The Global Impact Startup Challenge (GISC) is a one-week programme that brings together students from across the region for an immersive entrepreneurship bootcamp. Participants will form teams, develop and validate business ideas, design prototypes, and pitch to industry judges. This programme provides a unique platform to collaborate with international peers, engage with Singapore’s thriving startup ecosystem, and gain insights from industry experts.

Whether you're looking to build a startup, expand your network, or explore regional opportunities, this is the perfect launchpad for your entrepreneurial journey.

The theme for this year is: Care Economy: Age-Inclusive Solutions

Highlights

Build a Global Network
Gain Practical Insights into Startup Ecosystems
Develop Entrepreneurial & Pitching Skills with Industry Mentors
Earn a Certificate of Participation

Programme Fees

International Students: SGD$850 (inclusive of 9% GST)
Local Students: 196.20 SGD (Inclusive of 9% GST)

Programme Dates

Pre-Programme Session: 27 April 2026 (7pm - 10pm SGT)
Programme Dates: 10-16 May 2026 (Full Day)

Programme Timeline

Day	Agenda
0	Pre-Programme Briefing: 7pm - 10pm SGT Meet fellow participants, instructors and staff Brief intro to Lean Startup Possible problem statements / 1-min pitch brief
1	Official Opening Connection Activity + Team Formation Welcome Dinner
2	Introduction to Javelin Board Customer + Problem Hypothesis Designing Experiments GOOB
3	Pivot & Persevere Value Proposition Canvas (VPC) + Solution Testing + Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Study Visit 1 GOOB Mentoring
4	Building a Pitch Deck Study Visit 2 GOOB Mentoring
5	Pitch deck preparation Pitch Rehearsal
6	Pitch deck preparation Pitch Rehearsal
7	Demo Day

Registrations will open Q4 2025, keep a look out!

Trainer Profile

Dr Kelvin Tan

Head of Programme, Minor in Applied Ageing Studies
Senior Lecturer, Master/PhD in Gerontology Programmes

Impact Startup Challenge - Featured Articles

Finding Humility Through Business

For Kishanraj S/O Selvaraj, a full-time Bachelor of Social Work student, he never imagined himself in a startup bootcamp. But through the Gerontology edition of the Impact Startup Challenge in Taiwan, he discovered that entrepreneurship and social work share the same foundation: listening, testing, and co-creating solutions with people.

More Than a Startup Pitch Challenge

For Ng Wei Xuan, a full-time Business Analytics student, the question of how many of us are truly equipped to spot opportunities and create real value came to life when his classroom extended to the streets of Hechuan, Chongqing. His team’s startup idea—a medical escort service—couldn’t stay abstract.

Not a Startup Person?

For Germaine Tan, a full-time Psychology student, caring about ageing and healthcare is simply second nature. Through the Global Impact Startup Challenge, she learned to see problems differently—mixing ideas from around the world and across disciplines—and exploring angles her textbooks never showed her.