YDC Dare To Change Business Pitch Competition 24/25

YDC Dare To Change Business Pitch Competition offers all full-time tertiary students from Hong Kong institutes and 2024 full-time tertiary programmes graduates from Hong Kong institutes a chance to step out of their comfort zone and conduct a five-minute pitch of their business ideas in front of seasoned executives.

All participants will be given instant feedbacks by seasoned executives, as well as certifies of participation as encouragement. Finalists will also receive one-to-one guidance from business professionals with subsidies as a start-up fund. Not only will they have an opportunity to execute their business ideas in an office offered by the HKSTPC on a free rental basis, winning teams will also be recommended to regional contests.

Various types of events will also be organized, such as networking events, online seminars, and more. Participants will have the opportunity to know more about updated and related information of the business realm through potential investors and seasoned professionals.

 

Competition Format

Phase I - Preliminary Round

1. Online Registration and information upload

   -	Each participating teams are required to fill in the application form online on or before 3:00 pm 17 January 2025; and upload identification documents of each team member during online registration: (i) soft copy of a full time local student identity proof that is issued by a local tertiary institution in Hong Kong.
   -	A registration notice with team number will be sent to the registrants after submitting the online form. The team number is used for the online submission of competition entries.
   -	An official confirmation email will be sent to the eligible teams after checking all the related information. Registrant(s) found to be ineligible will be disqualified.

2. Preliminary Pitching Days

   -	Preliminary pitching day 1 : 22 March 2025 (Saturday)
   -	Preliminary pitching day 2 : 29 March 2025 (Saturday)
   -	The choice of pitching day is on a first-come-first-served basis

3. Compulsory Briefing Sessions

   -	The compulsory briefing sessions will be held on 25 January 2025(Saturday).
   -	Competition format and judging criteria will be introduced in this session. All registered teams and participants must attend the session, absent teams and participants from the Compulsory Briefing Session, will be considered withdrawing from the competition.

4. Entry / Presentation Submission

   -	Presentation PowerPoint or slides have to be submitted on or before 10:00 am 10 March 2025.

5. Preliminary Pitching Day

   -	Attendance of at least half of the team is required, if there are only two teammates, both of them are required to attend.
   -	Given 5 minutes for each presentation, each team has to conduct their entire presentation within the time limit in any form in front of the judging panel.
   -	The presentation will be immediately followed by a 5-minute Q & A session with the judging panel.
   -	10 teams will be selected to progress to the final round.
   -	All participating teams will be given certificates of participation as an encouragement.

Phase II - Final Round

1. Mentorship Program

   -	Each finalist team will be paired with a seasoned entrepreneur or a mentor from the respective industry, who will provide adequate support and professional advice throughout the entire preparatory road to the final.

2. Final Presentation

   -	Presentation PowerPoint or slides have to be submitted on or before 10:00 am 19 May 2025.
   -	Attendance of the whole team is required.
   -	Given 5 minutes for each presentation, each team has to conduct their entire presentation within the time limit in any form.
   -	The presentation will be immediately followed by a 10-minute Q & A session with the judging panel.

3. Award Presentation Ceremony

   -	The top teams will be showcasing their projects.
   -	Winners, as well as the finalists and the rest of the participating teams will be invited on stage to accept their awards and certificates.

Online Introduction Session

December Introduction Session

Date: 5 Dec 2024 (Thu)

Time: 17:00PM - 17:30PM

Format: Zoom

Language: Cantonese

Registration Deadline: 2 Dec 2024 (Mon), 5pm

January Introduction Session

Date: 11 Jan 2025 (Sat)

Time: 10:30AM – 11:00AM

Format: Zoom

Language: Cantonese

Registration Deadline: 8 Jan 2025 (Wed), 5pm

For registration, click this link below:

https://daretochange.ydc.org.hk/enrollment/enrollment.aspx?lang=en&type=senior

Enquiry: dare.to.change@ydc.org.hk