The WeStart Entrepreneurial Investment Conference is one of the key events of the Pujiang Innovation Forum, serving as an international platform that connects innovative projects with capital.

Running from Sept 21 to 22, the event aims to showcase the spirit of entrepreneurship, build a global investment network, and foster a favorable ecosystem for technological innovation.

Featuring one opening ceremony and main forum, two sub-forums, one thematic seminar, over 10 roadshows, and a 1,300-square-meter technology investment exhibition, this year's edition features a multi-tiered, high-efficiency investment and financing matchmaking platform centered on three core segments: a conference, a competition, and an exhibition.

The conference

The conference focuses on cutting-edge fields, providing a communication platform for venture investment. By collaborating with leading venture capital institutions and sci-tech innovation partners, it explores capital pathways for technological innovation and discusses the latest investment trends from multiple perspectives.

The exhibition

The exhibition integrates various resources to build a matchmaking platform for entrepreneurship and investment. Key display zones include the early-stage investment alliance zone, the sci-tech innovation ecosystem services zone, dedicated event areas, and entrepreneurship ecosystem exhibits, fostering interaction between startup projects and investment institutions.

The competition

The competition provides a global stage for sci-tech project pitches.

Since its launch in May, the WeStart TOP100 Competition has been calling for innovation entries focusing on bio-medicine, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and future industries. It has attracted 1,487 teams worldwide, with 71 teams from overseas, accounting for 5 percent of the total.

Preliminary rounds were held in domestic regions such as Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Shanghai, as well as international regions including the UK and Singapore, alongside various investment and financing matchmaking events.

The Shanghai division:

The Shanghai division gathered 50 high-quality projects to present a tech entrepreneurship feast combining innovation and commercial value. The National 863 Software Incubator Base (Shanghai) provided various sci-tech innovation services for these projects.

The Shenzhen division:

A total of 27 cutting-edge projects arrived at the Intel Greater Bay Area Innovation Center, delivering a vibrant showcase of entrepreneurship.

The Chengdu division:

Aligned with the 2025 World Games, the competition attracted 27 sci-tech innovation projects from Southwest China.

The Beijing division:

A total of 53 premium projects competed in Beijing, fostering a culture of passion, boldness, and innovation.

The Singapore division:

Making its debut in the Lion City, the TOP100 Competition, supported by XNode, welcomed 16 projects, showcasing the diverse vitality and international vision of Southeast Asia's startup ecosystem.

The London division:

Twenty-one outstanding sci-tech projects from across Europe, supported by Sinnobator UK, took part in the competition's European roadshow. Projects spanned cutting-edge fields such as life sciences, AI, semiconductors, and consumer innovation.

The 200 outstanding projects selected from the preliminary rounds will compete to select the final top 100 teams. The event will also host multiple dedicated sessions, including investment negotiation meetings and special roadshows.

Sources: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Science and Technology at "sh_stcsm", Shanghai Observer