Hong Kong Startup Ideation Bootcamp

Unlocking the Next Great Hong Kong Founders

The Hong Kong Startup Ideation Bootcamp is an intensive 2-week program to help anyone in Hong Kong test their startup idea using AI tools and feedback from top entrepreneurs and investors.

4 live sessions
3 hours/week
Certificate upon completion

Who It's For

  • First-time founders and aspiring entrepreneurs considering launching a startup
  • Anyone with rough ideas that need feedback and guidance
  • Anyone ready to take the first steps of entrepreneurship but doesn't know where to start
  • Anyone interested in teaming up with other aspiring entrepreneurs

What you'll achieve

  • Create, improve, and validate startup ideas with experienced experts - and real customers!
  • Connect with potential co-founders, advisors and partners
  • De-risk the decision on whether or not to pursue your startup idea
  • Build a great elevator pitch to help you attract collaborators
  • Leverage the power of AI to move faster, and smarter

Bootcamp Instructors Learn from experienced FI entrepreneurs and operators.

Bootcamp Structure

A 2-week online bootcamp with 4 live sessions, practical exercises, and multiple networking opportunities.

Live Expert Sessions

Live Expert Sessions

  1. Mentor Guidance: 4 online sessions over 2 weeks with expert startup mentors, to provide guidance and feedback on your idea and progress
  2. Step-by-Step Process: Intensive, step-by-step process to brainstorm and validate startup ideas - and keep you accountable!
Learning Platform

Learning Platform

  1. AI Tools: AI tools, templates, and frameworks to help you move faster
  2. Structured Sprints: Experiential learning and structured, action-oriented sprints with embedded videos, templates, and resources
Mentorship & Community

Mentorship & Community

  1. Mentor Feedback: Pitch your idea to 10+ different mentors and collect feedback, advice and multiple points of view
  2. Networking: Networking and pitch events to help you meet potential co-founders, advisors and collaborators

Upcoming Cohorts

Choose a cohort
Hong Kong Startup Ideation Bootcamp Cohort 1 Jul 07, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026 Sessions @ 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM CDT

Bootcamp Cost

$349 $299 Early bird discount

Early bird discount ends on 2026-05-31

Hong Kong Startup Ideation Bootcamp Cohort 1 Schedule

The 2-week online bootcamp consists of 4 live sessions with startup experts, practical exercises, and multiple networking opportunities.

Kickoff & Ideation

Mon, Jul 06
Timing: 08:00 PM to 09:30 PM CDT
+ -
The bootcamp starts off with an opportunity to network and exchange ideas with other aspiring entrepreneurs. You will learn the bootcamp structure, set your short-term goals, and begin brainstorming and refining startup ideas.
Leverage FI's framework to set your validation plan
Perform initial market research
Define your problem statement and early adopter for outreach
Sharpen, expand, or replace your current idea

Customer Validation

Wed, Jul 08
Timing: 08:00 PM to 09:30 PM CDT
+ -
Learn the validation methods used by thousands of FI founders to separate real opportunities from clever ideas. Create your game plan for testing your concept in the real world using proven techniques, AI tools, and templates.
Run a validation sprint
Perform outreach and run customer interviews
Prepare your validation report to share with mentors
Iterate on your idea based on feedback

Startup Idea Feedback 1

Mon, Jul 13
Timing: 08:00 PM to 09:30 PM CDT
+ -
Pitch your startup idea to expert mentors from the FI network and get direct feedback. Walk away with a sharper idea and a stronger pitch.
Ask questions and receive real-time expert feedback
Receive direct feedback from mentors across industries and geographies
Identify the weakest link in your thinking before you go any further
Get clarity on your startup idea and pitch strategy

Startup Idea Feedback 2

Wed, Jul 15
Timing: 08:00 PM to 09:30 PM CDT
+ -
In this final session, you will get additional feedback and advice from expert mentors, share your insights on ideation and customer validation, and receive actionable guidance on the next steps to grow your startup.
Pitch your refined idea to a second panel of global mentors
Share your insights on ideation and customer validation
Walk away with a clear go/no-go decision on your concept, with actionable next steps

Bootcamp Alumni

Read what past bootcamp participants have to say

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Funding Companies

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Bootcamps and Accelerators, together

FI Core Accelerators bring you through the whole journey of launching a fundable business, while FI Bootcamps are hyper-focused on specific parts of the journey

Founder Institute Core Accelerator
All Founders Enrolled in FI Core get free access to one bootcamp, and 50% discounts thereafter
Bootcamp participants get priority admissions into FI Core programs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Hong Kong Startup Ideation Bootcamp FAQ

This bootcamp is for anyone in Hong Kong with an idea (or even just the itch to build something) who wants a structured way to test it before going all-in. It's ideal for aspiring founders, professionals navigating layoffs or career transitions, corporate intrapreneurs, researchers, and domain experts. You do not need a co-founder, a pitch deck, or even a finished idea to join. You just need to be serious about testing whether your idea could become a company.

No. The bootcamp is designed to sharpen, test, or even completely change your idea. Many participants come in with nothing more than a problem they care about. By the end, you will have a validated concept, or the clarity to know this one is not the one, which is just as valuable.

Yes. Many employers reimburse the bootcamp fee as part of professional development, innovation training, or entrepreneurship enablement programs. Upon request, we can provide an invoice and a short summary of the bootcamp for your employer's L&D or HR team.

Yes. You are exactly the type of person we built this for. The Midwest is going through significant economic shifts, and many of its future founders are people who are in transition right now. The bootcamp gives you a structured, low-risk way to explore whether your next chapter could be as a founder, with a direct pathway into the FI Core Accelerator if your idea holds up.

It is simple. Sign up with your name and email, and pay the entrance fee. You'll receive a welcome email with everything you need to know before Session 1.

Bootcamp FAQs

All FI bootcamps consist of (1) live feedback and training sessions with experts, (2) a comprehensive catalogue of self-serve videos and training materials, (3) powerful AI tools to help you make progress, and (4) a structured, step-by-step series of "sprints" to guide you through your learning, all delivered via our proprietary "FounderGen" online learning platform.

The FI Core program is a comprehensive 14 week program, followed by a series of advanced accelerators, to help pre-seed founders build a fundable, enduring business for the full lifecycle of their company. Alternatively, FI bootcamps are short, intense, focused educational programs around specific topics relevant to entrepreneurs. Bootcamps are designed to be both standalone AND complimentary to the FI Core program.

Yes - all bootcamp participants receive the video recording shortly after each bootcamp session.

Enrolled Founders are able to enroll in one bootcamp for free and additional bootcamps with a 50% discount. These bootcamps are designed to provide even more value, feedback, and connections to the founders in our accelerator programs worldwide.

Yes - but only participants that complete all of the bootcamp sprints will receive certificates. Simply attending the live sessions is not enough. All FI programs are intensive and designed to push you to make real progress, so you'll only get a certificate if you actually do the work!

Yes! The programs are meant to be complimentary. However, if you are going through FI Core you will be expected to complete all the sprints and attend all the sessions just like everyone else in your cohort, whether or not you are going through a bootcamp. So if the live bootcamp session conflicts with the live FI Core session, you should definitely attend the live FI Core session instead and watch the bootcamp video afterwards.

The bootcamps are virtual and can be attended online.

No, there is no equity component to the bootcamps.

Once the entrance fee is paid, participants are automatically enrolled in the bootcamp, and the fee is non-refundable. This policy is designed to encourage founders to take the leap and begin their startup journey. By making this commitment, participants overcome procrastination and take a crucial step toward building their business and achieving success. If you pay for the Core Program and also participate in a bootcamp, your Core Program refund (if applicable) will be reduced by the cost of the bootcamp.

Yes! You will be able to log in to your account on the FounderGen platform at any time in the future to access your work and all the resources provided throughout the bootcamp. What's more - your learning dashboard will even grow over time with all the new resources and AI tools that FI continues to release.

Please email any questions to bootcamps@founderinstitute.com

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