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Gemini Entrepreneurship Competition 2026

Guests

Judges and Mentors

Our powerful judges and mentors team

Yifei Wang

Yifei Wang is the Founder and CEO of AIBUILD Pty Ltd, an Australian technology company specialising in artificial intelligence, digital twin systems, and data-driven infrastructure solutions. Based in Melbourne, he focuses on applying AI research to real-world industry innovation. He has participated in over AUD 20 million in government-funded research projects, including initiatives supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P). His work focuses on AI applications in infrastructure management, supply chains, healthcare, and digital engineering. Yifei is also an Industry PhD Supervisor and Sessional Lecturer at the University of Melbourne. Through AIBUILD’s innovation platform, he has helped establish more than ten AI-related joint ventures and collaborative projects. Through academic and industry collaboration, he promotes responsible AI adoption, infrastructure digitalisation, and technology innovation in Australia.

Yifei Wang

Alan（Can）C.

Alan (Can) C., Managing Partner, Boson Ventures. A renowned investor and entrepreneur, focusing on early-stage investment and incubation, supporting entrepreneurs from strategy development to scaling with a cross-border perspective between Australia and China. He consistently focuses on hard technology and healthcare, and is a key figure in building the Australia-Asia startup ecosystem.

Alan（Can）C.

Dr Sam Donegan

Dr Sam Donegan is a medical doctor, AI engineer, and community builder passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems. As the founder of SupportSorted—a fast-growing AI platform transforming how Australians with disabilities connect with care—Sam has scaled from zero to $4 million in revenue and now co-leads MLAI Australia, a 10,000+ strong volunteer network reshaping the national AI ecosystem. With deep experience in healthcare, startups, and technical leadership, Sam bridges disciplines to mentor the next generation of AI innovators.

Dr Sam Donegan

Feng Liu

Dr Feng Liu is a machine learning researcher specialising in statistical trustworthy machine learning. He is currently an ARC DECRA Fellow and a Senior Lecturer (US Associate Professor) at The University of Melbourne, as well as a Visiting Scientist at RIKEN-AIP, Japan. He has served as an Area Chair for leading AI conferences including AISTATS, ICLR, ICML, and NeurIPS. His awards include the Australasian AI Emerging Researcher Award (Australian Computer Society), the ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, the Australian Pattern Recognition Society Early Career Researcher Award, the NeurIPS 2022 Outstanding Paper Award, and the ECIS 2023 Best Paper Runner-up Award.

Feng Liu

Li Shilin

Venture Plus Investment Partner | Expert in Cross-Border Investment and Innovation Empowerment between Australia, Singapore, and China. Deeply rooted in the Australian, Singaporean, and Chinese markets, focusing on early- and growth-stage investments in cross-border energy transition and high-tech sectors. Committed to building bridges of capital, technology, and markets across the Asia-Pacific region, having invested in and deeply empowered over 300 cross-border innovative companies to date.

Li Shilin

Qian Hong

Deputy General Manager (Consultant), Tianheng Certified Public Accountants (Special General Partnership); Senior Accountant, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Tax Agent, Certified Internal Auditor; Leading Accounting Talent of Jiangsu Province; Jiangsu Provincial Industry Professor. Possesses over 20 years of experience in financial and operational management of large state-owned enterprises, private enterprises, and multinational corporations. Currently serves as an off-campus master's supervisor at several universities, with research interests covering data assetization, risk management, and internal control.

Qian Hong

Jiang Lewei (Tick Jiang)

The founder of NUVC, specializing in designing decision-making systems for high-risk capital, while also advancing the practical implementation of Monol, and serving as one of the Victorian Government's advisors on technology and multicultural innovation.

Jiang Lewei (Tick Jiang)

Weng Qihai (Arthur Weng)

GOWISE Australia & New Zealand Country Partner | Founder of Synergy Co and ARJ KAIZEN Holds an Australian AFSL financial license, previously worked for China Evergrande and France Accor Group, leading investment projects in real estate, fintech, education, and healthcare technology, possessing outstanding international strategic vision and execution capabilities.

Weng Qihai (Arthur Weng)

Li Xiaohua (Linden)

Senior Partner of the Nobel Foundation for Sustainable Development and Trade Chief Executive of Vanuatu in Chengdu

Li Xiaohua (Linden)

Senior Partner of the Nobel Foundation for Sustainable Development and Trade Chief Executive of Vanuatu in Chengdu

Henry Yang

The CEO of ACASE holds an Australian CPA certificate and has long been active in Sino-Australian innovation and industry cooperation, deeply involved in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and the construction of a cross-border innovation ecosystem. He previously held financial management positions in large enterprises such as China Southern Airlines, possessing a solid business and finance background. He is committed to connecting Australian innovation with the Asian market.

Henry Yang

Gan Zhenyuan

Gan Zhenyuan - Investment Director of Zhenshi Capital Gan Zhenyuan previously served as Investment Director at Hangzhou Zhenshi Capital and is currently the Director of the Institutional Clients Department. His primary focus areas are new materials, high-end equipment, and intelligent manufacturing. His portfolio includes companies such as Zhongzhida, Kecong Control, and Xinfeng Technology.

Gan Zhenyuan

Bi Mufan

Plug and Play China's Corporate Innovation Investment Manager. Five years of experience in technology investment, leading investments in mobility and robotics, and participating in angel rounds for automotive glass manufacturers and autonomous driving data annotation companies. Connecting portfolio companies with resources across the entire automotive industry chain, possessing extensive capabilities in project screening, due diligence, and post-investment management.

Bi Mufan

V. Review Mechanism

Evaluation Criteria: See attached evaluation form.

V. Review Mechanism

Evaluation Criteria: See attached evaluation form.

VI. Awards

First Prize (1 winner): Prize money + investment matchmaking + media interview + incubation support

Second Prize (2 winners): Prize money + investment matching + industry resource matching

Third Prize (3 winners): Venture Capital Club Membership + Investment Matching

First and second prize winners will be directly awarded a roadshow opportunity at the China-Australia Innovation Week hosted by the Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Industrial Technology, and will have the chance to receive direct investment from industry funds and have their return airfare reimbursed. All finalist teams will receive: 1. Annual membership to the Venture Capital Club and access to resources.

VI. Awards

First Prize (1 winner): Prize money + investment matchmaking + media interview + incubation support

Second Prize (2 winners): Prize money + investment matching + industry resource matching

Third Prize (3 winners): Venture Capital Club Membership + Investment Matching

VII. Promotion and Partners

Promotional Channels: Global promotion through social media, startup communities, university partnerships, and international startup platforms. Partners: Seeking partnerships with investment institutions, industrial parks, media outlets, universities, and international startup organizations.

VII. Promotion and Partners

IV. Competition Process and Schedule

Phase | Time | Content | Description

Submission period: February 1st - March 27th. Teams should submit their registration form and business plan through the competition's official website or designated platform.

Selection period: March 27th - March 31st. Judges will conduct initial review of business plans (BPs) and select preliminary teams. Results will be announced before April 1st.

Preliminary round: April 4-5, online presentations (10 minutes + 5 minutes). 8 teams will be selected to advance to the finals.

Mentoring period: April 6th-9th. One-on-one online mentoring by professional instructors, focusing on presentation skills, business plan optimization, etc.

Final round: April 17-18, Melbourne (live roadshow and judging, including project presentations, Q&A with judges, and awards ceremony)

IV. Competition Process and Schedule

Phase | Time | Content | Description

Submission period: February 1st - March 27th. Teams should submit their registration form and business plan through the competition's official website or designated platform.

Selection period: March 27th - March 31st. Judges will conduct initial review of business plans (BPs) and select preliminary teams. Results will be announced before April 1st.

Preliminary round: April 4-5, online presentations (10 minutes + 5 minutes). 8 teams will be selected to advance to the finals.

Mentoring period: April 6th-9th. One-on-one online mentoring by professional instructors, focusing on presentation skills, business plan optimization, etc.

Final round: April 17-18, Melbourne (live roadshow and judging, including project presentations, Q&A with judges, and awards ceremony)

VII. Promotion and Partners

VI. Awards

First Prize (1 winner): Prize money + investment matchmaking + media interview + incubation support

Second Prize (2 winners): Prize money + investment matching + industry resource matching

Third Prize (3 winners): Venture Capital Club Membership + Investment Matching

V. Review Mechanism

Evaluation Criteria: See attached evaluation form.

III. Competition Format

This competition adopts a combined "online + offline" model, and is divided into two stages:

Phase 1: Preliminary Round (Online) Registration and Screening: All participating teams will submit their registration form and business plan (BP) through the official website. Preliminary Round Pitching: Selected teams (15 teams in total) will participate in an online pitching session. Each team will have 10 minutes for their presentation followed by 5 minutes of Q&A with the judges. Preliminary Round Dates: April 4-5, 2026

Phase 2: Finals (Offline) Mentoring: Teams advancing from the preliminary rounds will receive 3 days of online mentoring from professional mentors to optimize their project presentation materials. Finals Presentation: Held live in Melbourne, each team will have 10 minutes for their presentation followed by Q&A. Finals Date: April 17-18, 2026. Awards Ceremony: Winners will be announced and an awards ceremony will be held on the day of the finals.

III. Competition Format

This competition adopts a combined "online + offline" model, and is divided into two stages:

III. Competition Format

This competition adopts a combined "online + offline" model, and is divided into two stages:

IV. Competition Process and Schedule

Phase | Time | Content | Description

Submission period: February 1st - March 27th. Teams should submit their registration form and business plan through the competition's official website or designated platform.

Selection period: March 27th - March 31st. Judges will conduct initial review of business plans (BPs) and select preliminary teams. Results will be announced before April 1st.

Preliminary round: April 4-5, online presentations (10 minutes + 5 minutes). 8 teams will be selected to advance to the finals.

Mentoring period: April 6th-9th. One-on-one online mentoring by professional instructors, focusing on presentation skills, business plan optimization, etc.

Final round: April 17-18, Melbourne (live roadshow and judging, including project presentations, Q&A with judges, and awards ceremony)

II. Entry Requirements

Target Audience: Early-stage and growth-stage startups worldwide. Project Requirements: Projects must demonstrate innovation, growth potential, and a clear business model. Projects must align with one of the four core tracks. There are no strict requirements regarding establishment time or revenue; concept and early-stage projects are encouraged to participate. Team Requirements: The core team must consist of at least two members with strong execution capabilities. Language Requirements: The official language of the competition is English. All materials and presentations must be conducted in English (to be determined).

II. Entry Requirements

I. Introduction to the Competition

The Melbourne Venture Club 2026 Startup Competition aims to gather global innovation resources, focus on future industry trends, and provide a platform for promising startups to showcase their talents, secure funding, and network internationally. This year's competition features the following four tracks:

Hard technology track: including cutting-edge technology innovation fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, biotechnology, and aerospace.

New Energy Sector: Focuses on sustainable development fields such as renewable energy, energy storage technology, clean energy solutions, and carbon neutrality technologies.

The broader consumer sector encompasses innovative areas such as new retail, consumer brand upgrades, the experience economy, healthy living, and cultural entertainment.

Digital Economy Sector: Focus on digital transformation areas such as digital finance, blockchain, Web3.0, industrial digitalization, and smart cities.

The competition will provide winning teams with venture capital connections, media exposure, industry resource connections, and international development support to help startups achieve commercial breakthroughs.

I. Introduction to the Competition

Hard technology track: including cutting-edge technology innovation fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, biotechnology, and aerospace.

New Energy Sector: Focuses on sustainable development fields such as renewable energy, energy storage technology, clean energy solutions, and carbon neutrality technologies.

The broader consumer sector encompasses innovative areas such as new retail, consumer brand upgrades, the experience economy, healthy living, and cultural entertainment.

Digital Economy Sector: Focus on digital transformation areas such as digital finance, blockchain, Web3.0, industrial digitalization, and smart cities.

The competition will provide winning teams with venture capital connections, media exposure, industry resource connections, and international development support to help startups achieve commercial breakthroughs.

I. Introduction to the Competition

Hard technology track: including cutting-edge technology innovation fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, biotechnology, and aerospace.

New Energy Sector: Focuses on sustainable development fields such as renewable energy, energy storage technology, clean energy solutions, and carbon neutrality technologies.

The broader consumer sector encompasses innovative areas such as new retail, consumer brand upgrades, the experience economy, healthy living, and cultural entertainment.

Digital Economy Sector: Focus on digital transformation areas such as digital finance, blockchain, Web3.0, industrial digitalization, and smart cities.

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