IEC Startup Pitching Competition

Startup for Good

Innovation for Sustainability and Well-being. Pitch your startup to a panel of judges at IEC 2026 for a share of RM12,000 in prizes. Each team member registers individually and receives convention access.

Create or Join a Team Eligibility & Rules

Who Can Enter

Eligibility & Criteria

01 Open to full-time students and recent graduates (within one to two years of graduation) from public and private higher education institutions worldwide.
02 Each team consists of two to three members, with at least one active student.
03 Open to early-stage startups or business ideas (pre-revenue or early-revenue), registered as a business entity for no more than two years, and at least at Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or early commercialisation stage.
04 Each team submits a Business Model Canvas (BMC) and a three-minute pitch video no later than 20 September 2026.
05 Shortlisted teams pitch live: five minutes of presentation followed by five minutes of questions and answers with the judging panel.
06 Each team prepares a 2ft × 6ft exhibition bunting. T-stands are provided by the organiser.
07 Ideas must be original and must not have previously won a similar national or international competition. Intellectual property rights remain with the team.

Six Tracks

Competition Categories

01
Digital Innovation & Technology
Mobile and web applications, AI, FinTech, blockchain-based solutions and other digital technologies.
02
Halal Economy & AgriTech
Halal traceability solutions, smart agriculture, agri-entrepreneurship and food technology.
03
Social Impact & Islamic Social Finance
Solutions involving zakat, waqf, sadaqah, community welfare, financial inclusion and social enterprises.
04
Green Business & Sustainability
Circular economy initiatives, eco-friendly products, renewable energy and waste management.
05
Creative Economy & Lifestyle
F&B, fashion, tourism, creative industries, media and digital content.
06
HealthTech & Biotechnology
Digital healthcare solutions, medical devices, biotechnology and health informatics.

How Teams Are Judged

Scoring Rubric

Criteria Weight Scale
Innovation & Originality 20% 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
Market Viability & Business Model 20% 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
Social & Economic Impact 20% 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
Scalability 15% 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
Team Execution & Pitch Delivery 25% 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)

Registration Fees

Pricing

Convention access is included for every registered competitor. Each team member selects and pays for their own package.

Early Bird pricing has ended. Standard rates apply.

Public Local Undergraduate University Student (Malaysian)

Free

With accommodation

Without accommodation Free
Cruise + Buffet MYR 100.00 optional add-on
Pitching Competition Included

Free for the first 10 undergraduate student participants from each listed Malaysian public university, with priority given to Startup Pitching Competition team members; further participants register under Local University / Other Local Agency pricing instead

Local University / Other Local Agency

MYR 700.00

With accommodation

Without accommodation MYR 550.00
Cruise + Buffet MYR 100.00 optional add-on
Pitching Competition Included

Participants from Malaysian universities, institutions, companies, organisations, and government or private agencies. UTP, UNITEN, MMU and UniKL students register under this type at no charge, up to 10 per university

International

MYR 750.00

With accommodation

Without accommodation MYR 600.00
Cruise + Buffet MYR 100.00 optional add-on
Pitching Competition Included

Participants outside Malaysia

Prices shown are per participant. The pitching competition has no separate fee, but every competitor must also be registered for the convention.

What's At Stake

Prizes

1st Place
RM5,000
2nd Place
RM3,000
3rd Place
RM2,000
10 Consolation Prizes
RM500 each

Ready to
Pitch?

Create your team or join with a team code. Convention access is included, no separate registration needed. Fee depends on each participant's package.

Registration Deadline
15 September 2026
Submission Deadline
20 September 2026
Pricing
See the fee table above
Create or Join a Team