The 2026 Shenzhen International FinTech Competition (FinTechathon) – International Track is an exciting opportunity for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students to showcase their innovations in financial technology and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Tsinghua University’s PBC School of Finance in collaboration with WeBank, the competition invites international student teams to develop AI-powered solutions for real-world financial challenges.

Under the theme “AI as a Financial Participant,” the competition provides a global platform for students interested in fintech, artificial intelligence, financial innovation, and entrepreneurship. Eligible teams can participate free of charge and compete for a share of the RMB 250,000 international-track prize pool.

Eligibility Criteria

The competition is open to full-time students enrolled at universities and research institutions outside Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Chinese Taipei. Applicants from different academic years, disciplines, universities, and countries are encouraged to collaborate.

Each team must consist of 2–5 students, and at least 60% of its members must be non-Chinese nationals. Each participant may join only one team across the competition tracks. English is the official language for project submissions, presentations, and evaluations, so Chinese-language proficiency is not required for the international track.

Competition Topics

Participants must select one of the following six topics to develop their AI-driven financial technology solutions:

• Personal Finance Assistant: Smart budgeting and spending analysis.
• Wealth Advisory Agent: Investment information, risk profiling, and financial guidance.
• Cross-border & Student Finance Assistant: Financial solutions for international students and cross-border transactions.
• Insurance Assistant: Insurance information, coverage analysis, and claims support.
• SME Finance Copilot: Financial management, cash-flow analysis, and financing support for small businesses.
• Agent Wallet: Autonomous on-chain wallet solutions.

These challenges encourage participants to combine AI capabilities with practical financial applications.

Prizes and Benefits

The 2026 Shenzhen International FinTech Competition offers a total international-track prize pool of RMB 250,000. Awards include RMB 100,000 for the First Prize, RMB 80,000 for the Second Prize, RMB 50,000 for the Third Prize, and RMB 20,000 for the Best Innovation Award, alongside several Excellence Awards.

Invited finalist team members will receive organizer-covered round-trip international travel and accommodation for the final event. Outstanding teams will also have access to fast-track interview opportunities with WeBank, providing valuable exposure to potential career opportunities in the fintech industry.

Application Deadline and How to Apply

The registration and submission deadline is October 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8).

Interested students should review the official competition guidelines, form a team, select a topic, and prepare the required project materials in English. Applicants must download the official registration form, attach the passport biographical page of each team member, and email the completed documents to WANG Yiran at [email protected] to confirm team slot allocation. Full project deliverables must also be submitted by the deadline.

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