About the opportunity
The 2026 Shenzhen International FinTech Competition (FinTechathon) – International Track is hosted by Tsinghua University’s PBC School of Finance alongside WeBank under the theme ‘AI as a Financial Participant.’ The competition provides an international stage for students to showcase technical potential, exchange knowledge in AI-driven financial innovations solving real-world challenges, and explore career opportunities in global fintech. Finalists travel to Shenzhen, China, to visit WeBank headquarters and pitch their solutions in person at the Grand Final.
Funding and benefits
- No registration fees (100% free participation)
- Total prize pool of RMB 250,000 for the International Track, including First Prize (RMB 100,000), Second Prize (RMB 80,000), Third Prize (RMB 50,000), Best Innovation Award (RMB 20,000), and multiple Excellence Awards
- Round-trip international airfare and accommodation fully covered and arranged by the organizers for invited finalist team members
- Fast-track interview access to WeBank for outstanding teams
- On-site visit to WeBank Headquarters in Shenzhen, China
Who can apply?
- Enrolled full-time as an undergraduate, master's, or Ph.D. student at an overseas university or research institution outside Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Chinese Taipei
- Teams must consist of 2 to 5 students (cross-year, cross-major, cross-university, and cross-border collaborations are permitted)
- At least 60% of team members must hold non-Chinese nationality
- Each participant may join only one team across competition tracks
- Submissions, documentation, presentations, and reviews must be conducted in English
Required documents
- Completed official registration form
- Passport biographical page copy for each team member
- Full competition submission deliverables addressing the selected problem track
When to apply
- Registration and submission deadline: October 20, 2026, at 23:59 (Beijing Time, UTC+8)
- Online review window: October 20 – 31, 2026
- Finalist announcement: October 31, 2026
- Shenzhen arrival and WeBank HQ visit: November 20, 2026
- Grand Final and Awards Ceremony in Shenzhen: November 21 – 23, 2026
How to apply
- Assemble an eligible team of 2 to 5 students adhering to the nationality and overseas enrollment criteria
- Select one of the six project topics: Personal Finance Assistant, Wealth Advisory Agent, Cross-border & Student Finance Assistant, Insurance Assistant, SME Finance Copilot, or Agent Wallet
- Download the registration form and detailed problem guidelines from the official competition links
- Email the completed registration form and all members' passport bio pages to WANG Yiran (wangyr@pbcsf.tsinghua.edu.cn) to secure team slot allocation
- Email the complete project deliverables in English to wangyr@pbcsf.tsinghua.edu.cn before the October 20, 2026 deadline
Additional information
- The competition topic 'Agent Wallet' (Autonomous On-chain Wallet) includes an optional 0–5 point challenge bonus
- Finalists must be available to travel to Shenzhen, China, from November 20 to 23, 2026, to participate in the on-site Grand Final
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Undergraduate and graduate students specializing in computer science, artificial intelligence, finance, or fintech who enjoy solving practical banking use cases
- Multinational student teams with complementary skills across software development, AI agent modeling, and financial product design
- Students aiming to gain direct visibility with digital banking leaders and fast-track their careers toward WeBank
What should you think carefully about?
- The timeline between registration opening and final submission is exceptionally short, requiring immediate project execution
- At least 60% of the team must hold non-Chinese passports, and all members must be enrolled in institutions outside the Greater China region
- Finalist teams must be prepared to travel internationally to Shenzhen on short notice in late November 2026
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This hackathon is well-suited for students seeking short-term international exposure, portfolio-worthy applied AI projects, or immediate recruiting entry points into top Asian financial technology firms. Winning teams secure meaningful cash prizes alongside sponsored travel and valuable corporate networking.
Our take
Strongly recommended for university students and doctoral researchers outside Greater China who have hands-on AI prototyping skills and want to test real-world fintech ideas with all travel expenses covered for finalists. Less suitable for solo developers or teams unable to meet the nationality and overseas enrollment criteria.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verified
