OTEC Startup Competition (UK) 2015

#startup #investment #mentorship #China

Here is your chance to win up to £120,000 in startup grants and £1,000,000 in capital investment, plus free working space and life-long growth support.

Did we mention a free trip to one of the most exciting startup hubs in the world? Yes, say hello to Beijing.

What is the OTEC Startup Competition?

The Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC) is a government-sponsored event in Beijing that aims to connect international entrepreneurs with investment and growth opportunities to help them launch their startups in China.

As part of OTEC, a startup competition has been designed to bring global talents to Beijing's Chaoyang District, the foremost startup hub of the capital city, comparable to Silicon Roundabout in London or Silicon Valley in California. Chaoyang is also a home to Beijing's Central Business District, and recent Chinese government policies have been designed to attract international businesses to establish operations in Beijing.

This is an unparalleled opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain exposure to China's top resources for business success.

This year’s OTEC Startup Competition has two major stages:

Overseas Selection Round:

The overseas selection round will be held in four cities around the globe: Amsterdam, Seattle, Seoul and London. Three contestants will be selected from each city to attend the final round in Beijing.

Beijing Final Round:

12 teams selected from overseas will join 8 teams selected within China and compete in the final show to be held on 15^th August.

Who is the organiser of OTEC Startup Competition (UK) 2015?

YES Global is the organiser of the overseas selection in London. YES Global is a multinational and exclusive club for young entrepreneurs to share knowledge, experience, and resources. Backed by UVIC, a leading education and immigration consultancy, YES Global has an extensive partnership network of government bodies, private businesses and NGOs.

What winners will get

Winners of the UK selection

• Free trip to China
• Unique opportunity to present their businesses to China's leading investors and to gain exposure to top Chinese resources for business people
• Opportunity to receive grant of up to £20,000 and capital investment of up to £1,000,000 to support setting up operations in Beijing and hiring employees
• Access to support services, including visa and business establishment support
• 1 month of free office space in Beijing
• Mentorship and growth support
• Exclusive matching opportunities with three world-leading venture capital firms
• Free tickets to Tech Crunch (Beijing) 2015
• Free tickets to Startup Bus
• Intensive exposure to global media

Winners of the Beijing Finals

• Unique opportunity to present their businesses to China's leading investors and to gain exposure to top Chinese resources for business people
• Opportunity to receive grant up to £120,000 and capital investment up to £1,000,000 to support setting up operations in Beijing and hiring employees
• Access to support services, including visa and business establishment support
• 3 months of free office space in Beijing
• Mentorship and growth support
• Exclusive matching opportunities with three world-leading venture capital firms
• Free tickets to Tech Crunch (Beijing) 2015
• Free tickets to Startup Bus
• Intensive exposure to global media

Still not sure? Here's 4 more reasons why you should take part in the competition

#1: Generous funding opportunities

30 out of 40 semifinalists in 2014 obtained angel or series A round investment, on top of the guaranteed government grants.


#2: All-round support that lasts as long as you need it.

All finalists will receive free investment consultancy and customised matching opportunities


#3: Quality and influence

We have attracted over 500 participating entrepreneurial teams (over 7,000 talents) in 2014. Past entrepreneurs who have competed in the competition include:

• Gert Jan Spriensma, Zazzy
• Marc Kim, AlarmMon app
• Daan Weedepohl, Peerby

Investors involved in the event include: Xiaoping XU (one of China's leading angel investors, founder of ZhenFund and co-founder of New Oriental, China's largest provider of private education) and Sequoia Capital, which has invested in firms that together make up over 20% of NASDAQ's total value.

#4: Flexibility of where your business will be based

You are free to choose where your main operations will be based. You will be eligible to receive the government grant as long as you have some operations in Chaoyang District. For capital investment, there is no restriction on where your business can be based.

How to Enter the Competition?

Check your eligibility

• There is no restriction on applicants’ nationality
• Applicants should have no more than 3 years of experience running a company or leading an entrepreneurial team
• Only one person per company can apply
• Your company or idea should be in the media, creative or technology industries, e.g. visual design, aerospace, new materials, IT and digital media companies.
• You can travel to London for the UK Finals on 8^th August 2015. Alternative arrangement, e.g. Skype, is possible.
• You can travel to Beijing, China for the finals on 15^th August 2015 (we will cover your travel expenses and accommodation)

Submit your application

Entrepreneurs can enter the competition by completing and submitting the following documents to hello@yesociety.org

- Application form (Click here to download)

- A business proposal (Click to download the sample)

- A cash flow analysis and a budget plan for your business (Click to download the sample)

The closing date is 25^th July 2015

Feedback and revision

If you submit your complete application on or before 21^st July 2015, the selection panel will be able to give you feedback on your application so you could make necessary adjustments and submit an updated version of your application. The panel will be able to get back to you within 3 working days upon receiving your application.

The latest submission date to get guaranteed feedback is 21^st July 2015. Applications submitted after this date will be automatically considered as final.

If you do not return an updated version of your application by 25^th July 2015, the most recent version of your complete application will be considered.

Shortlisting and notification

The selection panel will review and score all applications and shortlist ten successful contestants who will be notified via email by 31^st July 2015.

UK Finals in London

OTEC Startup Competition (UK) 2015 finals will take place in London on 8th August 2015. You will be asked to give a 10-minute pitch and answer questions from the selection panel and the audience. Both the pitch and your answers will be scored. The three contestants with the highest scores will be able to move to the next stage.

Global Finals in Beijing

Three winners will be selected in London to participate in the OTEC Global Finals in Beijing on 15th August 2015.

*Selected contestants attending the OTEC Global Finals in Beijing will be reimbursed for their travel expenses and accommodation, as well as all competition-related events.

Have a question?

If you have any questions about this competition, please do not hesitate to contact us by emailing hello@yesociety.org or calling +44 (0) 20 3757 7206.