Open Call for Social Venture Champions
Turn your social-impact idea into action
We are now inviting proposals from students who wish to create innovative solutions for social impact and turn early-stage ideas into realistic, scalable ventures.
Social Venture Champions empowers students to create solutions that transform communities. Up to five awarded teams will receive seed funding, training, mentorship and connections with the social innovation ecosystem to develop, test and grow their ventures.
Key Dates and Details
| Application deadline | 30 September 2026, 11:59 pm (Hong Kong time) |
Pitching day | 14 October 2026, Afternoon |
Seed funding | Up to HK$40,000 per team |
Award quota | Up to 5 awarded teams |
Team requirement | At least 2 members, including 1 current HKU Faculty of Social Sciences student as the principal applicant |
Application materials | Online application form and project proposal slide deck |
About Social Venture Champions
Social Venture Champions is an incubation programme for teams developing solutions to social challenges. It supports teams from early-stage problem exploration through to pilot planning and venture development.
Awarded teams will follow a structured development journey: deepen their understanding of the social challenge, engage intended users and relevant stakeholders, test and refine their solution, and develop a practical plan for implementation and longer-term social impact.
Programme Support
- Professional Training: Practical, hands-on workshops to build core entrepreneurship and innovation skills.
- Seed Funding up to HK$40,000 per Team: Support for small-scale pilots, prototypes, user testing, and essential project expenses. Funding will be released in stages, subject to satisfactory progress, completion of programme requirements and submission of required reports
- Mentorship & Advisory Support: Mentoring from experienced practitioners, with guidance on strategy, operations, and impact.
- Pathways to Competitions: Nomination to external competitions and incubation programmes (e.g. Social Venture Launcher), with opportunities to secure additional funding grants.
- Community and Networking Opportunities: Access to the social innovation ecosystem and opportunities to showcase your work to potential investors.
Eligible Projects
We welcome student-led ideas, prototypes, and early-stage projects that address a clear social challenge and have the potential to create meaningful, sustainable impact.
Projects may address areas such as ageing, mental health, social inclusion, education, employment, environmental sustainability, community development, accessibility or technology for social good. These are examples only. We welcome ideas that respond to social issues and community needs you care about.
Your solution may take the form of a product, service, platform, community initiative or any approach that creates positive social impact. We are particularly interested in projects that create social value and have a realistic pathway towards financial sustainability.
You do not need a registered company, completed prototype, or previous startup experience to apply.
Eligibility
Applications must be submitted by a team of at least two members.
The principal applicant must:
- Be a current HKU Faculty of Social Sciences student
- Take a leading role in the proposed project
Cross-disciplinary teams are encouraged and welcome.
Each team should have the commitment and capacity to participate actively in the programme, including pitching, training, mentorship, progress reviews, and reporting requirements.
Application Process
To apply, complete the online application form and upload your completed project proposal slide deck by 30 September 2026, 11:59 pm (Hong Kong time).
Download Project Proposal Deck Template
Apply for Social Venture Champions Now
Teams are strongly encouraged to submit their applications well before the deadline. High submission traffic close to the closing time may affect the submission process and late submissions will not be accepted.
For enquiries, please contact socventures@hku.hk
Selection Process
Application review
Submitted applications and proposal decks will be reviewed
Shortlisting
Shortlisted teams will be invited to pitch their proposals
Pitching day
Shortlisted teams will deliver a total of 10-minute pitch and Q&A on 14 October 2026. Further pitching arrangements will be provided to shortlisted teams.
Award decision
An advisory panel convened by the Social Venture Lab will make the final selection. Up to five teams may be selected to receive awards.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be assessed holistically based on:
Potential Impact: Clarity of social problem addressed, scale and depth of potential benefits for the target group, soundness of the theory of change and expected outcomes, and evidence of user insights.
Innovation: Novelty of the idea, approach, or model compared with existing solutions.
Growth Potential & Sustainability: Feasibility and scalability beyond the pilot stage and potential to sustain and deepen impact over time.
Competence & Commitment: Relevant skills and a realistic execution plan.
Pitching Day
Pitching Day will be open to members of the public and invited guests. Shortlisted teams should ensure that all information presented during the pitch and Q&A session is suitable for public disclosure.
The principal applicant must attend and participate in the team’s pitch and/or Q&A session. Other team members are strongly encouraged to attend.
If a shortlisted team anticipates any difficulty attending or participating, it should notify the Social Venture Lab as soon as possible.
Further arrangements, including the pitching order, technical-check requirements, and event schedule, will be provided to shortlisted teams.
Next Steps for Awarded Teams
Awarded teams will participate in an approximately 12-month Social Venture Lab programme, designed to support the development, testing and advancement of their ventures. Projects may continue beyond the programme period.
Following the award announcement, awarded teams will be invited to refine their project plans and submit a detailed budget for approval, taking into account the panel’s suggestions and recommendations. Further implementation arrangements and requirements will be provided to awarded teams in due course.
For enquiries, please contact socventures@hku.hk.
