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This competition aims to systematically identify & empower the most promising early-stage startups in the Greater New York area, creating
I. Background & Vision
This competition aims to systematically identify & empower the most promising early-stage startups in the Greater New York area, creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that integrates project showcasing, targeted networking, & resource empowerment.
We will provide the winning teams with comprehensive exposure opportunities & direct connections to top-tier venture capital firms, angel investors, & senior industry judges in New York. All business plans that pass the preliminary screening will be delivered directly to investors & judges, gaining valuable early-stage visibility. Finalists advancing to the on-site pitch will face decision-making investors for in-depth discussions & receive a specially prepared resource support package.
We now officially invite: Entrepreneurs with disruptive technologies, innovative business models, or exceptional execution capabilities; & investors devoted to discovering the next generation of unicorns-to join us in defining the future of innovation in New York!
Expected Attendance:
Approx. 300 participants (entrepreneurs, investors, NYU alumni, media, & students),
including 200 audience members.
Event Format:
Keynote Speeches, Thematic Panels, Startup Pitches, Award Ceremony, & Networking Dinner
Event Language:
Pitches & Panels in English only; networking sessions open to all languages.
III. Preparation Timeline
Oct 21 - Nov 7:
Launch first-round promotional materials (main visual poster, registration page, etc.)
Collect & review project applications; finalize a list of 25 preliminary candidates.
Continue confirming additional investors, judges, & speakers.
Recruit & train volunteers for on-site roles.
Nov 7 - Nov 16:
Preliminary Round: Conducted via online interviews.
Each startup presents a 7-minute pitch + 8-minute Q&A, coordinated by the project liaison team.
Two core judges will score each pitch online.
Select approximately 8 projects to advance to the final round.
Send official invitation letters & pitch guidelines to finalists.
Announce the full lineup of investors, judges, & speakers in the second round of publicity (Nov 7).
Draft & finalize all panel scripts for speakers.
Nov 16 - Nov 21:
Prepare the Executive Manual (minute-by-minute run sheet) & distribute to all staff & hosts.
Compile all pitch decks & share them with judges & investors.
Conduct full technical tests & rehearsal sessions with speakers, judges, & presenters.
Confirm all logistics: guest itineraries, panel topics, catering, materials, media list, & volunteer shifts.
Send Last Reminder emails to all participants.
Nov 22, Event Day:
Competition Day!
IV. Event Day Schedule
13:00-14:00
Registration & Networking
Guest check-in & free networking
14:00-14:20
Opening Remarks
Welcome speeches from organizers, faculty, & keynote guests
14:20-15:05
Panel 1
panel discussion (topics: Tech, Venture, AI, or Legal Policy)
15:05-15:15
Title Sponsor Speech
10-minute speech from the naming sponsor
15:15-16:00
Panel 2
panel discussion (topics: Tech, Venture, AI, or Legal Policy)
16:00-18:20
Startup Pitch Session
8 finalist pitches (each 12-min Pitch + 8-min Q&A)
18:20-18:30
Closing Remarks
Organizer summary & announcement of future events
18:30-18:45
Award Ceremony
Announce winners, judge feedback, & prize presentation
18:45-21:00
Dinner Reception
Guests return to the reception hall for dinner & continued networking
V. Project Submission & Evaluation Criteria
1. Submission Requirements
Open to all early- & growth-stage startup teams.
We maintain an open attitude-No restriction on industry or sector.
Submissions shall include a developed prototype or MVP & a clearly defined business model concept.
2. Evaluation Criteria
Judges will assess projects based on four core dimensions:
Founding Team (25%)
Competence & Experience:
Do the team's skills & backgrounds align with project needs? Are they execution-ready?
Cohesion & Integrity:
Is the team structure reasonable? Is equity distribution clear? Do they demonstrate resilience & unity?
Vision & Leadership:
Does the founder possess deep industry insight & strategic leadership potential?
Innovation & Unique Advantage (30%)
Innovation:
Does the project demonstrate significant innovation in technology, product, model, or use case?
Core Moat:
Does it have patents, brand power, network effects, or other defensible advantages?
Business Model (20%)
Clarity & Feasibility:
Does the project address a real market pain point? Is the value proposition clear? Is the target market well-defined?
Revenue & Sustainability:
Are revenue sources diverse & stable? Is the cost structure reasonable? Is there a clear path to long-term profitability?
Scalability: Is the model replicable & capable of supporting large-scale growth?
Growth & Market Potential (25%)
Growth Data:
Has the project demonstrated traction (users, revenue, etc.)? Are growth trends healthy & sustainable?
Market Capacity & Competitiveness:
Is the market ceiling high? What are the competitive barriers? How is it differentiated from existing solutions?
VI. Judge Recruitment Criteria
To ensure professionalism, credibility, & diversity of perspectives, we are recruiting judges globally.
We welcome candidates who are:
Industry Experts
Deep experience in technology, finance, consumer, healthcare, or ESG sectors; and/or
Senior management or technical leadership roles at renowned firms; and/or
Able to articulate value chains, key drivers, & 3-5-year industry trends; and/or
Capable of assessing technical feasibility, process maturity, & scalability.
Successful Entrepreneurs
Founders with full 0-to-1 startup experience, achieving product-market fit, scaling, or fundraising milestones; and/or
Firsthand experience in customer validation, product iteration, & key metric tracking; and/or
Practical insights into equity design, team building, & company culture.
Professional Investors
Active in VC, PE, or angel investment, with extensive deal experience & notable cases; and/or
Proficient in financial modeling & valuation analysis; and/or
Familiar with funding stages & able to advise on capital strategies suited to startup growth.
Cross-disciplinary Leaders
Distinguished figures from policy research, design thinking, humanities, or media; and/or
Able to evaluate broader social or ethical impacts of innovation projects; and/or
Skilled at applying interdisciplinary perspectives to challenge or refine business models.
Premium Sponsor
Watchspace
Watch Space is a California-based luxury watch technology platform that integrates trading, consignment, authentication, repair, & intelligent valuation into a single ecosystem. Founded in Silicon Valley, the company connects collectors, dealers, & investors through both online & offline channels - combining advanced AI, blockchain, & data analytics to redefine how people buy, sell, & manage high-end timepieces.
With service centers in Silicon Valley, Irvine, Boston, & Salt Lake City, Watch Space has built a trusted nationwide network for certified pre-owned luxury watches. Its proprietary AI valuation engine analyzes market data from thousands of transactions to provide real-time pricing, authenticity verification, & predictive insights for brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, & Omega.
The company's franchise model enables local partners to operate under the unified Watch Space brand, offering customers face-to-face services while leveraging the headquarters' technology, inventory, & marketing systems. Franchisees benefit from shared logistics, centralized authentication, & a profit-sharing structure that aligns incentives across the entire network.
Looking ahead, Watch Space is developing an AI-driven trading platform & RWA (Real-World Asset) tokenization system, allowing collectors to securely fractionalize, trade, & finance watch assets on-chain. By merging data intelligence with blockchain transparency, the company aims to become the global infrastructure for the luxury watch economy - where ownership, liquidity, & trust converge.
Watch Space is more than a marketplace; it is a next-generation ecosystem that transforms watches from static collectibles into dynamic, data-driven assets - empowering users to make smarter investment decisions in the world of timeless craftsmanship.
Diamond Sponsor
Hibee
HiBee International Consulting is dedicated to providing comprehensive, end-to-end business solutions for global enterprises & entrepreneurs. Our experienced consulting team has successfully built complete U.S. business visa support systems for companies & individuals across more than 20 industries-including information technology, biotechnology, financial engineering, & nonprofit organizations-maintaining a strong competitive edge in H-1B specialty occupation & O-1A/O-1B extraordinary ability visa applications.
At HiBee, we uphold the core philosophy of Empowering Business, Connecting Value. Through our signature events such as entrepreneur salons, industry networking sessions, & innovation project roadshows in the Greater New York area, we have built a vibrant platform where entrepreneurs can efficiently expand their networks, integrate resources, & foster cross-sector collaboration-continuously advancing the global presence of Chinese business leadership.
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