First edition · Early-bird pricing ends in — — save $10 on every entry
IBA-IBFC 2026 Register
First Edition · 2026

Compete in business. Pitch in Hong Kong. Leave with a credential.

The Asia International Business & Finance Challenge brings ambitious students in Grades 7–12 together from 50+ countries. Qualify online, reach the international finals in Hong Kong or Bangkok, and earn a university-ready credential — judged by real finance leaders.

Register — early bird from $65 See the two tracks

Registration opens 1 July 2026 · Early-bird pricing through 30 September · Online qualifying round, finals in December.

50+ countries via the Hizmet school network
Judged by university CFOs & olympiad medalists
International finals: Hong Kong / Bangkok
A certificate for every participant
Why students enter

More than a contest. A credential, a stage, and a head start.

A-IBFC is built so a motivated beginner can start today and a finalist can walk away with something universities actually recognise.

A university-ready credential

Finalists and Portfolio Pathway entrants earn an official, verifiable certificate to strengthen any university application.

Judged by real leaders

University finance deans, a serving CFO, and award-winning scholars from HKUST and CityU review your work.

Beginner-friendly by design

No prior finance background needed. Free practice exams, study sets and games get first-timers competition-ready.

An international stage

Top teams compete live at the finals in Hong Kong or Bangkok — a genuine international experience, not a webinar.

A global field

Compete alongside students from 50+ countries and see where you stand on the live country leaderboard.

Founding-cohort recognition

This is Year One. The first names on the A-IBFC record are written in 2026 — a smaller field and a real shot at the finals.

Two tracks

Pick the track that fits your students.

Both run as a team event: an online qualifying round, then a live final. Choose by grade and ambition.

Team · Grades 7–9

Financial Literacy

Foundations of money, saving & smart decisions
  • 30-question online round, 45 minutes
  • Live team quiz-bowl final
  • Built on real ASEAN money scenarios
  • Ideal for confident first-time competitors

Best for: younger teams building the fundamentals every future professional needs.

Flagship Team · Grades 10–12

Entrepreneurship

Build the idea. Defend it on stage.
  • 20 MCQ + a 300-word business response
  • 8-minute live pitch to the judging panel
  • Scored on viability, not just theory
  • Direct feedback from a serving CFO & business dean

Best for: aspiring founders ready to pitch a real venture to real judges.

How it works

Three steps from sign-up to the finals stage.

01
July – October

Register & prepare

Sign up your team in minutes. Get instant access to practice exams, Quizlet sets and Kahoot games — all free.

02
November

Qualify online

Sit the timed qualifying round from your own school. Top teams in each track advance to the international finals.

03
December 4–6

Compete at the finals

Qualifying teams compete live in Hong Kong or Bangkok, with a joint awards ceremony to close the weekend.

Entry & pricing

Lock in early-bird pricing before 30 September.

One flat entry per team or individual. No hidden fees — every participant receives an official certificate.

Early-bird ends in —
Team entry

Financial Literacy

Grades 7–9
$65$75
per team · early-bird rate
Save $10 before 30 Sep
  • 30-question online qualifier
  • Live quiz-bowl final
  • Free practice exams & study sets
  • Certificate for every team member
Register a team
Most popular
Team entry

Entrepreneurship

Grades 10–12
$65$75
per team · early-bird rate
Save $10 before 30 Sep
  • MCQ + written business response
  • 8-minute live pitch final
  • Judge feedback from a serving CFO
  • Certificate for every team member
Register a team
Individual

Portfolio Pathway

All grades
$85$95
per student · early-bird rate
Save $10 before 30 Sep
  • Individual university credential
  • Verifiable certificate for applications
  • Enter alongside any track, or on its own
  • Designed to strengthen a student profile
Add Portfolio Pathway
Judging panel

Judged by people who’ve actually done it.

University finance leaders and award-winning young scholars from Hong Kong’s top institutions review every finalist — the same standard a real admissions officer or investor would hold them to.

First Edition · 2026Inaugural year

This is A-IBFC’s first year. The field is small, the panel is hands-on, and a strong qualifying submission has a realistic path to the international finals stage. Founding-cohort finalists are the names this competition is built around.

Lead Judges

Score the qualifying rounds & live finals
Berik Sabdenaliyev

Berik Sabdenaliyev

Dean, School of Social Sciences, Business & Law — SDU University

  • Business & finance academic lead
  • Scores the Entrepreneurship pitch finals
Almat Zhailaubayev

Almat Zhailaubayev

Vice President for Finance / CFO — North American University

  • Corporate finance & CFO leadership
  • Scores financial-literacy & business viability

Olympiad Mentor Panel

Young achievers from HKUST & CityU · technical review & student mentorship
Fetullakh Sam

Fetullakh Sam

HKUST — Computer Science · Dean’s List

  • IMO — 2× Silver
  • Zhautykov — Gold
  • Balkan MO — Bronze
Arman Bakytov

Arman Bakytov

City University of Hong Kong — Computer & Data Engineering

  • Asian Physics Olympiad — Bronze
  • Kazakhstan Physics Team
  • EuPhO — Hon. Mention
Arseniy Samoilenko

Arseniy Samoilenko

Former Kazakhstan National Physics Team

  • KZ Physics Olympiad — Gold
  • IJSO — Bronze
  • HK Physics Olympiad — 1st Runner-up
Recognition

What finalists take home.

Recognition that means something on a transcript, an application, and a wall.

Champion trophies

Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition awarded in each track at the live final.

Official certificates

Every participant receives a certificate; finalists receive distinction-level recognition.

University credential

The Portfolio Pathway credential is built to strengthen a real university application.

Judge feedback

Written feedback from the panel — rare, specific, and genuinely useful.

Everything to prepare — included free

Start practising right now — free, no account needed. Registered teams also get the teacher pack, Kahoot games and coordinator kit.

  • 3 full practice exams per track, with answer keys
  • Quizlet study sets for both tracks
  • Kahoot practice games for the classroom
  • Teacher resource pack (PDF)
  • “Question of the week”, Sept–Nov
  • Live country leaderboard
Open the free Practice Hub →
For teachers & schools

One teacher coordinates. Students compete.

Bring a single team or your whole school. The coordinator registers teams in bulk, receives the teacher pack and poster kit, and tracks the school on the country leaderboard. No finance background required to run it.

Become a school coordinator
Questions

Everything you need before you register.

Who can enter?

Any student in Grades 7–12, from any school, in any country. Financial Literacy is for Grades 7–9; Entrepreneurship for Grades 10–12; the Portfolio Pathway is open to all grades.

Do students need a finance background?

No. This is the first edition and it’s built to be beginner-friendly. Every registration includes free practice exams, study sets and games so a motivated first-timer can prepare from scratch.

Do we have to travel?

The qualifying round in November is online — teams sit it from their own school. Only teams that qualify attend the December finals in Hong Kong or Bangkok.

What does every participant get?

An official certificate. Finalists additionally earn distinction certificates, medals and trophies, plus written feedback from the judging panel.

How and when do we pay?

Registration opens 1 July 2026 and is paid securely online by card. Early-bird pricing ($65 per team / $85 Portfolio Pathway) runs through 30 September; standard pricing applies from 1 October.

Can one teacher register several teams?

Yes. A school coordinator can register multiple teams in bulk and manage them from one account. Email us to be set up as a coordinator.

Be one of the first names on the A-IBFC record.

Founding-cohort entries open 1 July 2026. Lock in early-bird pricing and give your students an international stage and a credential to show for it.

Register — early bird from $65 Talk to the team

Online qualifier in November · International finals 4–6 December · Hong Kong / Bangkok