01
First-round submission
Submit the team, user scenario, and accessible prototype by 23:59 Beijing time
Spotlight Shenzhen 2026
NEXT IS NOT GIVEN.
2026 / SELECTION MANDATE
We are not looking for another application with a model attached. We are looking for AI-native products with the ambition to create a category, rewrite interaction, and reach a global market.
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."— Alan Kay
TIMELINE / KEY DATES
First-round applications close Sunday, Sep 13 at 23:59 Beijing time (UTC+8). Online review runs Sep 14–18. Selected teams are announced Sep 21, when remote preparation begins. The Shenzhen sprint is Oct 14–15, followed by the GOSIM showcase on Oct 16–17.
Submit the team, user scenario, and accessible prototype by 23:59 Beijing time
Reviewers test prototypes and assess user value, the Agent’s role, and current completion
Results are announced Sep 21; teams then confirm build, travel, and demo plans
Build on Oct 14–15 and demo live at GOSIM Shenzhen on Oct 16–17
02 / PRODUCT FORM
Hardware, software, and cross-device systems are all eligible. What matters is a distinct system thesis, an Agent that is essential rather than ornamental, and a product experience mature enough to prove the thesis.
Design the form, interaction, and device itself using custom structures, 3D printing, or laser cutting
Rework the capabilities or form of a phone, smartwatch, robot, or another existing device
When no new hardware is needed, use an app, web or desktop interface, or cross-device service
The Spotlight entry standard
Redefine a product boundary instead of optimizing a feature
Remove the Agent and the central value no longer exists
Hardware, software, models, and interaction express one conviction
Address an important problem with a market that can scale
03 / ONLINE SUBMISSION
We do not select concepts from concept copy. An application must state the product thesis, market, and defining experience—and use an interactive prototype to prove the team can turn judgment into a product.
What category will you establish, and why must it exist now?
How the Agent fundamentally changes product capability and interaction
A real device, application, website, or high-fidelity interactive prototype
Show the experience, technical credibility, and product character
The engineering and market path from this build to a product at scale
04 / FORMAT
Spotlight is not an idea contest. It is an acceleration path from product conviction to public release. The standard rises at every stage until only work that can be experienced and verified remains.
Submit an interactive prototype, short video, and build plan
Finish a working product with software, hardware, and mentor support
Conference exposure, promotion, and incubation opportunities
05 / SHENZHEN SPRINT
Selected teams join an approximately two-day build and polish sprint before the conference. Complete products can improve their experience; teams missing software, a device form, or product storytelling receive targeted support.
Up to US$100 equivalent reimbursement per selected project
Model credits, development tools, and software-factory support
Teaching assistants, engineers, and on-site help
3D printing, basic structural parts, and assembly space
A Shenzhen office or designated collaboration venue
Product story, demo flow, and presentation polish
Prototype support may cover necessary software, device integration, and fabrication costs, reimbursed against actual spending.
06 / JUDGING
60% asks whether the product has an independent, important, and scalable category value. 40% tests whether the team has delivered that conviction as a credible, stable, working system.
07 / OUTCOMES & OPEN SOURCE
Reasonable exemptions may be requested for third-party commercial code, hardware designs, or personal data. Strong projects may receive GOSIM promotion, media exposure, and further incubation support.
08 / FAQ
Hardware is not required, but it is strongly encouraged. Designing a new hardware form or adapting an existing device can explore Agent-native interaction more fully; software-only projects remain eligible when software is the right medium for the core experience.
The core experience only needs to be clear and verifiable. A website, Figma flow, app, simulator, or device demo can all be a starting point.
Yes. Projects with strong design and a clear core experience may receive software-factory, TA, and engineering support on site, while remaining responsible for the result.
First-round applications close Sunday, Sep 13, 2026 at 23:59 Beijing time (UTC+8). Selected teams are announced Sep 21.
READY TO BUILD THE NEXT INTERFACE?
Submit your category thesis, system prototype, and first-release plan for Spotlight Shenzhen 2026.
Allow 10–15 minutes; submissions are accepted in English or Chinese