The Tsinghua University President’s Innovation Challenge first took place in 2014 and was organized be Tsinghua’s X-lab. It is open to students, professors, and alumni who want to use innovation to improve the society. So far, it has successfully been held 7 times, a total of over 700 teams have signed up to compete, over 10,000 students have participated, the accumulated investment exceeds 1 billion yuan, and the current valuation exceeds 4.2 billion yuan.

The President’s Cup focuses on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in various fields such as the Internet, environment, education, health, smart computers, and artificial intelligence. It provides a broader platform for learning, exercise, and team display for all students interested in innovation.

Qualifications for Competition:

Team members must be only composed of Tsinghua students, professors, and/or alumni.
Teams must include original products, services, and business models.
Teams must have corresponding ownership without any disputes over property rights.

Rewards:

Regular Award:
First Prize (1 team): ¥50,000 bonus
Innovation Award (Two teams): ¥20,000 bonus
Competition Award (7 teams): ¥10,000 bonus
Special Award:
Technical Innovation Award (1 team): ¥30,000 bonus
Social Innovation Award (1 team): ¥30,000 bonus

Rules and Regulations:

The evaluation is mainly based on the innovation of technical products/services and business models, the feasibility of target users and prototype development, market size and growth, business model maturity, and reports of the team’s entire product.

This challenge will be divided into two groups:
Beginners Group:
• The project has innovative results and a complete business plan, and is just entering the entrepreneurial stage.
• The accumulated financing amount does not exceed ¥1 million.

Advanced Group:
• The product or service has entered the market and is in a period of rapid growth.
• The accumulated financing amount has exceeded ¥1 million.
Note:
• The entrepreneurial team must have corresponding ownership, naming rights, and no disputes over property rights.
• Previous Top 10 finishers will not be allowed to participate in this year’s Innovation Challenge.

Calendar:
a. Sign-up: January to Late February
Collect project information and BP
b. First stage of challenge: N to Top 30: Mid-Late March (Temporary)
Divide into groups and produce challenges for the second stage  
c. Second Stage: Top 30-Top 10: Mid-Late April (Temporary)
Second stage of competition takes place in groups, and decide who makes the finals.
d. Project coaching and discussions
Discussion for all teams that enter the finals
e. Finals for Top Ten: Late May (Temporary)
The finals and Award Ceremony will take place at the Main Building of Tsinghua University.