The Hult Prize OnCampus Final Competition at National Chengchi University (NCCU) was hosted by the Center for Industry Collaboration and Innovation Incubation (CICII) in collaboration with Hult Prize NCCU Campus Ambassador Kimberly Chen and her committee. Supported by the Ministry of Education’s "Higher Education Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Program," the event took place at the International Conference Hall of the RIIC.

The competition began with emcees Kimberly Chen and Suarlin Garcia introducing the Hult Prize, a prestigious global competition that challenges young students to create innovative businesses aimed at addressing pressing global issues, with a grand prize of $1 million USD. Following the introduction, the emcees revealed that six student teams would present their projects, with one team earning the chance to represent NCCU at the National Stage.

To evaluate the teams’ performances, an esteemed panel of judges was present. The panel included Professor Shih-Yuan Lin, Chief Operating Officer of CICII; Mr. Elias Ek, CEO of Enspyre and co-organizer of Dragons' Chamber; Mr. Steven Parker, CEO of Jam On Top and advisor to the House of Story Wear; Ms. Daphne Shih, Principal Consultant at Footprint Solutions; and Ms. Kristie Lee, Partnerships Director at InnoVEX.

Kicking off the event, Professor Lin delivered an encouraging speech, emphasizing the importance of creativity and practicality. He stated, "Today, I see many bright minds gathered here, and I am truly inspired by your passion. This competition is not just about winning but about learning and growing as future innovators. Take this opportunity to present your ideas confidently and make them as actionable as possible. Remember, innovation is the bridge between imagination and impact. I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing your amazing presentations." His words resonated with the participants, setting an inspiring tone for the competition and underscoring the event's goal of fostering innovative and impactful solutions. Following this, the emcees clarified the structured format of the competition, explaining that each team was allocated four minutes to pitch their ideas, followed by a four-minute Q&A session with the judges. Their solutions were developed with alignment to UN Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting a strong commitment to addressing critical global challenges. With the stage set, the emcees turned the spotlight to the participating teams, inviting them to begin their pitches.

A total of six teams presented their ideas: Empty Plate introduced a gamified app to reduce food waste. MOMentum empowers single mothers by connecting them with job opportunities. CoolPool transforms social media habits into learning. Aliados connects informal workers with job opportunities in Latin America. The Livers of Four supports international students with language and cultural barriers. New Century SEA Chinese Learning Business improves workplace skills for Southeast Asian immigrants in Taiwan.

Throughout the competition, the judges provided invaluable feedback. For example, Mr. Elias Ek emphasized the importance of clearly defining target audiences and distinguishing between users and payers to build scalable business models. Mr. Steven Parker highlighted the need for research-based proposals and clear articulation of market demand, advising teams to incorporate stronger data-backed insights. Additionally, Ms. Kristie Lee encouraged teams to explore diverse revenue streams and refine their financial models to ensure long-term sustainability.

After the presentations, the panel of judges engaged in thorough deliberation to determine the winners. The 2nd runner-up title was awarded to New Century SEA Chinese Learning Business—an impressive achievement! The 1st runner-up was given to ALIADOS for their outstanding work. And our NCCU Oncampus Winner was MOMentum, whose passion and creativity truly stood out. Congratulations to all the teams for their incredible efforts and inspiring ideas!

In his closing remarks, Professor Lin expressed his gratitude to all participants for their dedication. He encouraged them to continue refining their ideas and reminded them that "this competition is just the beginning of your journey as changemakers." The event concluded with a group photo, capturing the spirit of collaboration and innovation. This successful competition underscored NCCU’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and addressing global challenges through student-driven innovation.

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