The 23nd Business Startup Award

Purpose

In order to create a premium entrepreneur environment and shaping Taiwan into an entrepreneurship society, Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration,Ministry of Economic Affairs held the "EntrepreneurshipBusiness Award" Selection, to encourage start-up team to indulge in the development of entrepreneurship with premium business models, establishing a paradigm and enhancing start-up methodology and revitalizing the economy.

Application Requirements

Established after June 1, 2017 (inclusive), based on the establishment date approved by the Administration of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs (not the last approved change date), and meets the SME certification standards。
※The enterprise is a foreign company; all branches of the enterprise located in Taiwan may not participate

It must be a self-developed innovative product, technology, process or service (including technical service, knowledge service, business service), etc., and has been commercialized or mass-produced (used)。

Branches of foreign companies established in Taiwan are not allowed to participate in the election.

Revenue for the 2024 fiscal year may not be 0.If not in the aforementioned situation, Must provide verified relevant supporting documents regarding its main products and services, as well as the commercialization/mass production of the said products/services (Invoice, Business Contracts, Transaction Orders, etc.)

Technology Industry Group

Innovative Traditional Industry Group

Innovative Service Group

Participants can choose a group to register on their own. After the registration is completed, the group cannot be changed. Please refer to the application instructions for the industry classification of the three groups.

Number of Winners

In “Technology Industry Group,” Innovative Traditional Industry Group,” and “Innovative Service Group,” winning enterprises shall be elected based on the principle of 20 winning enterprises in total.

Prizes

Prepare the winner’s collection and hold a public award ceremony to issue a trophy and a certificate.

Application for Participation

Application for Participation : From 10:00, 1 April to 17:00, 29 May 2025.

Deadline for Supplementary Documents: Before 12:00 noon on June 9, 2025

Application Method: All applications and receipts online.

Assessment Indicators

Startup Background
(25%)

Background of Team Member
Assignment of Responsibility
Entrepreneurial Experience and Outstanding Achievements

Strategic Model
(35%)

Market Development and Development Plan
Competitor Analysis and Competitive Advantage
Medium- and Long-term Goals and Implementation Plans
Innovation, Uniqueness, and Core Competitiveness of Products or Services

Business Model
(30%)

Key Resources, Activities and Partners
Existing Proven (Operational) Results (Profitability Assessment)

Financial governance
(10%)

Financial Structure (Must include: revenue share, gross profit margin, net interest and description of operating results).
Financial Forecast for the Next Three Years (2024~2026)

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ((Extra Mark))

If the participating companies are in line with the national ESG policy direction of promoting sustainable industrial development or other key national policies, such as promoting gender mainstreaming, employment-friendly hiring of persons with physical and mental disabilities or senior citizens, use of electronic invoices, corporate ethics, hiring of additional employees, improving employee remuneration and benefits (including raising employee salaries), and promoting family-friendly workplace environment for work-life balance (including developing flexible work models), among others, they may submit their achievements and performance in the project proposal, with a maximum of 5 points to be granted.

Q1：

A1：
Link： (1)

Q2：

A2：

Q3：Does the Start-up Business Award elect outstanding individuals or outstanding enterprises?

A3：Outstanding enterprises. Therefore, the content of the plan shall focus on corporate operations, business strategies, and the future blueprints of enterprises instead of personnel experiences or processes of entrepreneurship.

Q4：My firm recorded poor operating status or received insignificant operating income due to investing initial funds into research and development; is there any winning opportunity for the firm?

A4：The Start-up Business Award elects enterprises with “innovation” and “future potentials,” any enterprise may have the opportunity to win due to its development potentials.

Q5：The scope of business of my firm is qualified for multiple groups; how do I choose the group?

A5：Choose the most favorable group according to the major business or innovative features of the enterprise, or determine the group based on the primary scope of business.

Q6：What is a certificate of commercialization or mass production? Does it require submitting the scanned invoices for the entire year?

A6：Must include at least one copy of each supporting documents such as invoices, business contracts, transaction orders of the main products/services, and merged into one file. Only a few scanned copies of invoices for proof are necessary; there’s no need to attach them all.

Q7：Where it is found that there are missing documents after the application has been “Submitted,” is it required to supplement the information?

A7：The working team will perform an information review after the end of the application. Any entity with insufficient information would be notified to provide such information within a prescribed period, while failing to do so would be deemed as renunciation.

Q8：I\'m not sure if my company meets the eligibility requirements for the competition？

A8：The eligibility requirements are twofold: (1) a valid business registration for profit and (2) establishment within the past 8 years (after June 1, 2017). The establishment date can be checked on the Ministry of Economic Affairs\\\' website at
https://findbiz.nat.gov.tw/fts/query/QueryBar/queryInit.do

Q9：My firm does not have the 401 financial statement since it adopts the “assessed taxation” system, so is my firm eligible for participation?

A9：Yes, please enclose the 405 statement from January to April for the current year or the internal account statement of the enterprise as the certificate of operating status.

Q10：How to apply for guidance regarding the application plan?

A10：Please log in as a member, click “Apply for Guidance” on the membership’s page, and enter the relevant information. A dedicated staf will contact you.

Q11：What to do when I forget my password?

A11：You may click “Forgot Password” on the member’s log-in page, enter the e-mail of the representative or the contact personnel, and the system will automatically send the new password to the e-mail address. After logging in, change your password at “Change Member’s Information.”

Q12：How to make changes after uploading the information?

A12：Upload the latest files directly to replace the old files and click to examine the file for confirmation.

Q13：Can I make changes after submitting the registration?

A13：No change is allowed. You may temporarily save the registration before submission; however, it may not be changed once it is submitted. Please ensure there is no error before submission.

Q14：Is there a specific revenue proportion requirement for the award?

A14：The evaluation criteria include financial planning (10%), which mainly considers the following two aspects: Financial structure, including revenue proportion, gross profit margin, net profit margin, and operational performance. Financial projections for the next three years (2025–2027). The judges will comprehensively assess the company\'s financial health and future growth potential, rather than using a single revenue proportion as the determining factor.