New opportunities from Khan Tengri Innovation Hub and HICOOL for startups in Central Eurasia

China is building not just an innovation ecosystem, but a systematic mechanism for attracting global startups. HICOOL is a global startup platform established in Beijing in 2020. It combines a summit and competition, an investment fund, an industrial park for business localization, a service platform providing legal and operational support, educational programs, and a digital platform for matchmaking. For international teams, this is not merely participation in an event, but a real tool for entering the Chinese market.

The Summit as an Entry Point into China's Ecosystem

HICOOL Global Entrepreneur Summit is one of the largest international innovation platforms in China. Over the past five years, more than 34,000 startups and 45,000 entrepreneurs from 167 countries, including over 10,000 international projects, have passed through the HICOOL ecosystem. This makes HICOOL one of the largest funnel-based selection processes for technology companies aiming to enter the Chinese market.

HICOOL Competition: Beijing's Largest Startup Competition with a $15,000,000 Prize Pool

Running parallel to the summit is the HICOOL Global Entrepreneurship Competition, one of China's key startup events and the largest international competition in Beijing.

The competition covers 12 technological sectors, including integrated circuits and quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics, 5G/6G and IoT, blockchain and fintech, medicine and biotechnology, new materials, green energy, intelligent equipment, aerospace technologies, as well as software and digital services.

The total prize pool amounts to $15 million, with payout structures scaled by track:

$280,000 — for first place for 12 winners
$140,000 — for second place for 36 winners
$70,000 — for third place for 68 winners
$28,000 — for finalists for 84 projects.

International startups are evaluated in a separate category alongside foreign teams, rather than competing directly with Chinese projects.

However, the key value of the competition lies not in the prizes. HICOOL has already formed a portfolio of 16 unicorns, public companies, and dozens of rapidly growing technology businesses, with the total volume of funding raised by participants exceeding 60 billion RMB.

The Role of Khan Tengri Innovation Hub

Khan Tengri Innovation Hub acts as a partner for working with startups from Central Eurasia within the HICOOL ecosystem, ensuring their preparation and compliance with competition and Chinese market requirements. It also implements preparatory activities, including a webinar for startups on April 2, 2026, dedicated to analyzing the competition mechanics and improving the quality of applications.

Why HICOOL is a Strategic Opportunity Window for Startups from Central Asia

First, it provides access to capital through the prize pool, the HICOOL Fund, and thousands of investors on-site.

Second, it offers a channel to enter the Chinese market with access to industrial parks, subsidies, and infrastructure.

Third, it provides direct access to corporations in the format of quick meetings and pilot projects.

Key Dates for HICOOL 2026:

The introductory webinar will take place on April 2, 2026.

Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mOr5cDbISXqCHksabBPckg#/registration

Registration for the HICOOL Competition is open until April 15, 2026, which is the main deadline for submitting applications.

Subsequently, the competition proceeds in several stages:
in April — online project evaluation
in May-June — regional selections
in July — semi-finals
in August — finals.

The cycle concludes in September 2026 with an awards ceremony and the HICOOL Global Entrepreneur Summit in Beijing.

Khan Tengri Innovation Hub in Shanghai is an international platform based in Shanghai that connects startups, investors, and institutions from Central Eurasia with the Chinese technology ecosystem. The hub focuses on building sustainable partnerships, technology transfer, and creating practical channels for entering the Chinese market through collaboration with technology parks, corporations, and investment structures.