Youth Entrepreneurship Voyage in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) presents significant market potential and unparalleled opportunities for young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. While the differences in business environments, cultures, and policies between Hong Kong and Mainland cities create challenges, they also foster innovative possibilities.

Organised by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), the “Youth Entrepreneurship Voyage in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” (the Programme) is a “We Venture” project, supported by the “HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (2024-2027)” under the Youth Development Fund (YDF) of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Youth Development Commission (YDC).

This Programme provides comprehensive support, including up to HK$600,000 in start-up capital, mentorship, and incubation services. Through diverse activities, it aims to help aspiring young entrepreneurs interested in developing their businesses in Hong Kong or other Mainland cities in the GBA enhance their competitiveness and embark on their entrepreneurial voyage.

Programme Description

Eligibility

1. Hong Kong Permanent Residents, aged 18-39.
2. Start-up companies and all their shareholders/partners must not have previously received capital funding from the Entrepreneurship Matching Fund under the Youth Development Fund and/or from the previous rounds of funding programmes.
3. Up to 20% of shareholding may be held by individuals or entities outside the eligibility criteria (1) and/or (2).
4. Applications may be individual or team-based.
5. Interested in starting a business in Greater Bay Area cities.
6. Businesses that are unlawful, illegal or involving tobacco, advocacy of gambling, obscenity, etc., will not be supported.
7. Have solid and feasible business plan(s) for starting a business in the Greater Bay Area; OR have already operated a start-up company in Hong Kong for less than three years (as of the application deadline).
8. If the selected teams have not been incorporated, they must complete the procedure under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) within two months of selection.
9. Have no bankruptcy records or involvement in insolvency proceedings.
10. The application project cannot be simultaneously selected for programmes under the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (2024-2027).
11. Applicants must disclose all funding applications to other organisations and declare any financial support received, including those from non-public sources.
12. Applicants must not violate any laws or regulations deemed relevant by the government (including but not limited to the Hong Kong National Security Law).
13. If the intended or existing business is owned by the applicants in the form of a partnership/limited company, all the partners/shareholders must apply jointly and fulfil the above eligibility requirements.

Judging Criteria

Selection Process

The Secretariat will select potential entrepreneurs with the greatest potential for the training workshop and bootcamp. On completion of at least four business training courses and the three-day Greater Bay Area entrepreneurship training camp, they will proceed to the first round of interviews. 40 teams will be further chosen for the final round of interviews, after which 15 teams will be declared winners. If the intended business is registered under a team, all members of the team need to fulfil the attendence requirements.

Application Procedures

Application Method

The Programme only accepts online applications. Please submit the online application form and required documents before the deadline: 5:00 PM, 16 June 2025. Late applications will not be processed.

Required Documents

1. Submit the Online Application Form (https://forms.gle/ayad84Mfa6TaodDw9)
2. Applicants must submit the following materials by the deadline specified in the confirmation email from the Secretariat:
   • A detailed three-year business plan (maximum: 8 pages of A4 paper; font size: 12) (template), including a GBA development plan
   • A one-minute business introduction video
   • A three-year financial budget, detailing the use of start-up capital
   • Latest Financial Report for the year (for incorporated companies)
   • HKID Copy (for all team members)
   • Education Qualifications and Employment Proofs (details and documents required for all team members)
   • Valid proof of address (document/bill/official correspondence issued within the last three months from the application date, with clear indication of name and address of applicant, the name of sender and date)
   • Copies of Business Registration Certificate, Certificate of Incorporation and NNC1 (of existing/pre-owned businesses, if applicable)
   • A credit report issued by TransUnion Limited within the last three months (as of the application deadline)

Remarks

1. Winning teams should co-operate with the Organisers and attend briefing sessions, related activities, launch ceremonies and media interviews.
2. The Organisers reserve the right to publish and promote images, videos and text submitted by the applicants and winning teams.

Milestones for Funded Teams

Phase One (within 12 months from the start of the funding service period)

• For teams that have not yet established a company: Establish a company and complete business registration in Hong Kong.
• For teams that have already established a company: Obtain approval for the business plan from the senior advisory team and the Secretariat.

Release 40% of the funding and 100% of the interest-free loan.

Phase Two (within 20 months from the start of the funding service period)

• Successfully launch a project/product test version;
• Establish a presence in a Greater Bay Area market’s innovation and entrepreneurship base; or
• Engage in business collaboration in a Greater Bay Area market; or
• Establish a company in a Greater Bay Area market.

Release 40% of the funding.

Phase Three (within 30 months from the start of the funding service period)

• Provide evidence of product/market fit;
• Be able to report project progress and meet established product milestones at the mid-term review meeting.

Release 20% of the funding.

Entrepreneurial Support Activities

Eight Business Training Courses

Venue: Room B-E, 11/F, Genesis, 33-35 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong

Important Notes

• The course will be conducted in two sessions, and each session will be filled to capacity. Participants who do not select a session will be randomly assigned by the Secretariat or considered to have forfeited their participation.
• If a participant needs to arrange a make-up class for special reasons (e.g., illness), they must submit a request by emailing the Secretariat in advance. If the relevant session is already at capacity, a make-up class cannot be arranged.

GBA entrepreneurship bootcamp (three-day)

Tentative Itinerary:

Business Clinic

One-on-one Online Mentor Consultation

Industry experts will share insights on the industry and market with the finalists. Each finalist will also receive two one-on-one mentorship sessions conducted via Zoom.

FAQs

1.Q: I am a Hong Kong Permanent Resident aged between 18–39. Can I apply if:

• One of my co-founders is not a Hong Kong Permanent Resident; or
• One of my co-founders is over 39 years old; or
• Part of the project’s shares are held by another institution?

A: If the total shares held by non-eligible co-founders/institutions exceed 20%, the application will not qualify.

2.Q:I only have a business idea and have not registered a company. Can I apply?

A: Yes. Applicants must present a concrete business idea for local or GBA mainland cities. If you end up  being selected as one of the winning teams, you must complete commercial registration under the Cap. 310 Business Registration Ordinance within two months.

3.Q:Can I submit multiple applications?

A: No. Each applicant may submit only one project.

4.Q: Is there a limit on the number of team members?

A: No.

5.Q: Can I add or remove co-founders after submitting the application?

A: Changes to team members require prior approval from the Secretariat via email. All partners/shareholders must meet eligibility criteria.

6.Q: I have already registered a company in Mainland China. Can I apply?

A: Only if the company has operated for ≤ three years as of the application deadline.

7.Q: Is completing online registration equivalent to a successful application?

A: No. Online registration is only the first step in the application process. Applicants must submit all required documents within the deadline specified in the confirmation email. Incomplete or late submissions will be disqualified.

8.Q: Can the business proposal be written in English?

A: The business plan can be written in either Chinese or English. For details, please refer to the template provided.

9.Q: I have submitted the business proposal and all required documents; does it mean that I can attend the first-round interview?

A: No. After receiving the business proposal and documents, the Secretariat will arrange screening to select eligible applicants for the training courses and bootcamp. Teams that do not meet the minimum attendance requirement will be disqualified.

10.Q: Do all team members need to meet the attendance requirements?

A: At least one applicant in the team must meet all attendance requirements.

11.Q: Do all partners/shareholders need to submit the required materials?

A: Yes.

12.Q: Do all partners/shareholders need to attend the interviews?

A: Yes.

13.Q: Can the business training courses/interviews be attended online?

A: According to the current programme arrangements, both the business training courses and interviews will be held physically.

14.Q: Can I apply to other organisations simultaneously?

A: Yes. Applicants must disclose whether they have submitted applications to other organisations. The project cannot be concurrently selected for programmes held by different organisations in the end.

15.Q: My project has been selected for or is currently receiving funding from other publicly funded projects. Can I apply?

A: If the same project has been selected for or is currently receiving funding from other publicly funded projects (e.g., the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund [SIE Fund], the Innovation and Technology Fund [ITF], the Incubation Programme funded by the Hong Kong Science Park), it is not eligible for appplication.

For enquiries

The HKFYG Social Innovation and Youth Business Unit

Contact Persons: Ms. MJ Wang / Mr. Billy Yuen / Mr. Fire Ng

Tel: 3595 0945

Email: ysgba@hkfyg.org.hk

Address: Room B-E, 11/F, Genesis, 33-35 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong