(CUPP) Cyberport University Partnership Programme 2025

Cyberport University Partnership Programme (CUPP) is an entrepreneurship programme with boot camp, mentorship and competition that aiming at nurturing young talents for Hong Kong since 2015. CUPP is a programme on nomination-based. 

For the upcoming cohort, CUPP is themed in AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity and Web3.

~Please click here to download CUPP Web3 2024 Info Deck~

Online Briefing Session

The Programme offers

• A series of digital tech pre-camp nurturing sessions in Hong Kong
• Oversea Entrepreneurship Boot Camp at Draper University in Silicon Valley
• A 9-day Entrepreneurship Boot Camp at Draper University
• Mentorship and insight from industry experts
• Pitch your digital tech business idea to investors
• Win HK$100,000 grant by Cyberport Creative Micro Fund

Timeline

Eligibility

• Project must be rooted in digital tech.
• Applicants must be nominated by CUPP co-organising university partners (CityU, HKBU, HKMU, HKSYU, LU, SFU, CUHK, EduHK, HSUHK, PolyU, HKUST, HKU).
• Applicants must be between 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) upon the nomination deadline (i.e. 3 March 2025). 
• Applicants must be undergraduate or postgraduate students nominated by the Co-organising Universities, either currently enrolled university students or recently graduated within 3 years prior to the nomination deadline (i.e. 3 March 2022 to 3 March 2025) from the Co-organising Universities.
• Applicants must have a good command of English.
• Team members could be a mixture of students or recent graduates from the CUPP 2025 Co-organising Universities.
• Each team could have up to 5 members. Suggested team structure:
  >1 team leader (i.e. principal applicant) with Hong Kong ID Card holder and main contact person of the team.
  >Up to 2 core team members with technical/UIUX knowledge, who will be joining Entrepreneurship Boot Camp.
  >Up to 2 supporting team members, who will NOT be joining Entrepreneurship Boot Camp.
  >Maximum 3 members per team can join the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp.

How to Apply ?

1)  Form a team and complete the Team member list*.

2) Prepare a Business plan* (Project must be rooted in digital tech)
*Please down all the templates HERE*

3) Submit the online application form HERE.

4) Selected teams may be invited to an internal interview with the Entrepreneurial Learning Team. Only successful applicants will be nominated to Cyberport for further screening.

**If you are looking for team members, whether you are an innovator with ideas or a talented individual seeking a team, please leave your information HERE. The Entrepreneurial Learning Team will do their best to connect you with potential teammates to form the perfect team.

Application Deadline: 27 February 2025
Online Application Form: hkbu.questionpro.com/CUPP2025

Enquiries:
Ms Jill Chan
E-mail: ctungtung@hkbu.edu.hk
Tel: 3411 6609

Cyberport Entrepreneurship Programmes (Dec 2024 Intake)

Cyberport Creative Micro Fund & Cyberport Incubation Programme

Fast-track Nomination for HKBU Start-up Teams

Cyberport is an innovative digital community with over 1,900 technology companies. With a vision to be the hub for digital technology and contributor to the economy of Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by cultivating talent, promoting entrepreneurship among youth, supporting start-ups on their growth journey, fostering industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners, and integrating new and traditional economies by accelerating digital adoption in the public and private sectors.

The Cyberport Creative Micro Fund and Cyberport Incubation Programme are open for applications with deadline on 2 Oct 2024. The programmes are offering funding from HK$100,000 to HK$500,000 and comprehensive entrepreneurial supports from co-working spaces, hardware and software facilities, training & mentorship, product and business development to investment opportunities to help start-ups to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
***

1/ Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF)

The programme encourages innovation and creativity by sponsoring high potential digital tech start-up projects and business ideas. It provides up to HK$600,000 funding to support innovative ideas and early-stage start-ups development over a project period of 6 months. Apart from cash grant, CCMF gives you access to Cyberport’s extensive resources and support for innovators and entrepreneurs, including:

• Mentorship and business advice
• Business development and investment connections
• A local and global business network
• Publicity and promotion
• Industry recognition and validation
• Alumni network and peer support

Applicant can apply for the programme as an individual or as a limited company.

***

2/ Cyberport Incubation Programme (CIP)

The programme provides up to HK$1,000,000 resources and HK$200,000 rental subsidy to accelerate your business. During the 24-month programme, in addition to the funding support, incubatees can also tap to other extensive resources & supports ranging from business development & investment connections, publicity & promotion, mentorship & business advice etc. Participation in the programme can be on-site at Cyberport or off-site at their own premises. (We provide rental-free office space (subject to availability; with monthly management fee) in our Entrepreneurship Centre).

On top of the CIP, Cyberport provides a comprehensive platform to foster success for digital tech entrepreneurs. Upon admission to the CIP, companies can also enjoy financial support for joining accelerator programme, and tap to Cyberport Macro Fund (co-investment fund) and our Enterprise & Investors Network, as well as the Innovation & Technology Fund programmes. 

A Quick note on Eligibility

• A viable business plan for a product / service solutions to be ready for market within 12 to 18 months
• Applicant must be a registered digital tech company limited by shares (or in progress of incorporation) under the Companies Ordinance in HKSAR and the date of incorporation must be less than 7 years upon application deadline
• Founders of the Applicant collectively (legally and beneficially) must hold at least 51% of the company shares or absolute control of the Applicant at the time of application submission and throughout the Programme Period
• All Incubatees shall maintain local presence with at least one local authorised representative physically working in Hong Kong (mainly to support local operation and product development) in the incubation period. Such a representative shall be either a Founder/Co-founder or a local full-time staff employed by the Incubatee.

Application Procedures

Eligibility
If you want to be nominated to Fast-track, the applicant needs to be –

• Current full-time or part-time student of HKBU; or

• Alumni of HKBU

Application Procedures
Step 1 -The application deadline for both programmes of the next intake (Sep 2024 intake) will be on 2 October 2024. Applicants are required to submit an online application via Cyberport Entrepreneurship Management System. Please also check out the guides and notes for applicants before submission.

Guides and notes for applicants for CCMF:  HERE
Guides and notes for applicants for Incubation Programme: HERE

Step 2 -Submit your business plan and team member details via the online form below.

HKBU fast-track nomination application: https://hkbu.questionpro.com/cyberportccmfcip

Fast-track Application Deadline: 1 Oct 2024

If you have any questions about this fast-track opportunity, please contact Ms. Jill Chan (34116609/ ctungtung@hkbu.edu.hk)

Should you require further information or encounter any problem during the application process, please feel free to contact Cyberport: email ccmf_enquiry@cyberport.hk about CCMF enquries; and email cip_enquiry@cyberport.hk for Incubation enquries.

Don’t miss this chance!

CIP CCMF Programme Leaflet   Note for submitting the online application form of CCMF  Note for submitting the online application form of CIP