2025 WESTART International Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (Shanghai,China)

About

The "Startup in Shanghai" International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition invites global innovators to showcase their projects, offering substantial benefits including funding, incubation support, and access to exclusive services, with applications open until July 31, 2025.

Benefits

• Funding Support:Funding support will be provided according to the award level received—namely the Excellence Awards, Third Prizes, Second Prizes, First Prizes, and the Special Grand Prize. Each awardee will be eligible for funding based on the highest award level attained which shall not be granted more than once. For startup team awardees, the qualification for funding support may be retained for up to two years following the award. If the team establishes a registered company in Shanghai within this period and secures an angel investment of RMB 5 million or more, the award funds can be granted.
• Incubation Services: During the two-year qualification period, startup team awardees will have access to a range of services, including 3-6 months of soft-landing incubation space provided by qualified incubators in Shanghai, one-on-one tailored coaching by experienced mentors, pitching opportunities with multiple investors and matchmaking services connecting to potential application scenarios and business partners.
• Additional Support: Upon registering a company in Shanghai, award recipients may access exclusive services offered by designated partner banks. They will also receive priority access to fast-track channels for a variety of technology and entrepreneurship loan programs. Furthermore, eligible participants may be recommended for exposure and engagement opportunities at high-profile activities such as the Pujiang Innovation Forum (PIF), Shanghai Science and Technology Festival (SSTF), China International Import Expo (CIIE), China International Industry Fair (CIIF), and the WeStart Global Entrepreneurial Investment Conference (WeStart).

Eligibility Criteria

• International applicants
• Core team of at least three members
• Possess original technologies with clear commercial potential
• Projects in next-generation information technology, biomedicine, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy, new materials, environmental resources, and new energy vehicles