AEF Student Start-up Grants
Enquiry Email :
ecfund@ust.hk
Organised by :
HKUST Entrepreneurship Center
1. Objectives
Administered by the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center (EC), the Alumni Endowment Fund Student Start-up Grants (AEF) that aim to achieve the following through a variety of funding and award schemes that support startup ideas, projects and business initiated and/or owned by HKUST members (students, alumni, faculty):
1.1 To support, in the form of funding/ award/ resources/ services, etc., for startups of all different entrepreneurial stages in order to facilitate their ideation, development and acceleration;
1.2 To promote and engage HKUST members in cross-disciplinary collaboration to transform innovative ideas into concrete and value-added solutions for society;
1.3 To foster an entrepreneurial culture among the HKUST community, cultivating and enhancing HKUST members’ entrepreneurial spirit, mindset, skills and potentials for the pursuit of entrepreneurial dreams.
Click here to learn more about the AEF Student Startup Grants
2. AEF Grant Amount and Scope of Activities Covered
2.1 Maximum Grant Amount Per Project: Up to HK $10,000
2.2 Scope of Activities Covered in Startup Development:
- Product/ Service Development
- Prototyping, including justifiable equipment/ materials
- Marketing, promotional materials
- Cloud rental for trials
- Further development of existing projects
- Participation in student activities/ tours organized by EC
- Participation in external entrepreneurial activities/ competitions recognized by EC
3. Eligibility
3.1 Individual or team basis
3.2 The main applicant must be a current HKUST full-time student.
3.3 Applicants may apply for multiple funds/ awards at the same time, yet successful applicants (a.k.a. fund/ award recipients) are allowed to hold at most one fund/ award in any funding cycle (i.e. period from application, project implementation to fund/ award disbursement).
3.4 Applicants applying for the purpose of participating in overseas entrepreneurial activities including competitions, conferences, exhibitions, etc. are required to submit the funding application and supporting documents (e.g. invitation, schedule) before the event; retrospective applications will not be processed.
4. Startup Support for Fund Recipients
All fund recipients are entitled to the following startup support:
- Accelerator Space and Facilities: access to hot desk in co-working space, meeting rooms, mail box, storage locker, etc. at The BASE
- Mentoring by entrepreneurs and experts in MentorHUB@HKUST
- Advising by staff from Entrepreneurship Center
5. Application, Terms and Conditions, Selection and Disbursement Details
5.1 Online Application: Here
5.2 Before application, please read the Application Notes for all the terms and conditions, selection criteria, vetting procedures and disbursement conditions.
5.3 Checklist of supporting documents to be uploaded to online application:
- Budget Estimation (please download the template here)
- Business Registration Certificate (for Registered startups only)
- Certified Incorporation Form (Company Limited by Shares) - NNC1 Form submitted to Companies Registry (for Registered startups only)
- Proof of External Achievements/ Funds/ Awards Received, if applicable
- Other Supporting Documents, if any
5.4 Application deadline: Open all year round
6. Enquiries
The Secretariat of AEF
HKUST Entrepreneurship Center
Tel: (852) 2358 6021
Email: ecfund@ust.hk