The APAC Challenge is held in conjunction with the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge – a renowned international start-up competition that’s been running since 2014. It is uniquely designed to address the needs of early-stage deep-tech start-ups across all industries.

Together, these Hello Tomorrow Challenges give deep-tech and science-based entrepreneurs around the globe a platform for their projects, providing opportunities for equity-free funding, global visibility and connections with key players in the deep-tech ecosystem. To date, previous winners have already raised more than $1 billion in funding.

Applications are entirely free, and open until 24 July 2023. All APAC-based applicants immediately qualify for both Challenges which, while related, are judged quite independently of each other. This means extra opportunity across both platforms!

The Hello Tomorrow APAC Challenge 2023 concludes with the Finals in Singapore around on 5 October, and the Global Challenge concludes with the Grand Finals during the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in Paris on 21-22 March 2024.

This platform offers you additional prizes and visibility, but most of all it’s a springboard for your start-up to the region and beyond!

First Prize winner will receive:

• S$30K equity-free grant

• Fast-track to SLINGSHOT 2023 Finals

• Sponsored 10-day trip to Singapore in October 2022 to participate at SWITCH and the preceding immersion week

• Fast-track to Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge 2024 Finals

• Return flights to Paris, France, to attend the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in March 2024

Second and Third Prizes winners will receive:

• Fast-track to Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge 2024 Finals

• Return flights to Paris, France, to attend the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in March 2024

Pitch before a select jury live at the APAC Challenge Finals in Singapore.

More wildcard prizes to be announced!

We designed the Global Challenge (and the APAC Challenge) specifically for deep-tech start-ups because we know that the needs of deep technologies and the resources required to push them forward are different from those of digital start-ups.

At our Summits, you’ll meet experts in science and technology (including investors, executives, entrepreneurs, and potential customers) who have a nuanced understanding of the needs and potential impact of new solutions and want to be part of the deep technology transfer.

We provide a platform for regional and global visibility where you can be endorsed as a leading Deep Tech Pioneer, and enjoy connections leading to business and funding opportunities during the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit (3,500 attendees from 110+ countries) and our invite-only Hello Tomorrow Global Investor Day (200+ VCs & CVCs).

This year, we're excited to also be hosting the inaugural Hello Tomorrow APAC Investor Day 2023 - a one-of-a-kind opportunity for 150 of our favourite deep-tech start-ups to schedule one-to one meetings with 50 investors.

Hello Tomorrow is run by a group of passionate people who basically just really love deep technologies and want to see you get your innovation out into the world!

Your application to the APAC/ Global Challenge is completely free, and implies no obligation or commitment. Hello Tomorrow does not claim any kind of decision, power, or take any equity on projects or start-ups applying.

No; we never have, and can’t see why we ever would. In true Hello Tomorrow spirit, all our prizes are equity-free.

The information you provide on your application will be available to the following parties:

• Hello Tomorrow Asia Pacific, Hello Tomorrow, and their external IT team (to manage the application platform)

• Our expert jury members (to evaluate your application)

• Our partners (corporates and investors looking for potential collaboration or investment opportunities)

Though these parties do not sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, we and they informally commit to keeping your information for private use only. We may communicate some information publicly (name of your company, country, public description) to promote start-ups. If you believe some information might be too sensitive (because of a pending patent, for example), we advise that you get legal advice from someone within your institution.

Join our mailing list at the bottom of this page to stay connected, or follow us on LinkedIn. We look forward to having you next year!