10th Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Competition (IEIC) – Canada Division

Show the World What You’ve Built.

The Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Competition (IEIC) Canada Division is celebrating its 10th consecutive year. As a premier preliminary pitch competition, the Canada Division identifies and vets high-potential technology ventures for an expense-subsidized trade mission to Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Round 1 Application Deadline: August 30, 2026

Pitch Competition Date: September 23, 2026 / October 10, 2026

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Top finalists will be selected to participate in an in-person trade mission in late November 2026 to engage directly with investors, supply chain leaders, and potential commercial clients. This mission follows the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, taking place in Shenzhen. (Learn more about APEC at the Government of Canada APEC Portal).

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Program Eligibility

We invite technology ventures seeking Seed to Series B financing that possess strong intellectual property (IP) and scalable solutions designed for global markets within the following seven core sectors:

1. Biomedical & Health Technology

2. New Materials

3. New Energy & Green Technology

4. Electronic Technology

5. Advanced Manufacturing & High-End Equipment

6. Marine Economy

7. Digital Economy & Fashion Tech

Why Participate?

1

Global Exposure

Showcase your innovation directly to international VC funds, corporate partners, industry experts, and global media outlets.

2

Market Expansion

Access high-growth markets across Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region with direct soft-landing support.

3

Significant Non-Dilutive Capital

Compete for individual cash prizes up to ~$100,000 CAD, with a total competition prize pool of $1.8M CAD

4

Cross-Border Ecosystem

Connect with high-caliber tech founders across Canada, the US, Europe, and Asia to share insights and build partnerships.

5

Advisory & Mentorship

Receive specialized guidance and legal/business support from cross-border commercialization experts.

6

Strategic Matchmaking

Benefit from customized 1-on-1 supply chain and investor matchmaking sessions tailored to your growth stage.

How to Apply

To be considered:

Complete the online application form
Submit your pitch deck (PDF or PPT or link)
Selected startups will be invited to pitch in Canada or the U.S.
Top ventures will qualify for Business delegation to Shenzhen

Days

Hours

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Evaluation Criteria

A panel of venture capitalists, technical specialists, and market expansion leaders will evaluate pitches based on:

Innovation & Originality: Novelty of the technology solution.
Competitive Moat: Strength of IP, proprietary technology, and barriers to entry.
Global Scalability: Market demand, addressable market size, and international expansion viability.
Impact & Value Creation: Measurable social, economic, or environmental benefits.
Team Execution: Technical depth, commercialization track record, and leadership vision.
Pitch Delivery: Clarity, narrative structure, and quality of presentation.

What Happens After?

Finalists will be flown to Shenzhen in November 2026 as part of a fully-supported business delegation. There, you will:

Pitch to Chinese investors and accelerators
Visit tech parks, manufacturing hubs, and innovation centers
Connect with supply chain partners and potential customers
Explore market entry incentives and grants

Application Form

Deadline

Round 1 Application Deadline: August 30, 2026

Applicants will be contacted within three (3) business days following review.

1. Corporate & Contact Details

Corporate Legal Name

Business Address

Where do you hope to participate in this pitch competition?

Industry Classification (Check all relevant categories if possible)

Biomedicine and Health

Advanced Equipment

New Materials

Electronic Information

Green and Low Carbon

Digital Economy and Fashion

Marine Economy

Contact Person & Title

Email Address

Phone Number

Current Funding Stage

2. Key Leadership

Chief Executive Officer (Legal Name):

LinkedIn Profile (Optional):

Chief Technology Officer (Legal Name):

LinkedIn Profile (Optional):

3. Executive Overview & Strategy

Corporate Overview

Market Analysis & Go-To-Market Strategy

Business Model

Competitive Advantage

Financial Forecast & Funding Request

Pitch Deck

Upload File

Executive Summary(if any)

Upload File

Notice on Intellectual Property & Confidentiality

The Organizing Committee of the IEIC Canada Division is fully committed to protecting the intellectual property (IP) and proprietary business information of all participating ventures. Please carefully review the following recommendations:

Controlled Disclosure in Applications: When completing the application form and presentation decks, focus on showcasing your product's capabilities, market scalability, and technical advantages. Do not include non-patented core source codes, exact formulas, trade secrets, or unfiled proprietary technical schematics.
Timely Patent Filing: Public presentation or submission of unprotected technical details may affect novelty requirements for future patent filings. We strongly advise applicants to secure provisional patent protection or priority applications in key markets (e.g., Canada, US, China, PCT) prior to public disclosures.
Review Process Integrity: Submission materials used during preliminary judging are restricted solely to evaluation purposes.
NDA Requirement for Deep Matchmaking: For downstream one-on-one investor meetings, technical due diligence, or supply chain negotiation, ventures are highly encouraged to execute a bilateral Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before sharing sensitive proprietary data.

New Field:

"By clicking 'Submit', I confirm that I have read and agree to the Notice on Intellectual Property & Confidentiality."

Questions? Let’s Talk.

Want to know if this is the right program for your company?
Reach out to us at alan@szinno.ca or book a free info session.

Set an Appointment