The AEF Student Startup Grants was founded by HKUST alumnus Alvin Lam in 2016. He is the Managing Partner of T12M Ventures, an angel investor in small startups and an accelerator fund that acquires and grows small companies. Passionate about supporting students on their entrepreneurial journey, Alvin offers guidance in areas such as idea development, market analysis, accounting, legal matters, investor relationships, and much more. With your support, we can extend these resources to even more students, helping them turn their business ideas into reality.

The AEF Student Startup Grants were originally designed to provide seed funding for aspiring student entrepreneurs to start their businesses, and the scale of the Grants has expanded significantly over time. Now, the grants directly support the Entrepreneurship Training Program, offered by the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center, which equips students with the essential skills, knowledge, and resources they need to thrive in the dynamic world of startups. By channeling the funds into this training program, more student entrepreneurs can benefit from expert guidance, mentorship, and practical learning experiences. This fosters a vibrant culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the university community.

For inquiries, please contact the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center at ecfund@ust.hk, or 2358 6021.

The cumulative donations received from alumni are treated as the principal, which remains preserved in perpetuity, with only the income from investments utilized.  This ensures that AEF provides a consistent and sustainable source of funding to support top-priority initiatives that enrich students’ university life.

To make a direct donation, please use our online form. Your generous contribution is eligible for tax deductions. Alumni wishing to support HKUST with their United States-based assets can also enjoy tax benefits by donating through our non-profit partner Give2Asia. Please visit https://give2asia.org/hkust.