Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) today announced the opening of applications for its flagship event, the 11th edition of the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC).
The outbreak of the pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges, creating the impetus to reimagine the way of living and thereby unleashing the possibilities in exploring uncharted paths. Themed Innovations Without Boundaries – Reimagining a Smart, Sustainable & Resilient Future, the 11th LKYGBPC aims to bring together the brightest talents and entrepreneurial minds from universities around the world, where they challenge themselves to come up with ideas and solutions that will address modern-day challenges to achieve a smart, sustainable, and resilient future.
The largest of its kind in the region, LKYGBPC focuses on deep-tech solutions created by student founders and early-stage start-ups from across a diverse range of industries, including Human Health & Potential, Manufacturing, Trade & Connectivity, Media & Entertainment, Smart Nation & Digital Economy, as well as Urban Solutions and Sustainability, among others.
Participants can choose to participate in two categories – 0 to 1, which focuses on pre-revenue teams with disruptive technology or innovations, or 1 to Infinity, which focuses on revenue-generating early-stage start-ups, up to Series A funding stages. Participants may choose to compete individually or as a team.
An international judging panel comprising global industry experts and entrepreneurs will be tasked with evaluating submissions based on their innovativeness, the impact of the idea, differentiation from existing solutions, and feasibility-to-execute.
In June 2023, 50 revolutionary finalists (RVLT50) teams will be selected and two members from each team will be eligible for a sponsored trip (airfare and accommodation) to Singapore to attend BLAZE, LKYGBPC Finals Week from September 11-15, 2023, where they will have the opportunity to participate in activities centred on innovation, knowledge, mentoring and networking over the week.
BLAZE will also see the selection of Grand Finalists teams who will deliver a live pitch to a panel of judges for the Top Prize of the Beta Category and Infinity Category. The winning teams will be announced on 15 September 2023 and the winners can look forward to S$2 million worth of prizes supported by partners.
“The progression of society inevitably brings forth new challenges for each generation to overcome. The Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition aspires to provide a platform for Singapore to collaborate with the next generational technopreneurs to tackle these challenges and facilitate the adoption of these solutions so that Singapore and Asia can become a beacon of inspiration for digital, sustainable, and urban living.” – Hau Koh Foo, Director of SMU IIE
The 10th edition of LKYGBPC in 2021 attracted over 850 entries from 650 universities across 60 countries and regions. The RVLT50 included teams from various leading universities in Asia, Europe, and the United States of America.
In an exclusive interview with Mohit Sagar, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of OpenGov Asia, Shirley Wong, Chairperson, Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) explained why innovation is at the heart of entrepreneurship.