How selection works
Two review rounds, followed by a committee selection call.
October 5 to 9
Round one, initial review
The committee assesses your team, idea and progress from your pitch deck. For applications submitted through the current form, company and team names are visible from this first review.
October 10
Twenty finalists
The chair confirms twenty finalists using scores adjusted for differences in reviewer scoring.
October 12 to 16
Round two, full review
Committee members without conflicts review the finalists, with names and decks visible. They score each company, explain their ratings and nominate three champion picks.
October 19
The selection call
The committee confirms ten companies and five ranked reserves in a 90-minute selection call.
Your deck is confidential
Reviewers declare their investments, board roles and active diligence before reviewing. Conflicted members cannot read your application. Applying is not a fundraising process.
- Your deck is stored privately and is never on a public or guessable link.
- Your original deck is available from the first review to authorised committee members without a conflict.
- Every member accepts a confidentiality undertaking before any deck is reachable.
- Every time a deck is opened, we log who opened it and when.
- Decks are never shared with sponsors or partners.
- Decks are deleted 90 days after the summit unless you ask us to keep yours.
- You own everything in your deck. Nothing here transfers any right to it.
- If you choose AI suggestions, Claude processes your deck to suggest company details. You review and edit the results before submitting.
Key dates
September 7
Applications open
September 30, 23:59 Shanghai
Applications close. There are no late entries.
October 2
Applicants who do not meet the entry rules hear back, with the reason
October 20
Everyone hears back. Selected companies have 72 hours to accept.
October 26 to 27
The Lantern Summit, Shanghai. The Pitch Track runs on the main stage.
Founder questions
Is there a fee to apply, or to present?
No, to both.
Can we present remotely?
No. The Pitch Track is on the main stage in Shanghai, and at least one founder or C-level executive needs to be in the room.
What language do we pitch in?
English. The application form is available in English and Chinese, and your deck should be in English so that every committee member can read it.
What happens if we are not selected?
You hear back on October 20 either way. Where a committee member has flagged that they would like an introduction regardless of the outcome, we pass that on.
We might not get a China visa in time. What then?
Contact us about visa support. We can provide an invitation letter for your visa application.
Applications are open
Upload your deck with your name and email. Check the company details and permissions, then submit. One application per company, with no application fee.
Apply now