The short version. Two routes. The founder enters the Golden Entrepreneur Awards — 24 categories from start-up and young entrepreneur to fintech, tech and high-growth. The company enters the Asia Best of Best Awards' 75 start-up categories or, if it is a technology venture, the World Technology Awards. Women founders add the Golden Women Awards. From USD 299; entries close on 15 September 2026.

Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem is shaped by what surrounds it. Cyberport and the Science Park provide incubation and grants; the universities spin out research, with InnoHK laboratories added since 2020; the venture community is anchored by family offices and the city's financial industry; the stock exchange lists pre-revenue biotech companies under its own chapter; and the Greater Bay Area — Shenzhen for engineering and manufacturing, Guangzhou and the rest for markets — is a train ride away. Fintech, biotech, AI, logistics-tech, proptech and consumer brands dominate; a growing number of founders are second- or third-generation family-business heirs reinventing what they inherited.

The Golden Entrepreneur Awards recognises founders at every stage; the Asia Best of Best Awards has 75 start-up categories for the companies; technology ventures can also enter the World Technology Awards.

Winners celebrating at the Golden Tree Awards gala
Start-ups · Hong Kong

Nominate a Hong Kong start-up or its founder

Founder categories for every stage and company categories judged on traction, not size.

Nominate nowStart-up categories

What the jury will ask a Hong Kong founder

What problem, what product, since when, with whom? What is the traction? Customers, users, revenue or bookings with growth, indexed if needed. Which markets? Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, the region — and the share of business in each. What capital and milestones? Cyberport or Science Park programmes, grants, rounds, licences, listings, with dates. What is new? Product, model or technology, with proof of adoption. How did you come through the hard years? Cost discipline, pivots and retention are evidence of resilience, not weakness.

Compare the recommended awards

All programmes share the same nomination packages, judging framework and gala. The difference is who is being recognised and at which competition level.

AwardWho entersScopeTrack recordNomination fee fromWinners announced
Golden Entrepreneur AwardsIndividual leadersInternationalFounded 2021USD 299Saturday, 14 November 2026, Dubai
Asia Best of Best AwardsCompanies & organisationsAsia (incl. Hong Kong)Golden Tree programmeUSD 299Saturday, 14 November 2026, Dubai
World Technology AwardsCompanies & organisationsInternationalGolden Tree programmeUSD 299Saturday, 14 November 2026, Dubai
Golden Women AwardsIndividual leadersInternationalGolden Tree programmeUSD 299Saturday, 14 November 2026, Dubai

Award categories for startups

The categories below are the official categories mapped to the startups industry in the supplied category list. Select the one that best describes the business; the awards team confirms final category fit during profile completion.

Tech Startups 15 categories

FinTech / HealthTech / EdTech Startups 15 categories

Consumer Product Startups 15 categories

Social Impact Startups 15 categories

Innovation & Disruptive Startups 15 categories

Category names are shown exactly as published by the programmes. If none fits precisely, nominate under the closest category and describe the business in the profile.

Evidence that strengthens a nomination

Jurors evaluate what is submitted. Prepare these before starting the form:

  • Founder and venture: problem, product, founding date, team
  • Traction over a defined period — customers, users, revenue, bookings (indexed if confidential)
  • Markets served and share of business by market
  • Programmes, grants, rounds, licences and listings, dated
  • Innovation with proof of adoption
  • Resilience: pivots, unit economics, retention
  • EligibilityCompanies founded in or headquartered in Hong Kong at start-up or scale-up stage, in any sector, and their founders and co-founders; incubation, grants or venture funding are evidence, not requirements.
  • Nomination feeFrom USD 299 (Silver, one category). Compare packages
  • 2026 deadlinePublished close: 15 September 2026 · schedule
  • Winners announcedWinners are announced at the gala on Saturday, 14 November 2026 at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Dubai.
Award winners on the red carpet at the Golden Tree Awards gala
Award nomination

Founder and company for USD 980

Diamond covers the founder in the Golden Entrepreneur Awards and the start-up in the Asia or technology programme from one evidence pack.

  • Pre-revenue ventures judged on traction and innovation
  • Women founders can add the Golden Women Awards
  • Announced in Dubai on 14 November 2026
Register for awardsGolden Entrepreneur Awards

Startups awards in Hong Kong — FAQs

Pre-revenue?

Eligible. Start-up and emerging categories are judged on traction, innovation and growth evidence.

Founder first, or company?

Whichever evidence is readier; most enter the founder and add the company under Diamond.

Must we be at Cyberport or the Science Park?

No. Incubation is evidence, not a condition.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, customers mainly in the mainland?

Eligible; describe the markets served.

Young founders?

Best Young Entrepreneur exists.

What evidence?

Traction, markets, capital and milestones with dates, innovation and resilience.

Cost and deadline?

From USD 299; entries close on 15 September 2026; results in Dubai on 14 November 2026.

Last reviewed: 12 September 2026 · Award facts sourced from the official programme publications.