CityU organizes the “CityU Cup” 2nd University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition to enhance entrepreneurial practices
The finals of the2nd University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, known as the “CityU Cup,” were held yesterday at the Ho Yin Convention Centre on the Taipa campus of the City University of Macau, organized by the Ung Choi Kun Entrepreneurship and Career Centre. After fierce competition among eight participating teams, the project “Yu Shang Cheng – Pioneer for Wheat Industry Upgrading and Village Revitalization in Western China” emerged as the champion. The project “Chao Feng – Pioneer in Chaoshan Cultural Experience Space” secured the second place, while “LATTA Technology – Spatial Ultra Sensing Intelligent Guide Glasses” earned the third place in the competition.
In his opening remarks, Pro-Rector Robert Chan Chon Pat mentioned that this competition fully showcased the interdisciplinary knowledge, innovative thinking, and the entrepreneurial spirit of CityU’s students. He expressed his gratitude to the judges for sharing valuable experiences to the students during the competition and extended his expectations and encouragement to all participating teams.
The judging panel for this competition was made up of distinguished individuals, including Chen Shan, president of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Base, Zhan Fengjun, director of operations at the Huizhou Zhongkai Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Base, Ding Xiaoyun, director of operations at the Foshan Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Center, Wang Xiaojin, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Enterprise Human Resource Development Association, Zhang Wanrou, operations manager of the Jiangmen Talents Start-Up Center, and Li Xi, executive associate dean of the CityU Faculty of International Tourism and Management.
After the roadshow presentations, the judges evaluated the overall performances of the eight shortlisted teams and selected the winning team. They also provided valuable suggestions based on the questions raised during the event.
The competition was supported by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Base, the Huizhou Zhongkai Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Base, the Foshan Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Center, the Shenzhen Enterprise Human Resource Development Association, the Jiangmen Talents Start-Up Center, and the Zhuhai Da Hengqin Pan Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The finals attracted faculty members, as well as Lewis Chao Chan Chong, head of the Student Affairs Office.
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Project Descriptions & Winners’ Testimonials
Champion: Yu Shang Cheng – Pioneer for Wheat Industry Upgrading and Village Revitalization in Western China
Team Members: Chen Guangshun, Yang Yan, Liu Xiaokang, Liang Wenbin, Tian Yuan, Zhang Jiamian, Liang Nan, Zang Diyi, Qi Mingyu
Project Descriptions: China is an agricultural powerhouse, but it is challenging to cultivate crops on aridic sandy soils. The Yu Shang Cheng brand provides high-quality solutions to address the difficulties in specialized and industrialized wheat cultivation techniques, upgrading the industry, standardizing the models, and improving market competitiveness in the areas. The project aims to promote the comprehensive modernization and fully automated mechanization of wheat agriculture.
Winners’ Testimonials: Through guidance and recognition from the judges, we firmly believe that wheat can be cultivated in aridic sandy soils. We hope that our product, through big data simulations, can expand from Macao to various regions with dry sandy soil, contributing to the development of wheat agriculture in our country. Starting from the “Belt and Road” initiative, we aim to contribute to the sustainable development of wheat globally.
First Runner-Up: Chao Feng – Pioneer in Chaoshan Cultural Experience Space
Team Members: Wang Xu, Huang Hong, Xiao Hengyue, Cheng Bowen, Ma Hanlin, Yang Jizhou, Li Bochao
Project Descriptions: By creating a model that combines immersive offline experiences with profitable and appealing online experiences, the product aims to attract tourists from various regions. Chaoshan's intangible cultural heritage holds deep historical and cultural values. Through the development of innovative products, the goal is to promote and preserve Chaoshan culture, meeting the demands of the modern market while highlighting regional characteristics. The design of this product offers a unique user experience centered around Chaoshan's intangible cultural heritage, attracting increased attention from consumers and investors.
Winners’ Testimonials: We are so grateful to CityU for providing us with valuable opportunities to present our “Chao Feng” project and promote Chaoshan culture. The judges highlighted the importance of customer repurchase and ongoing support based on customer experience. This reminds us that in addition to creating an attractive initial experience, we must also consider how to maintain long-term customer interest and loyalty. To achieve this goal, we will explore effective customer relationship management strategies and innovative marketing approaches to ensure that customers continue to support our project after their initial experience. We will continuously refine our plan and actively engage in interactive communication with our mentors.
Second Runner-Up: LATTA Technology – Spatial Ultra Sensing Intelligent Guide Glasses
Team Members: Ding Hui, Guo Te, Xu Minghe, Xu Zihang, Lao Yanming, Huang Kexiang, Jiang Yuchao
Project Descriptions: China has the largest population with visual disability. Under the expansion of global healthcare market, our team aims to cater to the needs of the build community. Focusing on obstacles in daily lives, inadequate design of tactile pavements, and low penetration rate of guide dogs, we have developed the spatial ultra sensing intelligent guide glasses to bring reality setting into virtual reality. This product uses seamless dual-sensory interaction and intelligent navigation capabilities to help blind individuals to enhance their mobility.
Winners’ Testimonials: We would like to express our gratitude to CityU for providing us with a platform to interect with industry experts. Through this competition, we have gained valuable professional advice that will guide the further development and improvement of our project. Moving forward, we will incorporate their feedback to modularize the product functions and file for patents. We will also reach out to organizations such as the China Disabled Persons Federation and special education schools to enhance its functionalities. Our goal is to promote the intelligent development of assistive products for the visually impaired, using technology to lead them towards a brighter path of safe and independent travel.
Judges’ Feedback
Chen Shan pointed out three elements that contribute to a good entrepreneurial project.
“Firstly, it is crucial to have the ability to sustain and manage the project effectively. Secondly, identifying market pain points and addressing them is essential. Failing to recognize market needs may result in a lack of market sensitivity. Thirdly, it is advisable not to be so ambitious and instead focus on being specialized in solving a specific problem. By satisfying a particular need, a project can better showcase its thoughtful design by providing user-friendly experiences. Such projects tend to have higher possibilities of development compared to those that aim to achieve too much. Lastly, having reliable partners is vital. When starting a business, it is important to align oneself with the broader business landscape to increase the chances of success,” commented Chen.
Chen Shan
Ding Xiaoyun mentioned that this competition could mark the beginning of a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship.
“Throughout this competition, some students have showcased impressive business canvases and demonstrated exceptional theoretical knowledge and communication skills. I hope everyone feels confident in themselves. Lastly, I encourage you not to overly fixate on the outcomes. Entrepreneurial competitions or projects during your student journey serve as valuable learning experiences. The knowledge you acquire and the connections you form, including the friendships you make and the mentors you encounter, are all invaluable assets gained throughout this process,” said Ding.
Ding Xiaoyun
Wang Xiaojin pointed out that the number of successful entrepreneurs is indeed smaller than one might imagine, therefore, we must foster innovative thinking.
“It is important not to focus too much on winning or losing, but rather to understand that future entrepreneurship relies on teamwork and each member playing their respective roles for success. Regarding future development trends, whether it’s big data, AI, or renewable energy, we need to anticipate what challenges exist and what problems needs to be solved. Market competition is fierce, so the key to future entrepreneurial trends is to address a specific problem. When that problem is completely solved, our entrepreneurship will be successful,” said Wang.
Wang Xiaojin
Zhang Wanrou pointed out several key factors to ensure the success of an entrepreneurial project.
“Firstly, ‘who are your customers?’ Understanding your target audience is crucial in developing a product or service that meets their needs. Secondly, ‘how do you execute your entrepreneurial project development plan?’ It is essential to have a well-defined roadmap and strategies to implement your plans effectively. Lastly, ‘what is your core value?’ Identifying and articulating the unique value proposition your project offers is essential to stand out in the market. When it comes to products, commercial viability should be the primary consideration, followed by innovation. It is important to ensure the project can sustain itself before focusing on adding innovative features,” said Zhang.
Zhang Wanrou
Jackey Li Xi said that he prioritized core value and competitiveness of the projects when considering the entrepreneurial proposal presented by fellow students.
“I encourage students to reflect on the unique value their products bring to consumers or users, something that cannot be easily replicated. In sharing their projects, I urge everyone to consider the value that their products can provide to consumers that other products cannot,” Li said.
Jackey Li Xi
Source: Student Affairs Office
