YDC Dare To Change Business Pitch Competition 25/26

YDC Dare To Change Business Pitch Competition offers all full-time tertiary students from Hong Kong institutes and 2025 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.

Apply on or before 5:00 pm 16 January 2026 and you will be straightly promoted to the prelimnary pitching without any selection processes. Should you have any enquiries, please contact 2798 3979 or via e-mail at dare.to.change@ydc.org.hk.

 

Eligibility and Entry Criteria

1. YDC Dare To Change Business Pitch Competition is open to all current students studying full-time in tertiary education institutes in Hong Kong and 2025 full-time tertiary programmes graduates from Hong Kong institutes.
2. Participating teams must consist of 2 to 4 member(s). Each team may draw members from different faculties or institutes. Each team may include current full-time students or 2025 full-time tertiary programmes graduates from Hong Kong institutes.
3. Team members are not allowed to join more than 1 team. All team members have to meet the competition eligibility and entry criterias.
4. Company Incorporation: Groups that have established and/or incorporated as a business for over 3 years before 16 January 2026 are NOT eligible to take part in the competition.
5. Investment: Participant teams having received prior investment (any assets acquired or put into a venture) of more than HK$1,000,000 before 16 January 2026 are NOT eligible to take part in the competition.
6. Revenue: Any services or products related to the competition which have gained a revenue of over HK$1,000,000 from the market before 16 January 2026 are NOT eligible to take part in the competition.
7. All eligible and registered teams will be invited to the preliminary round.
8. Each team should nominate a team leader to be responsible for keeping the team’s information. The team leader will also be the point-of-contact with the Young Entrepreneurs Development Council or the organizer.

 

Online Introduction Session

Come along to the Online Introduction Session to find out more about Dare To Change Business Pitch Competition! YDC will organize two introduction sessions on 6 December 2025 and 10 January 2026 for all interested students! Please register via the link https://daretochange.ydc.org.hk/enrollment/enrollment.aspx?lang=en&type=senior 

A confirmation email with zoom link will be sent to successful registrants a day before the introduction session. Don’t hesitate to register now! Only 100 seats are available on a first come, first served basis for each session!

December Introduction Session

Date: 6 Dec 2025 (Sat)

Time: 10:30AM – 11:00AM

Format: Zoom

Language: Cantonese

Registration Deadline: 2 Dec 2025 (Tue), 5pm

January Introduction Session

Date: 10 Jan 2026 (Sat)

Time: 10:30AM – 11:00AM

Format: Zoom

Language: Cantonese

Registration Deadline: 6 Jan 2026 (Tue), 5pm

 

Competition format

Phase I - Preliminary Round 

1. Online Registration and information upload 

   - Each participating team is required to fill in the application form online on or before 3:00 pm 23 January 2026; and upload identification documents of each team member during online registration: 

   (i) soft copy of identity proof of a full time local student that is issued by a local secondary school in Hong Kong , Or 

   (ii) a soft copy of identity proof for a student from an international school registered with the Education Bureau that is located 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. 

   - Registrant(s) found to be ineligible will be disqualified. 

   2. Entry Submission 

   - Each participating team has to submit both the proposal and video on or before 10:00 am 9 March 2026 online, late submission will be considered withdrawing from the competition. Teams must follow all the entry requirements and standard format as below: 

   I. A promotion or presentation video: 

   (i) no more than 3-minute 

   (ii) resolution: higher than 720x576 pixel 

   (iii) aspect ratio: 16:9 

   (iv) upload on YouTube 

   II. A proposal: 

   (i) save as PDF file 

   (ii) in Chinese or English 

   (iii) no more than 3 pages of A4 paper including words and pictures(if any); 

   (iv) font size 12, single line spacing 

   (v) no hand writing or scanning

   (vi) include team name, team number and YouTube link of the promotion / presentation video 

   3. Judging period 

   - The preliminary judging period: Mar 2026 to Apr 2026. 

   - 10 teams will be selected to progress to the final round. 

   - Result will be announced on 13 May 2026. 

   - 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 submissions 

      - Presentation PowerPoint or slides have to be submitted on or before 10:00 am 22 June 2026 online. 

      - 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.

 

Prize and Awards

It will be such a great satisfaction and glory for you to have won in an open competition, and this accounts for the reason why this competition is a scarce and valuable opportunity. Not only will you receive recognition of being one of HK's finest entrepreneurs, you will also be proving your ability to the public and to yourself.

Although that might be all you are looking for, the organizer has put together a string of prizes to help the winning teams celebrate their successes.

Cash and In-kind Prizes

Golden AwardHKD20,000Silver AwardHKD18,000Bronze AwardHKD15,000Best Business Idea AwardHKD12,000Best Potential Startup and Innovation AwardHKD12,000Best Social Impact AwardHKD12,000Awardees can be referred to the admission into the HKSTPC IDEATION Programme.

 

More details

https://daretochange.ydc.org.hk/en/home.aspx

 

Registration link

https://daretochange.ydc.org.hk/DareToChange/RegistrationForCompetition.aspx