We kicked off this year’s IdeaPOP!2026 with a day full of energy, heart and bold ideas!

Last Saturday, we were proud to host the Kick-start Day for our Secondary School Startup Competition — a dynamic and high-impact launch to months of student-led innovation. The event brought together nearly 80 student teams and 58 mentors from the business, technology, and social sectors—creating a meaningful space for exchanging ideas, sharing guidance, and fostering growth.

Throughout the day, students engaged in fast-paced mentoring rounds, receiving real-time, practical feedback that touched on everything from design thinking and storytelling to business feasibility and social impact. It was incredible to witness how quickly they absorbed insights, challenged assumptions, and sharpened their thinking.

Even at this early stage, teams demonstrated extraordinary clarity, creativity and conviction in tackling four complex social categories: Disability Inclusion, Education, Elderly Care, Mental Wellness and Resilience.

What stood out most was the level of preparation, reflections and passions our students brought. The energy in the room was electric, driven by a shared sense of purpose and a sincere desire to create meaningful change. We also spotted some familiar faces from last year and were uplifted by the growing diversity of voices and backgrounds in the room. 

A heartfelt thank-you to our mentors for your time, expertise, and encouragement—and to our incredible students for inspiring us with your ideas and determination. You reminded us that innovation, empathy, and action can begin at any age.

We also extend our gratitude to all the social issue partner organizations for their participation and meaningful exchanges, which helped make students' ideas more grounded, practical, and insightful.

Bridge AI
Hong Kong PHAB Association
Mind HK
The Jade Club

We look forward to see you all our newly introduced Deep-dive Day in Mar, where students will take their ideas further with extended mentoring and hands-on support. We can’t wait to see how your thinking continues to evolve!