Competition Information
The inaugural edition of the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) was held in 2002.
Named in honour of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister - who can be said to have developed the country’s defining business plan in pitching Singapore into the global spotlight –it was one of the first international business plan competition platforms for the world’s best and brightest next-gen innovators to solve global challenges.
In over two decades since, the competition, which is held every two years, has grown leaps and bounds: From just over 200 submissions from 74 tertiary institutions in 2002, to 1,000 submissions from 1,100 institutions in 2023.
Today, LKYGBPC is a recognised beacon of excellence in global youth innovation. As one of Asia's most globally representative and exciting deep-tech startup challenges, hundreds of next-gen entrepreneurs and leaders in the global innovation ecosystem converge in Singapore for an exciting week of live pitches, networking, mentorship and learning.
Beyond the competition, the platform has become a launchpad for a rising tide of alumni who are continually innovating to make the world a better place.
Prizes
Lee Kuan Yew Beta Prize
S$100,000
Cash Prize
Lee Kuan Yew Infinity Prize
S$100,000
Cash Prize
Wavemaker Sustainability Investment Prize
Up to S$300,000
Investment Prize
Climate Innovation Investment Prize presented by TRIREC
Up to S$300,000
Investment Prize
APRW Public Relations Resource Prize
S$100,000
Professional Service Prize
Lee & Lee Legal Resource Prize
S$76,500
Professional Service Prize
Best Professor-Student Team Prize
S$20,000
Cash Prize
People's Choice Award (Beta Category)
S$10,000
Cash Prize
People's Choice Award (Infinity Category)
S$10,000
Cash Prize
Key Dates
APPLICATION | 6 JAN - 31 MAR 2025
Register yourself or in a team for the Beta or Infinity category.
LOCAL & GLOBAL ROADSHOWS | JAN - MAR 2025
Meet us as we embark on global roadshows to uncover and connect with visionary founders!
QUALIFIERS | MAY - JUN 2025
50 finalist teams - called the RVLT50 (Revolutionary 50) teams - will be chosen by an international judging panel to proceed to the Category Finals.
DEEPENING | JUN - AUG 2025
Meet your mentors (virtual) & virtual networking events and workshop
BLAZE | 29 SEP - 2 OCT 2025
1-week innovation festival and immersion programme in Singapore, where RVTL50 teams will refine their pitch for the category finals.
GRAND FINALS | 2 OCT 2025
The Grand Finalists will pitch 'live' to a panel of judges to vie for the top prize for the two categories.
Rules
- Technology innovation that emerged from academic research with commercialisation opportunities that may or may not be fully validated
- Innovative business model that may or may not be fully validated
- Team is in initial phases of ideation up to having a minimum viable product (MVP) that has yet to be launched in the market
- Each team / startup must have at least one founding member/founder, who is a current student or recent alumnus / alumna of a university who graduated within the past 5 years.
- A “current student” is an individual who is currently enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme at a tertiary institution as of 31 March 2025. “Alumni of less than 5 years” is defined as any person who graduated from a tertiary institute from 31 March 2020 onwards.
- Individuals who were previously enrolled full-time in any of the programmes, but who dropped out between 31st March 2020 and 31st March 2025, are also eligible to apply.
- There is no restriction on the number of members in a team or company.
- Technology innovation that emerged from academic research with commercialisation opportunities that may or may not be fully validated
- Innovative business model that may or may not be fully validated
- Team is in initial phases of ideation up to having a minimum viable product (MVP) that has yet to be launched in the market
- Each team / startup must have at least one founding member/founder, who is a current student or recent alumnus / alumna of a university who graduated within the past 5 years.
- A “current student” is an individual who is currently enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme at a tertiary institution as of 31 March 2025. “Alumni of less than 5 years” is defined as any person who graduated from a tertiary institute from 31 March 2020 onwards.
- Individuals who were previously enrolled full-time in any of the programmes, but who dropped out between 31st March 2020 and 31st March 2025, are also eligible to apply.
- There is no restriction on the number of members in a team or company.
- Technology innovation that emerged from academic research with commercialisation opportunities that may or may not be fully validated
- Innovative business model that may or may not be fully validated
- Team is in initial phases of ideation up to having a minimum viable product (MVP) that has yet to be launched in the market
- Each team / startup must have at least one founding member/founder, who is a current student or recent alumnus / alumna of a university who graduated within the past 5 years.
- A “current student” is an individual who is currently enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme at a tertiary institution as of 31 March 2025. “Alumni of less than 5 years” is defined as any person who graduated from a tertiary institute from 31 March 2020 onwards.
- Individuals who were previously enrolled full-time in any of the programmes, but who dropped out between 31st March 2020 and 31st March 2025, are also eligible to apply.
- There is no restriction on the number of members in a team or company.
Categories
Category 0 to 1:
Pre-revenue teams driving commercialization opportunities with transformative potential in urban solutions and sustainability
- Academic research that drives groundbreaking deep-tech solutions, fostering commercialisation opportunities to tackle challenges in urban solutions and sustainability. These innovations may still require validation but promise transformative impact.
- Team is in initial phases of ideation up to having a minimum viable product (MVP) that has yet to be launched in the market
- Each team / startup must have at least one founding member/founder, who is a current student or recent alumnus / alumna of a university who graduated within the past 5 years.
- A “current student” is an individual who is currently enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme at a tertiary institution as of 31 March 2025. “Alumni of less than 5 years” is defined as any person who graduated from a tertiary institute from 31 March 2020 onwards.
- Individuals who were previously enrolled full-time in any of the programmes, but who dropped out between 31st March 2020 and 31st March 2025, are also eligible to apply.
- There is no restriction on the number of members in a team or company.
Category 1 to Infinity:
Revenue-generating early stage start-ups, up to Series A
- Startup is in the phase of initial sales or looking to scale
- The product or service has launched in the market, and the startup is seeking its next customer(s) and/or to enter a new market
- Each team / startup must have at least one founding member/founder, who is a current student or recent alumnus / alumna of a university who graduated within the past 5 years.
- A “current student” is an individual who is currently enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme at a tertiary institution as of 31 March 2025. “Alumni of less than 5 years” is defined as any person who graduated from a tertiary institute from 31 March 2020 onwards.
- Individuals who were previously enrolled full-time in any of the programmes, but who dropped out between 31st March 2020 and 31st March 2025, are also eligible to apply.
- There is no restriction on the number of members in a team or company.
Frequently Asked Questions
This competition is open to all next gen startup founders. To be eligible, the team or startup must have at least one founding member who is a current tertiary student or a recent tertiary graduate (within the last five years).
Category and Composition
Category 0 to 1: Pre-revenue teams/startups with novel technology or business model innovations
- Technology innovations that have emerged from academic research with commercialisation opportunities that may or may not be fully validated
- Innovative business models that may or may not be fully validated
- Team is in initial phases of ideation up to having a minimum viable product (MVP) that has yet to be launched in the market
- Each team / startup must have at least founding member / founder, who is a current student or recent alumni of less than 5 years.
- “Current student” is defined as any person who is enrolled in a full-time polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme at a tertiary institute.
- “Alumni of less than 5 years” is defined as any person who has graduated at a tertiary institute from 31 March 2020 onwards.
- Persons who were previously enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD program but dropped out between 31 March 2020 and 31 March 2025 are also eligible to apply.
- There is no restriction on the number of members in a team or company
Category 1 to Infinity: Revenue-generating early stage start-ups, up to Series A
- Startup is in phases of initial sales or looking to scale
- Typically, product or service has launched in the market, and is seeking their next customer(s) and/or to enter a new market
- Each team / startup must have at least founding member / founder, who is a current student or recent alumni of less than 5 years.
- “Current student” is defined as any person who is enrolled in a full-time polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programme at a tertiary institute.
- “Alumni of less than 5 years” is defined as any person who has graduated at a tertiary institute from 31 March 2020 onwards.
- Persons who were previously enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD program but dropped out between 31 March 2020 and 31 March 2025 are also eligible to apply.
- There is no restriction on the number of members in a team or company
To apply, the following materials will be required for your application during the Preliminary Round. Failure to submit the materials online by the announced deadline will result in disqualification.
- Complete an application form on the official platform.
- Executive Summary
- Not more than 500 words, in pdf
- File should be named in this format: Summary_TeamName.pdf
- Pitch Deck Presentation
- Not more than 20 slides, in pdf
- File should be named in this format: Presentation_TeamName.pdf
- Video presentation (Optional)
- This is encouraged but not required.
- Video should be no longer than 5 minutes with preference for mp4.
- File should be named in this format: Video_TeamName.mp4
- All submitted materials must be the original work of the participating team.
Final submission deadline: 31st March 2025, 23:59 SGT (GMT +8).
- Innovativeness
- Commercial Feasibility
- Impact of Idea
- Capability to Execute
Further details will be provided on the official website closer to the event.
Yes, winners will receive significant prizes, including cash awards, scholarships, and opportunities for mentorship with entrepreneurs and investors. There is also global recognition for the top teams.
Teams must fully participate in-person in LKYGBPC Finals: BLAZE week from 29 September 2025 – 2 October 2025.
Failure to participate in any event during the competition may result in forfeiture of all prizes.
Date | Milestone |
06 January – 31 March 2025 | Launch of Competition and call for applications |
April 2025 | Preliminary Screening |
May – June 2025 | Announcement of RVLT 50* |
June – August 2025 | Through mentoring, networking, and learning, the RVLT 50 teams will gain valuable knowledge. |
September – October 2025 | LKYGBPC Grand Finals [Blaze] in Singapore |
*Two members from the RVLT 50 will be eligible for sponsored airfare and accommodation trip to Singapore. Out of the two members, one member must be the main applicant.
Get Involved
Join us for the next edition of the world’s most exciting university startup challenge!
Register your interest to get involved!
As a STARTUP
Join our global community of innovators and win prizes!
Be a MENTOR
Share your wisdom to make a difference.
As a JUDGE
Your expertise matters in shaping the future.
Be a SPONSOR
Invest in the potential of tomorrow.
Be a Partner
Grow this competition with us for the next gen.
NOMINATE a Startup
Help us find the next big unicorn!