With over 40 million yuan in prizes and a global stage, Shenzhen's Nanshan District is calling on global innovators to compete for the next "startup standout".
Registration is now open for the 2025 Entrepreneurs Next Star & Million Prize Global Challenge (Nanshan, Shenzhen), a premier tech event with 18 years of history. Offering substantial cash prizes and strong support resources, the competition is attracting entrepreneurs worldwide eager to make their mark.
The Global Challenge features three industry-specific contests—AI+ (Embodied Intelligence), Biomedicine, and Future Matches+x (Games, VR, and Metaverse)—along with two special contests: the North America Biomedical Special Contest and the German AI+ Hard-tech Special Contest, which focuses on AI, green technology, and smart hardware.
As a flagship innovation and entrepreneurship event based in Nanshan with a global reach, the Global Challenge partners with top platforms like Germany's IFA and collaborates with Ouryao, Sino Canada Innovation Centre, Plug and Play China, and LinkedIn China to create a worldwide network. This network offers comprehensive support—from technology showcases and resource matching to project landing and incubation.
Plug and Play China integrates global resources and enhances post-competition services, providing end-to-end support for projects settling in Nanshan—covering innovation acceleration, resource matching, policy guidance, and venue access.
Sino Canada Innovation Centre manages the German AI+ Hard-Tech Special Contest, bridging European hard technologies with Chinese market needs. The contest is showcased at Germany's premier tech fair, IFA, featuring exclusive booths that provide participants exposure to millions of visitors and opportunities to connect with international exhibitors and partners.
Ouryao hosts the North American Biopharmaceuticals Special Contest, streamlining financing, R&D, and local market entry for biopharmaceutical projects.
LinkedIn China drives global promotion and resource matching, attracting top-tier projects in cutting-edge fields like AI and biopharmaceuticals.
The Global Challenge offers full-cycle support—covering funding, workspace, and services—to create a zero-barrier, low-cost entry point for global entrepreneurs.
The event features a 40.29 million yuan prize pool, backed by a 500 million yuan strategic investment fund and a 100 million yuan micro-equity fund, with individual projects eligible for up to two million yuan in equity financing. Participants receive priority access to over 30 leading investors, including IDG and Sequoia Capital, along with post-competition benefits such as 20 million yuan in startup subsidies and 600,000 yuan in talent awards.
Germany-focused participants will showcase their innovations to millions at the IFA exhibition, while 12 global finalists and 12 top domestic teams will receive two weeks of free product placement at select Tsutaya stores under Japan's CCC Group.
Post-competition, winners gain access to 20,000 sqm of rent-free brand space, 50,000 sqm of AI-focused innovation hubs, and a 1.5 million sqm industrial base—with eligible teams enjoying up to two years of rent-free R&D space.
Comprehensive post-competition support ensures seamless startup growth—ranging from pre-event business coaching and in-event access to industry resources, to one-on-one "soft landing" services for visas and registration. Winners also gain exclusive access to the Go Global Service Center and its seven international stations, streamlining global expansion or re-entry into home markets. This end-to-end model removes barriers to cross-border innovation and turns ideas into action.
For more details about the competition, please visit the "i南山" WeChat mini-program.
Reporter: Zhang Siyu, Liu Qianxi
Photo: Nanshan District Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau
Editor: Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
