Programme

GBA Youth Start-up and Social Innovation Programme

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), funded by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission, is launching a three-year "GBA Youth Start-up and Social Innovation Programme". This initiative integrates innovation and entrepreneurship bases within the Greater Bay Area (GBA) with higher education resources. It is dedicated to nurturing the innovative mindset and entrepreneurial capabilities of HSUHK students and alumni, facilitating the practical implementation of entrepreneurial projects with social value.

Core support under this programme includes:

🚀 Three-Year Incubation Support: 

Selection of 13 teams to receive comprehensive entrepreneurial resources throughout the programme period

💰 Start-up Seed Fund:

 Up to HKD $360,000

👩‍🏫 Systematic Entrepreneurship Training: 

Equips participants with practical skills required for the entire entrepreneurial process

👩‍💼 Professional Advisory Services:

One-on-one mentoring and expert consultation to accelerate the growth of start-up teams

🌐 Key Resource Networking:

Connects teams to markets, professional networks, and information channels

Introduction of Programme

Mission and Development Goal

This programme offers youth opportunities and an incubation platform to bring innovative ideas to life. Through a three-phase journey—Education → Social Analysis → Business Validation—it guides young entrepreneurs to address social issues with an entrepreneurial mindset, fostering inclusive well-being and the sustainable development of the startup ecosystem.

💡 Inspire: Spark creative thinking and equip youth with foundational knowledge and skills to tackle social challenges.
📚 Learn: Understand innovative design concepts and develop sustainable business models.
🔎 Practice: Kickstart social innovation projects with seed funding and cross-sector support and resources.

Core Services

Incubation Support	Details
Systematic Entrepreneurship Training	Start-up Essentials Workshop Series 101: 8 sessions of general entrepreneurship course Thematic In-Depth Training: Covers practical topics such as financing, legal affairs, and policies
Seed Fund	Selected 13 teams will receive funding of up to HKD $360,000
Professional Advisory Services	Business Mentor Programme: Matches teams with mentors (entrepreneurs, executives, professionals) Expert Consultation Sessions: One-on-one in-depth consultations covering six key areas: Taxation, Legal, Marketing, Policy, Finance, and Technology
Support Platform	Complimentary access to CIE facilities and hardware resources, supported by an access to industry information
Networking	Business Visit Tours: Connects with innovation and entrepreneurship hubs in GBA Business Exhibitions: Provides platforms to promote products to potential clients

Three Key Entrepreneurial Focus Areas

Integration of Traditional and Innovative Economies: 
Combines the innovative capacity of the GBA with Hong Kong's traditional industries to explore new productive force business models
Sustainable Development and Social Innovation: 
Focuses on the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs), encouraging youth to address issues such as climate change, education, and wealth disparity within the Hong Kong social context
Cultural, Arts and Creative Industries: 
Transforms creativity into commercial value and promotes the implementation of cultural ventures

Application Eligibility

Applicant Category	Requirement Type	Specific Requirements
All Shareholders / Partners	Basic Qualifications	Aged 18–39 (as of the application deadline） Must be a Hong Kong Permanent Resident
	Regulatory Compliance	Not bankrupt or involved in bankruptcy proceedings at the time of application
	Funding Conflict	Have not received matching grants from the Youth Development Fund for entrepreneurship Have not received similar funding from other government bodies (e.g., comparable start-up support programmes offered by Cyberport or Hong Kong Science Park)
Start-up Team	Eligibility Status	The team leader and the largest shareholder of the enterprise must be a current student or alumnus of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
Start-up Team	Team Composition	The team must consist of at least two eligible youths
Start-up Enterprise	Basic Qualifications	Not yet in operation or operating for no more than three years
	Equity Structure	Non-core members (partners who do not meet all basic qualifications for shareholders/partners) must not hold more than 20% of shares Funded organisations and their associated persons (including chairs, directors, principals, project coordinators, etc.) shall under no circumstances act as shareholders of the start-up
	Regional Aspiration	Business must be established in Hong Kong and/or the Greater Bay Area; may also operate in other regions simultaneously
Start-up Project	Thematic Compliance	Must align with one of the Programme's three Key Entrepreneurial Focus Areas
Start-up Project	Regulatory Compliance	Business nature must comply with laws of Hong Kong and Mainland China
Selected Projects	Operational Duration	Must remain operational as required throughout the funding period Must operate at least until 21 January 2028

Application & Process

How to Apply

This programme accepts online applications only. Please complete the following steps by 12:00 noon on Friday, 3 October 2025:

Fill out the online application form
Upload all required documents

📌 Late submissions will strictly not be accepted. Please submit on time.

Application Materials

Item	Requirement	Format/Specification
1. Team & Enterprise Information
Team Information	Chinese & English full names Date of birth Contact details (phone/primary email (preferably school email)/alternative email)	To be filled in the online application form
企業資料（如已成立企業）	Company name Date of establishment Registered address Business registration number, etc.	To be filled in the online application form
2. Supporting Documents
Team Leader Proof	Current student: copy of valid student card Alumnus: copy of graduation certificate	Format: PDF Naming: TeamName_LeaderEnglishName (e.g., Green Innovator_CHAN Tai Man)
Member Identification	Combined copy of ID documents of all team members	Format: Merged into one PDF Naming: TeamName_ID copies (e.g., Green Innovator_ID copies)
3. Business Proposal
Basic Requirements	Minimum 8 A4 pages (including cover, appendices, charts) Font size: 12 Language: Consistent use of Chinese or English	Format: PDF Cover template: Business Proposal_Template.pdf Naming: TeamName_Business Proposal (e.g., Green Innovator_Business Proposal)
Cover Specifications	Team name Project name Mission & vision Brief description of the venture Team members’ names and educational backgrounds/titles
Header format	Team name on every page
Content Structure	Problem statement & solution Market analysis Competitive analysis Innovative approach/execution plan Business model Financial planning & budget Team introduction
4. 3-5 Minute Video Pitch
Basic Requirements	Deliver an "elevator pitch" to quickly convey the business concept to judges	Format: MP4 Resolution: 1080P(1920x1080） Aspect ratio:16：9 Naming: TeamName_Video (e.g., Green Innovator_Video) Note: Content beyond the time limit will not be scored
5. Declaration Forms
Declaration Content	Confirmation of no prior funding received Eligibility confirmation Personal data collection statement	To be signed via the online application form

Selection Criteria (Total: 100%)

Market Analysis & Business Model (25%)
Social Innovation & Technology Application (25%)
Team Background & Execution Capability (20%)
Social Impact & Issue Response (20%)
Relevance to Mainland/GBA Development Concept (10%)

Implement Criteria

(1) Application Limit:

Each team leader and member may participate in only one project. Teams found to have duplicate applications or cross-team participation will be disqualified.

(2) Team Member Change Restriction:

After confirmation of registration, team members may not be replaced except under force majeure circumstances. The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong reserves the final right of decision.

(3) Original Work Declaration:

All submitted work must be the original creation of the team. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Submissions must not contain any unauthorized copyrighted content, third-party proprietary materials, or content that violates the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Any references to external sources must be clearly cited. Any form of plagiarism will result in disqualification.

(4) Compliance with Rules and Terms:

All participants must strictly adhere to the rules and terms of the "GBA Youth Innovation and Social Innovation Programme". The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong reserves the final right to review eligibility.

(5) Data Usage Statement:

The contact information provided will be shared with funding organizations, strategic partners, and supporting units solely for identity verification and communication purposes.

(6) Organizer's Rights Reserved:

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong reserves the right to adjust project application details without prior notice. If a team violates the project application rules and terms, the Centre has the right to disqualify them. The organizer reserves the right to reject any project application and holds ultimate authority in the interpretation, amendment, and supplementation of the terms of this application guide.

Incubation Services and Trainings Details

Systematic Entrepreneurship Training

Start-up Essentials Workshop Series 101

#1 Personal Strengths & Team Management
#2 Visual Design & Content Marketing
#3 Market Research & Prototype Development
#4 Digital Marketing, Branding & Video Production
#5 Business Models & Pitch Strategies
#6 Social Innovation Case Sharing
#7 Platform Technologies & Tech Application
#8 Introduction to Creative Thinking

Thematic In-Depth Training

Target Participants:
Aspiring student and alumni entrepreneurs (Open to all)

Program Format:
Phased, thematic training closely aligned with market trends and entrepreneurial practices, designed to help teams continuously enhance their operational capabilities.

Session Topics:

Professional Bookkeeping and Accounting Tax Responsibilities
Company Law and Director Duties Training
Business Agreements and Legal Knowledge
Technology and Platform Application Support Services (2 sessions)
Project Management and Team Communication
Website Construction and Online Media Management
Intellectual Property and Patent Protection (2 sessions)
Human Resource Management and Legal Safeguards
Cybersecurity and Data Handling Best Practices
Greater Bay Area Market Ecosystem and Business Terminology
Greater Bay Area Digital Marketing Tools (4 sessions)
Investor and Business Pitching (3 sessions)

Professional Advisory Services

Business Mentorship Programme:
Mentors will meet with teams regularly to provide timely guidance, share industry insights, recommend relevant events, and facilitate valuable networking opportunities.

Expert Consultation Sessions:
Experts will be invited to provide direct advisory services to help teams address specific challenges encountered during their entrepreneurial journey. Key areas of support include:

Financial Planning & Tax Compliance
Legal & Commercial Agreements
Business Development Strategy
Marketing & Brand Building
Policy Resources & Funding Applications
Technology Application Support
Investor Communication & Pitching Techniques
Mainland Business Setup Procedures

Greater Bay Area Resource Connections

To help startup teams expand their perspectives and access regional resources, this programme will organize a series of local and Greater Bay Area field visits and exchange activities, enhancing teams' understanding and practical engagement with the entrepreneurial environment.

Local Visits: Social Innovation Enterprise Exchanges

Arrange visits to representative local social innovation enterprises
Facilitate face-to-face communication with successful social enterprise founders
Build professional networks and explore potential collaborations
Inspire teams to implement and expand their social impact

GBA Business Visits

On-site visits to innovation and entrepreneurship hubs and startup parks in the Greater Bay Area
Introduction to the latest policies, funding resources, and entrepreneurial ecosystems
Exchange experiences and share market entry strategies with local entrepreneurs
Assist teams in evaluating expansion potential and market opportunities in the GBA

📌 Priority will be given to selected teams for participation in these activities.

Physical Platforms & Business Network Development

To enhance teams' presentation capabilities and resource connectivity, this programme will provide diverse physical exchange platforms to facilitate the implementation of entrepreneurial achievements and collaborative development.

Social Innovation & Youth Development Forum

Invite guests from government, enterprises, venture capital, and mentorship backgrounds
Selected teams will showcase their entrepreneurial progress and achievements
Provide cross-sector dialogue opportunities to expand industry perspectives and collaboration
Attract potential investors, clients, and business partners

Business Pitching & Matching Sessions

Collaborate with GBA startup bases to organize physical pitching events
Arrange for teams to present projects to judges, investors, and partner organizations
Facilitate targeted matching with Mainland market partners and resource platforms
Enhance teams' practical pitching skills and brand exposure

Business Exhibition Activities

Organize team participation in large-scale innovation expos or thematic exhibitions
Showcase products and services to build brand visibility and market feedback channels
Enable interaction with potential clients, industry representatives, and ecosystem members
Gain insights into market trends and user needs

📌 Activities will prioritize selected teams.

Funding Allocation & Milestone Requirements

All funded start-up teams must complete specified tasks and reports according to the following five phases to receive phased funding disbursements. Each phase corresponds to 20% of the total funding, cumulatively amounting to 100%.

Phase	Key Deliverables	Required Activities	Expected Disbursement Timeline*	佔全數資助百分比
Phase 1	Company registration proof Company bank account details	Participate in ≥3 entrepreneurship support activities (e.g., trainings, business exhibitions, GBA study tours) Attend ≥3 mentorship sessions Attend ≥2 expert consultations Submit milestone report Attend phase review meeting	Within 5 months	20%
Phase 2	Product prototype / detailed service description Established website and social media presence Clear market development strategy		Within 10 months	20%
Phase 3	Product prototype / detailed service description Established website and social media presence Clear market development strategy		Within 16 months	20%
Phase 4	Proof of market engagement (e.g., customer orders) Detailed income and expenditure report Proof of participation in GBA business activities (e.g., pitching competitions, exhibitions)		Within 20 months	20%
Phase 5	Proof of market engagement (e.g., customer orders) Detailed income and expenditure report Proof of participation in GBA business activities (e.g., pitching competitions, exhibitions)		Within 24 months	20%

*The expected timeline is calculated from the date of signing the funding agreement.
*Specific deliverables may be adjusted based on the actual business progress of the funded project.
*Funded projects must submit required reports on time and obtain approval from the funding organization; otherwise, funding disbursement may be affected.

Important Notes:

The Organizer reserves the right to use all submitted images, videos, and text for publication and promotional purposes.
Selected teams must cooperate with the Organizer's arrangements, including but not limited to attending events such as sharing sessions or media interviews.

This programme is funded by the "Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" under the Youth Development Fund of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and The Youth Development Commission.