1/ Is the event virtual or in-person? Is travel required?
HICOOL offers both fully remote and in-person participation options. During the Registration and Online Assessment phases, all processes are conducted online.
As you progress to the pitch stages (Preliminary, Semi-final, or Final), you have the option to pitch virtually or travel to Beijing to pitch in person. Travel is not mandatory, and travel costs are the responsibility of the startups.
StartupLinkX may sponsor finalists to pitch in person in Beijing and winners to receive their awards there, subject to terms and conditions and availability of spots (Last year we offered 5 spots to awardees).
While in-person attendance is not required, it is recommended for enhanced networking and exposure opportunities.
2/ Can I participate without a registered company? What stages are eligible?
Yes, startups at any stage (except publicly listed companies) can apply.
3/ Can I participate without a presence in China?
Yes, startups from anywhere in the world without a presence in China are welcome to participate.
However, if you win, you will need to register an entity in Beijing within one year from the award announcement date to receive the prize money.
This restriction only applies to the equity-free grant prizes, which total approximately USD 15 million in the prize pool.
If your startup attracts additional investment interest during the competition process, those terms and conditions are to be negotiated separately on a case-by-case basis with the interested parties. China entity registration is not necessarily required.
4/ Are there cash prizes?
Yes, various cash prizes are available.
Please check here for more details.These are equity-free grants, not involving taking your equity.
5/ What language should I apply in?
Applications are accepted in English and Chinese. Non-Chinese nationals should apply in English.
6/ What’s the application process?
Submit your application by the deadline mentioned above.
After your submission, our team will take a few days to review your entry. If there are any missing, inaccurate, or contradictory details in your application form, we will contact you to address those issues.
If there are no issues, you will receive notification that you passed the "registration review" stage and entered the Online Assessment round. This round involves a detailed evaluation of all applications by judges to decide which ones move forward.
If successful in the Online Assessment, you'll advance to the pitching rounds: Preliminary, Semi-final, and Final. Each of these rounds involves a presentation lasting between 7 to 10 minutes, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session with the judges.
This structure allows you to showcase your startup’s potential and engage directly with the panel of judges.
7/ Can I apply without an immediate plan for China?
HICOOL is by far the largest and highest-level startup competition in China, and among the top 5 in Asia. Participating can elevate your startup's global exposure and attract potential investors, even without immediate plans to enter the Chinese market.
It offers valuable networking opportunities, access to resources like mentorship and market insights, and prepares your startup for future international expansion.
8/ Should I apply early or late?
We recommend applying as early as possible.
Chinese public fund sponsored competitions often have quotas for each month, and they accept a limited number of applicants into the next stage based on the monthly quota filing status. Therefore, the later you wait to apply, the slimmer your chances become, and the competition becomes more competitive.
Applying early maximizes your chances of success.
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