Startup Academy: Admission Day & NextGen Hackathon

Startup Academy: Admission Day & NextGen Hackathon Hong Kong | Saturday, 24 January 2026 | 10:30–13:00 Immediately following the Future of Work × Education Some kids collect Pokémon cards. Some collect questions. This morning is for the question-collectors - and the parents who want to help them turn curiosity into something real. Startup Academy: Admission Day & NextGen Hackathon is a focused, in-person experience for children and teens ages 7–17 and their parents, designed as a key entry and selection pathway into Y [ Education ]’s Startup Academy and Kidpreneurship programs. Supported by IMPACTA [ Lab ], Rouge Ventures, MULANA and Garage Society - Y [ Education ] is launching a HK chapter of the STARTUP [ Academy ], and is kicking things off with an experience designed for families. While it takes place right after the Future of Work × Education panels, this session has its own registration and admission process and is curated specifically for families interested in joining STARTUP [ Academy ] What this session is about This experience builds directly on the ideas introduced during the Future of Work × Education panels — how young people learn today, how curiosity becomes capability, and how parents can act as coaches rather than directors. From there, families move into the NextGen Hackathon, a collaborative, intergenerational build experience where participants: Work on real-world challenges Form small, mixed-age teams Choose roles based on interests and strengths Build simple prototypes Share their thinking in a supportive, non-competitive format The emphasis is not on outcomes, technical skills, or prior experience. It is on how children and teens think, collaborate, experiment, and communicate, and how parents support that process. Why this format The Startup Academy is built on a few simple beliefs: Learning is something you do, not something you consume Young people grow fastest when trusted with real responsibility Parents are most effective as guides, not drivers Creativity and practicality belong together This Admission Day is designed to reflect those beliefs in action. Who should attend Curious children and teens (7–17) who enjoy building, drawing, designing, questioning, experimenting, or problem-solving Parents and caregivers seeking practical ways to support independence, resilience, and learning at home Families new to entrepreneurship as well as those with prior exposure Families interested in joining the Startup Academy through a hands-on, values-aligned process What participants will gain A shared language for talking about learning, effort, and progress Practical coaching tools parents can use immediately Hands-on experience turning everyday problems into ideas and prototypes Confidence in collaboration, communication, and creative thinking First-hand exposure to the Startup Academy’s learning culture Admission pathway Participation in this Admission Day and NextGen Hackathon forms part of the Startup Academy intake process. Observations from the session help inform invitations to upcoming online modules, in-person sessions, and curated site visits. What to Bring A curious kid + a collaborating adult Comfortable clothes Optional: a small object your child likes (can be a “show-and-tell” confidence booster during team forming) All building materials for prototyping will be provided. !!! Photo, Video & Participation Consent (Adults & Minors) By registering for and/or attending this in-person event (the “Event”), you acknowledge and agree to the following: Photography & Filming The Event will be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded as part of the overall experience. Documentation may include images, video, and audio capturing participants, interactions, activities, and presentations for educational, editorial, promotional, and archival purposes. By your presence at the Event, you grant Y [ Education ], its organizers, partners, sponsors, and authorized representatives the irrevocable right to photograph, film, record, and otherwise capture your likeness, image, and/or voice, and to use such materials across any media format or communication channel, worldwide and in perpetuity, for legitimate purposes aligned with the Event’s mission. Consent for Minors If you are registering a child under the age of 18 (the “Minor”) or attending the Event with a Minor, you confirm that you are the Minor’s parent or legal guardian, or that you have been duly authorized by the parent or legal guardian to provide consent on the Minor’s behalf. You hereby grant consent for the Minor’s likeness, image, and/or voice to be captured and used under the same terms described above. Waiver & Release (All Participants) You understand and agree that: No compensation will be provided for the use of any recordings. You waive any right to inspect or approve the final materials. You release and hold harmless the Event organizers, partners, sponsors, and their representatives from any claims, demands, or liabilities arising from the use of such recordings, including claims related to privacy, publicity, or portrayal. This release applies: to you personally, and to any Minor for whom you are authorized to provide consent, if applicable. Opt-Out Requests If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, you must notify the Event team in writing prior to the Event or inform staff upon arrival. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate such requests; however, complete exclusion from incidental or background capture cannot be guaranteed in a live event environment. Supervision of Minors Unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing by the organizers, parents or legal guardians remain fully responsible for the supervision, conduct, and well-being of any Minor attending the Event. Acknowledgment By registering for or attending the Event, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to this consent and release.