A-IBFC 2026 — Asia International Business & Finance Challenge

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 — a genuine international experience, not a webinar.

A genuinely worldwide field

Open to entrants from any country — not a regional contest. Compete alongside students from 50+ countries on the live 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

40-question qualifying exam, 60 minutes
Live team quiz-bowl at the finals
Open worldwide — not a regional contest
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.

40-question qualifying exam, 60 minutes
Live pitch final for qualifying teams
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.

The road to the finals

Four months. One exam. One stage.

01

Now – 1 September

Early-bird registration

Register your team or individual entry and lock in the $25 flat rate before it rises to $30 on 2 September.

02

Now – 15 October

Prepare

Free practice exams, glossary and Quizlet sets. Both tracks share the same exam format: 40 questions, 60 minutes.

03

17–18 October

Qualifying exam

Sit the timed online exam from your own school — 40 questions in 60 minutes, open to entrants worldwide.

04

29–30 October

Results & finalist notification

Qualifying teams and individuals are invited to the international finals in December.

05

4–6 December

International finals — Hong Kong

Live finals, judge panel feedback, and a joint awards ceremony with A-ISPC and Emerald Prize.

Entry & pricing

One flat rate. Lock it in before 1 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

$25$30

per team · early-bird rate

Save $5 before 1 Sep

40-question qualifying exam, 60 min
Live quiz-bowl final
Free practice exams & study sets
Certificate for every team member

Register a team

Entrepreneurship

Grades 10–12

$25$30

per team · early-bird rate

Save $5 before 1 Sep

40-question qualifying exam, 60 min
Live pitch final for qualifying teams
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 1 Sep

One week of live online lessons from leading experts
Individual university credential
Verifiable certificate for applications
Enter alongside any track, or on its own

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

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

Business & finance academic lead
Scores the Entrepreneurship pitch finals

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

HKUST — Computer Science · Dean’s List

IMO — 2× Silver
Zhautykov — Gold
Balkan MO — Bronze

Arman Bakytov

City University of Hong Kong — Computer & Data Engineering

Asian Physics Olympiad — Bronze
Kazakhstan Physics Team
EuPhO — Hon. Mention

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.

What does the qualifying exam look like?

Both tracks share the same format: 40 questions in one 60-minute sitting, taken online on 17–18 October. Results and finalist invitations follow on 29–30 October.

What do Portfolio Pathway students receive?

One week of live online lessons from leading experts, plus an individual, verifiable credential built to strengthen a university application — on top of everything in the team tracks.

Do we have to travel?

The qualifying exam on 17–18 October is online — sit it from your own school. Only those who qualify travel, to the international finals in Hong Kong, 4–6 December.

What does every participant get?

An official certificate. Within each country round, entrants are also recognized by score: the top 20% receive Gold, the next 30% Silver, and the remaining 50% Bronze medals. Finalists additionally earn distinction certificates 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 ($25 per team, all tracks) runs through 1 September; standard pricing ($30, all tracks) applies from 2 September.

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.

What is the refund policy?

Full refunds are available until 10 October 2026 — one week before the qualifying exam. After that date, registration fees are non-refundable, as exam logistics are committed based on entry counts. If A-IBFC 2026 is cancelled by the organisers, all fees are refunded in full.

Compete in business. Take the international stage.

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

A university-ready credential

Judged by real leaders

Beginner-friendly by design

An international stage

A genuinely worldwide field

Founding-cohort recognition

Pick the track that fits your students.

Financial Literacy

Entrepreneurship

Four months. One exam. One stage.

Early-bird registration

Prepare

Qualifying exam

Results & finalist notification

International finals — Hong Kong

One flat rate. Lock it in before 1 September.

Financial Literacy

Entrepreneurship

Portfolio Pathway

Judged by people who’ve actually done it.

Lead Judges

Berik Sabdenaliyev

Almat Zhailaubayev

Olympiad Mentor Panel

Fetullakh Sam

Arman Bakytov

Arseniy Samoilenko

What finalists take home.

Champion trophies

Official certificates

University credential

Judge feedback

Everything to prepare — included free

One teacher coordinates. Students compete.

Everything you need before you register.

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