INternational student Track

HKUST-SINO One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2026

 

We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking addition to the highly esteemed HKUST-SINO One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2026. In our continuous endeavor to foster global innovation and collaboration, we are introducing an exclusive International Student Track, specifically designed for students from global universities.  

We extend our warm invitation to students from global universities to express their interest in participating in the International Student Track of the HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2026.  

In addition to competing for the International Entrepreneurs Awards, the top-performing international team in the competition will be eligible for exceptional benefits. This includes the opportunity to receive the HKSTP Ideation Program offer, facilitating their entrepreneurial journey and expanding their exposure in the vibrant ecosystem of Hong Kong. 

Additionally, two members from each of the top five teams will be invited to participate in our Final Round Competition and Events in Hong Kong in person on October 11-12, 2026. Each team will receive funding support of up to HKD 20,000 to cover flight tickets and accommodation expenses. Detailed on the logistic arrangement will be confirmed at the Round 2 result announcement.

Detailed information and application guidelines can be found Here. The application deadline is 14 July 2026, and we encourage all eligible students to seize this unique opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial talent on an international stage.  

 

Participants:  The International Student Track is open to all non-local universities worldwide to participate in the Competition. To be eligible to apply, each team must include at least one current full-time student (undergraduate or postgraduate) from an international university who will graduate no earlier than Spring 2026; post-docs are not included. More details on the eligibility please refers to “Application & Eligibility”.

Submissions: 

  • All submissions must be in English and submitted online (no paper entries). 

  • While there is no restriction on topics, applicants are encouraged to focus on technology and innovation-driven businesses. 

  • Suggested areas include nanotechnology, information technology, renewable energy, environment, healthcare, financial services, logistics, and social enterprise. For submission details, please refer to “Submission Rules”. 

Judging Process: 

The assessment process consists of three rounds: 

  • Pitch Deck (5–10 pages) 

  • 5-minute Pitching Session with 3-minute Q&A 

  • 5-minute Pitching Session with 7-minute Q&A 

These rounds will take place between July and October 2026. For more details, please refer to “Judging Process”.

Cash Award Distribution: International Track Winning teams must be a registered company in either Hong Kong or their home country to get the cash award. The company name should be the same as the team name.

Application Deadline: We invite interested parties to submit their online applications with their Round 1 Pitch Deck for the Round 1 Assessment on or before 14 July 2026.