AEF Student Start-up Grants

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

Personal Data (Privacy) Collection Statement:

- The personal data provided by you will be used by staff in HKUST Entrepreneurship Center (EC) for purposes related to the processing of administrative, research and statistical purposes.

- The personal data (including name, address, email and contact number) provided by you will be used by HKUST EC staff for delivering information including any events and functions to be held, and other affairs and activities related to EC. This personal data will not be transferred to other external parties for purposes as stated above, except commissioned research consultants and agencies for marketing activities as stated above.

- Under the provision of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, you have rights to request access to, and to request the correction of, your personal data. For such requests, please submit written requests to ecenter@ust.hk.