and 2nd Runner-up teams eligible upon assessment |
| Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF) | Up to HK$100,000 | Same eligibility criteria as above during interview |
Note: Teams must NOT already be receiving support from other HKSAR Government-funded programmes. Teams may only join one of the two acceleration pathways (HKSTP or Cyberport).
E-Challenge 2026 Briefing Session & Start-up Explorer Workshop
| Date: | 6 March 2026 (Fri) |
| Time: | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm (Registration starts at 2:45 pm) |
| Venue: | Stella Fung Siu Wan Space for All, G/F, Library, S H Ho Academic Building (Block A), HSUHK |
| Seapker: | Session I: Dr Holly Chung, Associate Director, CIE Session II: Ms Vanessa Cheung (Founder & CEO, City's Treasure) |
| Topics: | Session I: Briefing session: E-Challenge Kick-off & Networking Session II: Start-up Explorer: Story from social entrepreneur to Intrepreneur: Master Teams, Biz Structures & Governance Glow-up |
Eligibility
All current HSUHK students are eligible to participate in the E-Challenge. Students should form teams consisting of 1 to 6 members.
- Teams may include:
- Students from other local tertiary institutions
- Alumni from Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK)
- Alumni from Hang Seng Management College (HSMC)
- Alumni from Hang Seng School of Commerce (HSSC)
- Each participant may only join ONE team.
- The team leader must be a current HSUHK student.
Submission Requirements
All teams must register via the online application form and submit the following:
- One-minute pitching video about the business concept
- Business concept statement
- Showcase session contents (Finalist teams only)
Deadline: 23 Apr 2026 (Thu) at 12:00 noon
Late submissions may be accepted at the discretion of the organiser.
Pitching Video Format
| Requirements: | Elevator pitch to convey your business concept clearly and concisely |
| Video length: | Up to 1 minute long (extra time will not be considered.) |
| Language: | English or Chinese |
| File name: | [Your team's name]_video |
| File format: | MP4 |
| File size: | Less than 200MB |
| Resolution: | 720p |
Business Concept Statement Format
| Cover: | – Team Name – Project Title – Mission & Vision – Objectives – Name and background of team members |
| Maximum number of pages: | 3 (including cover, appendices, diagrams and tables) |
| Language: | English or Chinese |
| Size of paper: | A4 |
| File size: | 12 |
| File name: | [Your team's name]_Business Concept Statement |
| File format: | |
| Header: | Show the team's name on the top right-hand corner of the header |
| Coverage: | – Identification of the opportunity (problem/gap/need) – Description of business concept – Innovative elements and social/tech/commercial impact – Business model (target market, revenue, and cost structure) – Team competency and network |
Poster showcase at E–Challenge Grand Finale 2026 (Grand Finale)
Finalist teams will present during the Poster Showcase Exhibition at the Grand Finale. The teams must submit:
| Description of your Business Concept: | 150-200 words |
| Language: | English or Chinese |
| Logo / Prototype photo / QR code of social media: | PNG (if available) |
| Team members' profiles: | Name, Institution, Major |
| Upcoming plan: | Point forms |
| Contact information: | Social Media account or Email |
Judging Process
- A panel of adjudicators will shortlist up to five teams for the final round.
- Results will be announced on 8 May 2026 (Fri) via the CIE website.
- Shortlisted teams must expand their submitted concept into a live start-up pitch presentation (written business plans are NOT required).
- Substantial changes in business nature or concept focus are not allowed beyond this stage.
Mentor Pairing
Each shortlisted team will be paired with a mentor to provide one-on-one guidance in preparing for the final round.
Grand Finale
Finalist teams will pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and potential investors.
- Presentation Time: 10 minutes per team
- Q&A: 10 minutes with the judging panel
- All team members must attend the full event, though it is not required for all members to present.
Winners will be announced immediately after the final judging panel concludes.
Tentative Timeline for E-Challenge 2026
| Date | Programme |
|---|---|
| March – April 2026 | – Briefing Session – Start-up Explorer Activities for E-Challenge 2026 |
| At noon, 23 April 2026 (Thu) | Submit the following via the online form: – 1-minute pitching video – Business concept statement |
| 8 May 2026 (Fri) | Announcement of the shortlisted teams for the final round competition on https://cie.hsu.edu.hk The finalist teams will prepare their showcase contents. |
| One week before the Grand Finale | Final Round Submission Deadline – Shortlisted teams must submit: – One-page business overview (PDF) – Presentation slides (PDF) from PowerPoint, Canva, or similar |
| Early June 2026 | Grand Finale — Final Round Presentation Finalist teams will pitch live to a panel of judges including entrepreneurs, senior executives, and investors. Final results and awards will be announced on the same day. |
The organising committee reserves the right to reschedule the timetable and notification period.
Awards and Benefits
All participants who successfully submit the business concept statement and the pitching video would be awarded a Certificate of Participation in the E-Challenge 2026.
Awards for the E-Challenge 2026 winning teams will be announced soon.
- Award Certificates (Champion, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up and Finalist teams).
- The fast-track opportunity to participate in the HKSTP Ideation Programme will be provided to the Champion, 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up upon fulfilling the entrance requirements during the assessment process from HKSTP (cash fund up to HK$100,000)#.
- The fast-track opportunity to join the CCMF, Cyberport will be provided to the Champion, 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up upon fulfilling the admission criteria during the selection interview from Cyberport (cash fund up to HK$100,000)#.
- The winning teams will be eligible to join the Start-up Explorer – Premier member offered by CIE. Throughout this programme, they will be eligible to use the co-working space of CIE for a fixed period (normally 1 year), participate in a series of start-up training workshops, join various networking activities, and receive mentoring from experienced practitioners.
# The team must NOT be currently supported by other funding programmes supported by the HKSAR Government. In addition, the team can only join either the HKSTP Ideation Programme OR Cyberport CCMF Programme.
Seed Fund
A seed fund will be provided to the awardees on a reimbursement basis. Submission of proof of expenses, i.e. receipts or invoices, to CIE is required for using the funds allocated to them.
The seed fund should be used in the same business concept in the E-Challenge. Significant changes in the business plan and/or your team's composition must be reported to CIE with its approval before the continuing provision of the seed fund.
The awardees will have to sign an agreement with CIE. The winning teams should use the seed fund prudently, efficiently, and solely for the project approved under CIE.
The website / social media / promotion materials of the winning team's company should put a logo of CIE, HSUHK as a supporting organisation and send a draft to CIE before publication (Kindly advise if this point is applicable or not).
Award Structure of Seed Fund
| Stage | Milestone Requirement | Reimbursable Items | Maximum Reimbursement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1* | – Business registration – Set up social media account | – A business registration document – Establish social media accounts i.e. Instagram, Facebook and relevant promotion fees | Up to HK$5,000 |
| Stage 2 | Operational execution | – Company set up digital infrastructure, website, logo design, research & development – Promotion and marketing, delivery and operation expenses – Company incorporation fees in Hong Kong | Remaining seed fund based on the award amount |
*Winning teams have to submit proof of business registration and social media presence
A Note on Flexibility and Intent
- While the reimbursable items and milestones above reflect how a healthy, growth-oriented start-up typically progresses, winning teams remain free to take a different path.
- Reimbursements will only be made after the successful completion of each stage's milestone requirements.
- If a winning team has reached certain milestones before winning our E-Challenge, they may submit the related proof and proceed to access the seed fund.
- For full details, refer to the "Scope of Funding" section in the guidelines.
More details can be found in the <Guidelines for Cash Prize and Seed Fund HSUHK Entrepreneurship Challenge 2026>.
Rules and Regulations
- The team leader must be a student who is currently studying at the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. He/She is a contact person and responsible for ensuring the team submits all necessary information as requested by CIE, on or before the stated deadlines.
- Each student or alum is eligible to join one team only. Teams will be disqualified if any team member(s) participate(s) in more than one team.
- No change in team composition will be allowed once the registration process is completed except in unavoidable circumstances.
- The winning teams of E-Challenge 2018 to 2025 will not be allowed to join the competition with the same business idea.
- The team needs to agree to grant CIE the right to broadcast the presentation or distribute it to third parties for this competition while submitting the video.
- All submissions must be the team's original work. Plagiarism is NOT allowed. The submission must not contain any unauthorised use of copyrighted or proprietary materials of any person or entity or content violating the law of HKSAR. Any form of plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification. The use of thoughts or work of another source must be properly referenced.
- The video content of the elevator pitch must not infringe on any third-party rights (logos, music, intellectual property, etc.)
- The video must not contain obscene, violent, pornographic, defamatory, objectionable, insulting or any controversial and inappropriate content.
- All participants are required to abide by the rules and regulations of the HSUHK Entrepreneurship Challenge 2026. CIE retains the right to determine the team's participation qualification.
- The contact information of the participants would be sent to the co-organiser(s) and/or strategic partner(s) and sponsor(s) and/or supporting organisation(s) for verification of the participant's identity for issuing certificates, prizes, souvenirs and/or online platform services.
- CIE reserves the right to modify the competition context at any time without prior notice and to disqualify any team that violates the rules, conditions or spirit of the Competition. In case of any disputes, the decision made by the organiser shall be final and conclusive.
- The decision of the organising committee is final. The organising committee reserves the right to reject any application submitted for the Competition and the right to interpret, amend, and supplement the terms and conditions in the guidelines.
- By submitting the application to CIE, the teams agree to share their information with CIE for publicity and communication media in HSUHK or relevant stakeholders. For materials that are highly confidential and proprietary, the team should make a special note to the CIE for the special handling of such information.
Personal Information Collection Statement
- The personal data collected from you will be used for the purpose of processing this application/request for providing training, mentorship, research & statistics, and subsequent services related to innovation and entrepreneurship, and other university goals.
- The personal data you provide may be disclosed to relevant internal parties, external mentors, and other stakeholders within CIE and the larger HSUHK community for the above purpose if required. You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal data held by us. If you wish to exercise this right, please email the Centre at cie@hsu.edu.hk.
- Event photos and event videos taken during the programme may be used in promotion and media coverage by CIE and/or HSUHK and/or other relevant stakeholders.
Ref:
- HSUHK Entrepreneurship Challenge 2025