China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition 2012 - open for entry!
Published 4 May 2012
- Do you have an idea for a business venture involving the UK and China?
- Do you want a share of the £12,000 in cash prizes?
- Do you want expert advice and comments on your business idea?
- Do you want to build your international network of contacts?
- Then join the China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition 2012!
The China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition aims to encourage new business ventures between China and the United Kingdom and is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors and venture capital firms. The competition is part of the PMI2 (Prime Minister Initiative II) Connect project, supported by British Council and the Confucius Institute programme funded by Hanban.
The competition is divided into two complementary tracks: Firstly, the Tomorrow's Leaders track, open to university teams – students and post docs – both in the UK and China. And, secondly, the Innovative Business track aimed at existing businesses.
Teams will be selected to participate in this competition for:
- First Prize - Upto £4500
- A possible free work space in London for one year
- The opportunity to visit China to develop your idea
Do you have an idea for a business venture involving the UK and China?
Step 1: Register your team and your idea here: http://www.chinaukchallenge.com/team_registration.php
(Judging criteria are here: http://www.chinaukchallenge.com/judging.php)
Step 2: If selected as one of the top 15 teams from across the UK, attend a skills workshop on 15 June at University College London, where entrepreneurship and China experts will help you improve and refine your idea. UCL is one of the UK’s leading hubs for entrepreneurial activity, with a wide range of resources, experts, contacts and connections to sources of technological and financial expertise and support.
Step 3: The best 8 teams will be invited to Lancaster University on 29 June to present their business proposals to Chinese officials and other expert judges.
Step 4: The best 4 teams (3 of whom will win cash prizes) will be invited to UCL for the finals on 20 July.
The process is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors and venture capital firms. The competition is part of the PMI2 (Prime Minister Initiative II) Connect project, supported by British Council and the Confucius Institute programme funded by Hanban.
The Organizers of this competition are: Lancaster University, University College London, the University of York, Queen’s Universityof Belfast, China Innovation and Development Association UK, Chongqing and Tianjin Association for Science and Technology. The Sponsor of this competition is: University East London (UEL). The international strategic partner is EFactor.com.
Submission deadline:
31 May, 2012
Submit to: secretariat@cidauk.org
For more information about the competition, please see:
www.chinaukchallenge.com and www.cidauk.org
