What is the 929 Challenge?
The 929 Challenge is a startup competition that builds bridges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Since 2021, it has connected entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions across the Greater Bay Area, Macau, and Lusophone markets.
The program is managed by the Association for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Macau — China and Portuguese Speaking Countries (AEIMCP) and co-organised annually by the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macau) and the Sino Lusophone Association for Sustainability, with financial support from the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) through the Industrial and Commercial Development Fund.

How it works:
Every year, startups and university teams from Portuguese-speaking countries, Macau, and the Greater Bay Area join a two-week Bootcamp to gain market insights, refine their pitches, and connect with mentors. The top 16 finalists travel to Macau for an intensive Soft Landing Program — visiting innovation hubs in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou — before pitching at the Finals to a panel of investors and industry experts.
The 929 Challenge operates across two categories: Startups (companies seeking cross-border expansion) and Universities (students and researchers developing entrepreneurial skills).

The 929 Summit:
Launched in 2025, the 929 Summit brings together founders, mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders for a day of keynotes, fireside chats, exhibition showcases, and one-to-one meetings — reinforcing Macau's role as a platform for East-West innovation cooperation.

Our Mission: • Disseminate knowledge about business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and Portuguese-speaking countries. • Develop networking and collaboration between entrepreneurship ecosystems worldwide. • Identify startups with potential to scale through Macau's platform between China and Lusophone markets.

Our mission: