FBL Day 2026: Student ‘Business Seeds’ Sprout into Reality at USJ
FBL Day 2026: Student ‘Business Seeds’ Sprout into Reality at USJ
29
Apr
29/04/2026
The FBL Day 2026 served as a ‘pre-incubator’ platform, successfully bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world commercial viability for the next generation of Macao’s entrepreneurs.
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Ilha Verde Campus was transformed into a vibrant corridor of innovation on 24 April as the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) hosted ‘FBL Day 2026: Where Innovative Ideas Converge’. The interactive event served as a ‘pre-incubator’ platform, successfully bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world commercial viability for the next generation of Macao’s entrepreneurs. Organised by a dedicated team of Year-4 Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students under the guidance of Prof. Florence Lei, Coordinator for the Sustainable Business Lab, the event welcomed over 100 attendees, including alumni, industry leaders, and investors.
In her welcoming speech, Prof. Jenny Phillips, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, shared significant updates regarding the Faculty’s growth and academic contributions. She highlighted the development of new, rigorously accredited programmes designed to meet the demands of tomorrow’s evolving economy. Furthermore, the Department of Law and Public Policy, led by Prof. Ansoumane Douty DIAKITÉ, together with Prof. Ângelo Rafael, has collaborated with the Rui Cunha Foundation to host talks on AI regulation and digital contracts. The Sustainable Business Lab, led by Prof. Florence Lei, has conducted research, talks, trainings, and industry roundtables (supported by Artyzen Grand Lapa). Additionally, a recruitment drive led by Prof. Alessandro Lampo, together with Prof. Michael Ha, and Prof. Anthony Lam, has successfully expanded USJ’s reach into Mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam, resulting in a significant increase in international applications.
[Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, Prof. Jenny Phillips, welcomes guests and shares the Faculty’s latest academic developments]
Professor Alexandre Lobo, USJ Vice-Rector for Academic Research and Innovation, and President of the Board of Directors of USJ Macau SPIN Incubator, delivered an opening speech emphasizing the critical importance of youth innovation. He described USJ as the ‘first soil’ for student ventures, providing the necessary nutrients — mentorship, infrastructure, and industry access — to transform nascent ideas into investable startups.
[Professor Alexandre Lobo, USJ Vice-Rector and President of the Board of Directors of Macau SPIN]
The highlight of the evening was the ‘Business Seed’ Pitch Competition held at the Don Bosco Auditorium. Ten student teams demonstrated sharp time management in a high-pressure ‘elevator pitch’ format, with 5 minutes to pitch and 1 minute for feedback from a distinguished panel of judges.
[The Pitch Competition was evaluated by an expert panel including Prof. Alexandre Lobo, Ms. Angela Kam, Mr. David Cheang, Mr. James Si Tou, Mr. Addy Chan, Mr. Benjamin Yue, and Mr. Terence Lee]
The judging panel comprised prominent figures from across Macao’s professional landscape, including Prof. Alexandre Lobo and Ms. Angela Kam (Manager of Macau SPIN), Mr. David Cheang (Founder of AHA Hong Kong and Macau Youth Incubation Center), Mr. James Si Tou (President of Macao Startup Club), Mr. Addy Chan (Chairman of AAUSJ), Mr. Benjamin Yue (Principal Advisor to the Executive Committee of CEM), and Mr. Terence Lee (President of Sustaincia.org).
[FBL Day 2026 was made possible by generous sponsors: Keng Lam Cultural Development (Ms. Grace Choi), AHA Hong Kong and Macau Youth Incubation Center (Mr. David Cheang), Zhong Biao International (Macau) Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (Mr. Xiaohong Chai), and Luyuaqua (Ms. Susu)]
The first prize was awarded to Team Ali for ‘The Bridge’, a 24/7 automated vending concept by Year-4 BBA student Alidoro Cabongo da Silva Chenda, offering authentic snacks from Portuguese-speaking countries at Macao International Airport.
Second prize went to Cinetable, an immersive hospitality concept by Year-3 student Janissa Jociele Andrade Ramos that synchronises fine dining with cinematic moments.
Third prize was awarded to ProofPass, a blockchain-powered ticketing platform developed by Year-1 students Tomás Machado dos Santos Miranda and Bráulio Danilo Van-Dúnem Cosme to eliminate scalping via NFTs.
[Winners — Team Ali (1st), Cinetable (2nd), and ProofPass (3rd)]
All three winning teams will be formally scouted by the Macau SPIN Incubator for further development. The success of FBL Day 2026 was made possible through the generous support and sponsorship of industry partners, including Keng Lam Cultural Development, AHA Hong Kong and Macau Youth Incubation Center, Zhong Biao International (Macau) Biotechnology Co. Ltd., and Luyuaqua, all of whom share a commitment to fostering the next generation of innovative leaders in Macao.
[The FBL Day 2026 Organizing Team: Bachelor of Business Administration Year-4 Students and Prof. Florence Lei]
About the Organizer: Faculty of Business and Law (FBL)
As one of the pioneers offering an Entrepreneurship stream in a Bachelor of Business Administration programme, the Faculty of Business and Law focuses on innovation and social responsibility. The Faculty has been training young entrepreneurs in starting their own business, or as corporate entrepreneurs promoting new initiatives in large organisations. The Faculty’s programmes are designed for whole person development, training leaders not only in their business skills but also in their social and humanistic values. The Faculty’s vision is that students join society to apply their leadership capacity in creating social changes, as well as offering solutions to improve people’s lives through innovative ventures and social enterprises. The Faculty adopts an international style of teaching through various methods including problem-solving, case studies, project-based learning, to name a few. The Faculty aims to offer a unique experience to our students where internationalisation meets local tradition. The Faculty does this through a faculty of multiple nationalities, students from different parts of the worlds, a mixture of global and local business case studies, and opportunities to visit different organisations in Macao and other nearby Chinese cities.
About the Supporting Units:
Macau Spin Incubator
Macau Spin Incubator (Macau Spin) is an incubator center established by the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), collaborating with the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL), BN Lawyers and Keng Lam (Hengqin), which is designed to serve as a dynamic platform for startups from Portuguese Speaking Countries to incubate in Macau and be bridged to incubators in the Greater Bay Area and vice-versa. The strategy of Macau Spin lies in developing a network of strategic partners which are incubators, potential investors, mentors, and experts in and of the Portuguese Speaking Countries and Greater Bay Area markets. This allows Macau Spin to contribute to the positioning of Macau within the Greater Bay Area as a platform for the Portuguese Speaking Countries, as well as exploiting the strength of USJ in its connection and knowledge of the Portuguese Speaking Countries. Macau Spin provides office space, consultancy, mentorship, networking events, field trips, and business pairing opportunities for its members (startups at Macau Spin). As a project under the USJ-FBL, the services provided by Macau Spin creates synergy with the faculty projects, which can effectively maximize the benefits of the projects and minimize human resources. Before investment in construction, the first phase of the project is to provide the services as stated without the office space; hence, providing a virtual office or temporary office on the campus of Ilha Verde should members need a physical space.
Macao Startup Club
The Macao Startup Club was founded with one simple mission: to help dreamers turn their ideas into reality. Created by a group of young entrepreneurs in Macao, the Club believes that the Asia-Pacific region has the potential to become a global hub for innovation, talent, and investment. The Club understands the challenges involved in starting something new, which is why they are committed to guiding startups and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout their journey. From brainstorming ideas to launching in the market, the Club offers connections, mentorship, and support at every step of the way.
About the Sponsors:
Keng Lam Cultural Development
Zhuhai Hengqin Keng Lam Cultural Development Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive, innovative cultural enterprise covering the entire industry chain. The company’s core competencies include the planning, design, curation, educational technology integration, and industry-academic collaboration for museums, exhibition halls, and cultural tourism sites. Keng Lam is dedicated to cultural heritage protection, the development of cultural and creative products, international cultural exchange, and the research, application, and management of digital media technologies across various integrated business sectors.
AHA Hong Kong and Macau Youth Incubation Center
The AHA Hong Kong and Macau Youth Incubation Center is strategically positioned to serve individual entrepreneurs, startups, and startup teams through a conceptual framework defined by ‘differentiation, diversity, and engagement.’ Built around the central themes of Arts, Happiness, and Adventure (AHA), the center functions as a premier innovation and entrepreneurship hub and a true birthplace of dreams for youth across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau region. Spanning from the fifth to the ninth floors, each level features a distinct thematic focus and specialized facilities, including a Global F&B Brand Incubation Center with private chef instructional kitchens and live-streaming studios on the fifth floor, and a Cultural Exchange Base on the sixth floor equipped with recording, filming, dance, and broadcasting studios. The seventh floor serves as a service center housing the AHA CAFE, a gymnasium, and art exhibition galleries, while the eighth and ninth floors provide professional business office areas featuring both shared and independent workspaces. Ultimately, the center operates as a comprehensive industrial incubation base dedicated to empowering the next generation of founders by providing a unique ecosystem where creativity and business converge.
Zhong Biao International (Macau) Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
The business scope of Zhong Biao International (Macau) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is divided into licensed and general categories. Under Licensed Items, the company is authorized to engage in food operations as well as the import and export of both goods and technology. It is important to note that any projects requiring legal approval must be sanctioned by the relevant departments before operations begin, and the specific scope is governed by official approval documents or permits. Regarding General Items, the company provides a wide array of technical services, including development, consultation, exchange, transfer, and promotion. Their activities further extend to intelligent agricultural management, conference and exhibition services, marketing planning, and supply chain management services. Additionally, they handle internet sales (excluding goods that require specific licenses), the acquisition of primary agricultural products, and the wholesale and retail of edible agricultural products. Aside from the aforementioned licensed projects, the company is permitted to independently conduct business activities in accordance with its business license.
Luyuaqua
Zhuhai Luyuaqua Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Luyuaqua Limited) is a Pre-IPO technology firm and a national leader in the field of aquaculture technology, driven by continuous innovation and breakthroughs. The company specializes in the research and development of industrial Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology, equipment manufacturing, and large-scale commercial farming operations. Dedicated to developing world-class aquatic farming technologies and equipment, Luyuaqua provides comprehensive RAS solutions with the goal of becoming China’s foremost leader in industrial aquaculture. Its production bases are strategically located across Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Foshan, Dongguan, and Hubei.
