8 Sept through to 16 Nov is what we refer to as the Semi-Finals stage/period. During this period, all the 30 selected teams will undergo mentorship to prepare their pitch, work on a prototype, get beta users.
Basically, when teams actually pitch in Nov in Beijing, we want to see a MVP (minimum viable product) and actual user feedback.
Last year, we saw a gap in terms of teams who have done competitions like this before vs. teams who just got started like, now. The former would have more things in place and have an edge. And last year, we only had 6 weeks mentorship period which did not help to narrow the gap.
This year, we believe a 2-month period gives time for teams to catch up, and level the playing field.
So, in a nutshell -
Now til 30 Aug - teams are expected to produce a good business proposal (and guidance is provided by us - whether through the Online Pathway or Weekend Bootcamps). More precisely, if you are going through Online Pathway, you should be working on your project all along from July to August, at your own pace, following our online tutorials. If you join the Weekend Bootcamps, then it's kinda like a cram 56 hour hackathon where you get it done.
From 8 Sept til 16 Nov - teams then move on to getting users on board, and building / enhancing their MVP, with the advice and consultation of seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals.