Catalog
Introduction
To accelerate the commercialization of university research achievements, and to actively
promote
communication, collaboration, and market alignment among the University of Macau (UM),
industries, investors, governments, and non-governmental organizations. The UltiMater
Entrepreneur Competition is organized and operated by the Centre for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship (CIE) at UM aiming to leverage enterprise and market resources to enhance
conversion rates and establish a vibrant innovative research and development ecosystem. The
Competition supports start-up projects that align with the "Development Plan for Appropriate
Economic Diversification of Macao SAR (2024-2028)” and the relevant policies of the
Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
The competition focuses on recruiting innovation projects in fields such as big data/artificial intelligence, robotics/intelligent manufacturing, new materials, financial technology, biomedicine/big health, and low-carbon technology/sustainable development. It provides students the opportunity to develop and assess their business plans while preparing them for future entrepreneurship.
Winning teams will have the opportunity to incubate at the CIE of UM (National Co-working Space) for 18 months. During the period, the companies will benefit from regular services valued at over MOP 150,000. They may also be recommended to apply for "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Funding Scheme" of the University of Macau Development Foundation and the "Funding Scheme for Industry-University-Research Partnership for Enterprises" from the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund to further implement their business plans and establish platforms for entrepreneurial resources and market alignment.
The competition focuses on recruiting innovation projects in fields such as big data/artificial intelligence, robotics/intelligent manufacturing, new materials, financial technology, biomedicine/big health, and low-carbon technology/sustainable development. It provides students the opportunity to develop and assess their business plans while preparing them for future entrepreneurship.
Winning teams will have the opportunity to incubate at the CIE of UM (National Co-working Space) for 18 months. During the period, the companies will benefit from regular services valued at over MOP 150,000. They may also be recommended to apply for "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Funding Scheme" of the University of Macau Development Foundation and the "Funding Scheme for Industry-University-Research Partnership for Enterprises" from the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund to further implement their business plans and establish platforms for entrepreneurial resources and market alignment.
Coverage
Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Overseas
Participants come from expanding regions, connecting innovation resources across
areas.
Focus Areas
6 Key Frontiers
AI, Robotics, New Materials, FinTech, HealthTech, Sustainable Development, etc.
Incubation Support
18 months
Winning teams may be incubated at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to
continue development from competition to incubation.
Startup Resources
Valued at MOP 150,000
Includes: office space, professional mentors and consultancy, entrepreneurship
training,
visits to outstanding mainland enterprises, etc.
Competition Awards
Total Prize Pool: 130,000 MOP
The competition is sponsored by the Bank of China (Macau) and includes the following
awards. The top three teams and the outstanding award winners will have the opportunity
to reside in the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) (National Co-working
Space).
SECOND PRIZE
30,000 MOP
CHAMPION
50,000 MOP
THIRD PRIZE
10,000 MOP
Outstanding Prize
×3
5,000 MOP（each）
BOC Best Innovation AwardNEW!
×1
5,000 MOP
Best Business Plan AwardNEW!
×1
5,000 MOP
Innovative Technology AwardNEW!
×1
5,000 MOP
Best Trade Show Award
×1
5,000 MOP
Best Elevator Pitch Award
×1
5,000 MOP
Timeline
2026.05.07
Deadline of Application
Click here to complete the online registration form and submit a four-page Executive Summary and the Declaration.
2026.05.20
Announcement of 1st Round Result (Top 12)
Top 12 announced and Startup Mentors assigned.
2026.06.01
UltiMater Camp
Morning: Workshop of Deepening Business Plan and Roadshow
Skills
Afternoon: Sharing Experiences in Technological Innovation
Afternoon: Sharing Experiences in Technological Innovation
2026.07.31
Submission Deadline for Presentation Materials for Business
Plan
Deadline to submit presentation materials (latest PPT of the
project) and exhibition materials.
2026.08.26 Morning
2nd Round Competition
Top 12 to Top 6: Elevator pitch and presentation of Business
Plan.
2026.08.26 Afternoon
Final Round
Business plan presentations.
2026.08.26 Evening
Networking Dinner and Award Ceremony
Mid to late November 2026
The 5th UM Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exhibition
Participation in UltiMater 2026—The 5th UM Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Exhibition and showcase of the Top 12 teams.
*The University of Macau reserves the right to adjust the dates due to
unexpected circumstances and will notify applicants of any changes.
Judging Committee
Entrepreneurs
Bring real-world entrepreneurial experience to assess
project feasibility, execution plans, and business model completeness.
Investors
Evaluate market size, growth potential, and investment
value to assess project prospects and competitive advantages.
Academic Staff
Assess the project's research foundation, innovation
depth, and overall presentation from an academic perspective.
Judging Process
The competition will be conducted in three rounds:
First Round: Executive Summary
Participating Teams are required to submit a 4-page executive summary of their business plan
during registration.
The judging criteria will focus on the innovation, feasibility, and market potential
of the product or service.
The Top 12 teams will advance to the next stage
and are required to attend the Entrepreneurship Training Workshop, Seminar and
Exchange Activities.
Each selected team will be assigned a mentor for guidance.
Second Round: Elevator Pitch & Business Plan
Presentation
Elevator Pitch
Only one member from each team can be
assigned to make a 90-second
presentation and a 3-minute Q&A session in front of the Judging
Committee.
The Judging Committee will score and select the best elevator pitch winner.
The scoring of the Elevator Pitch will contribute 30% of the Second Round assessment.
Business Plan Presentation
The 12 finalist teams are required to submit
an enhanced business plan (no more
than 15 PowerPoint slides) after participating in the UltiMater Camp.
Judging will focus on the value proposition of the product or service,
feasibility of the execution plan, and fundraising potential.
The 12 finalist teams will be divided into two
groups with 6 teams in each
group.
Each advancing team will deliver a 10-minute
presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A session with the judges. Not
every team member is required to
participate in the presentation, but the entire team should endeavor to be
present for the Q&A session. The Judging Committee would ask questions to
specific members of the team as per their role and expertise
The business plan presentation score will contribute for 70% of the Second-Round
score.
The top three scoring teams from each group (six teams total) will advance to
the final round.
Final Round
The 6 finalist teams will make the final
presentations.
The format will be the same as the business plan presentation in the
Second-Round.
While not all team members are required to present, the entire team is
encouraged to participate in the Q&A session.
Writing Guideline
Executive Summary
4 pages, PDF format
Clearly indicate the team’s name, team leader, and
members. Please use the product/
service as the file name.
The summary should provide an overview of the business plan, including the
feasibility and market potential of the product/service.
The focus should be on the innovativeness of the proposed product, service or
business model.
Introduce the business and its products, emphasizing their advantages.
Use single-line spacing, A4 size, 12-point font (Times New Roman), include page
numbers, and limit the file size to 5MB.
Additional pages, covers, or appendices are not allowed and will result in
disqualification.
Suggested content (for reference):
- Mission: Briefly describe the business, the problem it aims to solve, and how it will solve it.
- Company Information: Include the founding date, founders, their roles, and the current number of employees.
- Product/Service: Introduce the product/service and demonstrate its feasibility and market potential (products that violate physical laws or are based purely on speculative technology will not be accepted).
- Potential Market: Explain the target market, why it is needed, and how the market demand will be met.
- Future Plans: Provide an overview of the company’s future development plans.
Business Plan
No more than 15 slides, PDF format. The business
plan should elaborate on the value proposition of the product/service and address the feasibility of the execution plan
and fundraising potential. Suggested content (for reference):
Overview of the business, including project name and description of the
product/service.
Briefly describe the market problem or opportunity and how your product/service
addresses it.
Product development plan, target market size, and general pricing.
Marketing strategy, distribution plan, and sales channels to attract customers.
Analysis of competitors and key differentiators to demonstrate competitive
advantages.
Briefly outline the team’s ability to achieve the business plan.
Start-up budget, budget plan, and projected cash flow.
Registration
Eligibility
Registered company is NOT mandatory required.
Teams may consist of start-ups
established for at less than three years with
minimal accumulated profits or no revenue
to date, or project teams possessing entrepreneurial.
Companies with over RMB 10 million in pre-seed funding or established for more than
three years are ineligible.
Team Composition
Each team must consist of a minimum of two and
a maximum of five members, with
at least 50% of members being:
- Students currently enrolled in higher education institutions in Macao, or
- Macao residents studying in higher education institutes outside Macao.
Teams must declare all members at the time of registration. Team members are not allowed to be changed after the submission
of the business plan.
All team members must play a leading role in the company (project) and the core
technology (if applicable) of the project must be held by:
- 1.Students currently enrolled in higher education institutions in Macao, or
- Macao residents studying in higher education institutes outside Macao, or
- The supervising teacher of the participating team holds.
Each team must designate a team leader as the main
contact with the organizers.
Participants may only join one team. Any
participant found registered with multiple teams will be disqualified.
Registration Details
- Registration PeriodRegistration is open from now until May 7, 2026
- Submission MethodClick here to complete the online registration form and submit a four-page Executive Summary and the Declaration.
- Team NameTeam name has to be the same as company name and it is not allowed to be changed during the competition.
- Submission LimitEach team is ONLY permitted to submit 1 Executive Summary for the first round of judging.
- ThemesThere are no restrictions on competition themes, but participants are especially encouraged to focus on technological innovation. Themes may include but are not limited to nanotechnology, information technology, renewable energy, environment, healthcare, financial services, logistics, and social enterprises, etc.
- Materials SubmissionAll the materials and declaration should be submitted online. Hard copies will NOT be accepted.
- LanguageAll submitted materials must be written in Chinese and be the original work of the participants.
- Advancement Obligations6 shortlisted teams from the Second-Round judging are required to join the Final Round, and the UltiMater 2026, the 5th UM Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exhibition.
- Data VerificationThe organizers reserve the right to verify company information, and teams must cooperate accordingly.
Partners
Previous Competitions
2025
