Eligibility and rules
Who can enter, and what you agree to.
Clear rules, fair competition, one consistent journey. This page matches the official YES competition rules. If anything you read elsewhere disagrees with this page, this page is right.
Who can enter
Indonesian, 18 to 35, with something you want to build.
The criteria
- Indonesian citizen
- Aged 18–35 at the registration deadline
- Applying individually, or in a team of 2 to 5
- Committed to the required Academy and Challenge stages
What we look for
Genuine entrepreneurial interest, shown through one of the following:
- An existing business
- An early-stage venture
- A sufficiently developed business initiative
You do not need a registered company. You do need more than a passing thought.
Backgrounds that qualify
Students. Professionals. Business apprentices. Aspiring entrepreneurs. Startup founders and co-founders. Business owners. Freelancers and independent professionals. Social and creative entrepreneurs. Digital entrepreneurs.
Any stage, within the criteria above.
Any sector. YES runs an open category.
Technology · AI-enabled businesses · Food and beverage · Creative economy · Education · Health and wellness · Sustainability · Retail · E-commerce · Tourism · Professional services · Social enterprise · Consumer products · and any other commercially viable sector.
Technology or AI use is not a requirement. AI is treated as an enabling capability where it is relevant, not as a condition of entry.
Where you live
The UAE connection is required. It doesn't have to be yours.
This is the criterion most people get wrong, so it is worth being exact about.
Applying alone
You must reside in the UAE
One participant, one eligible UAE-based entrant. There is no individual route from outside the UAE.
Applying as a team
At least one of you must reside in the UAE
Teams are 2 to 5 members. At least one member must live in the UAE, and that member must be the Team Leader.
Everyone else on the team can be based in Indonesia, or anywhere else. If you live in Indonesia, this is your route in — find a UAE-based team member and enter together.
What the Team Leader does
The Team Leader is the official representative for all competition communications and requirements, and the primary point of contact with the organiser. Every announcement, deadline and request goes to them.
Your entry
Keep it simple, original and on time.
One entry
Each individual or team submits one business proposal. Not one each, and not several attempts under different names.
Official template
Your submission must follow the official YES Business Proposal Template, which is provided to you after registration.
Your own work
The proposal must be your own work, or your team's. You must be able to explain and defend all of it.
Accuracy
You are responsible for the accuracy of everything you submit, including numbers, claims and evidence.
Intellectual property and legality
You remain responsible for intellectual-property compliance and for the legality of what you are building.
Deadlines
Registration and submission requirements must be completed on time. Late is the same as absent.
Using AI
AI may support the work. Responsibility stays with you.
You may use AI for research, analysis, brainstorming, business planning, content development and pitch preparation. The Academy will teach you how. Six conditions apply throughout.
Validate
Check AI-generated information before you rely on it.
Understand
Be able to explain and defend everything you submit. Judges will ask.
Protect
Do not expose confidential or sensitive information to a tool.
Originality
Avoid plagiarism and intellectual-property infringement.
Disclose
Disclose material AI use where it is required of you.
Judgement
Use AI to strengthen your thinking, not to replace your judgement.
Stages
You advance by meeting each stage's requirements.
Registration establishes eligibility. The Academy strengthens the proposal. Judging determines advancement.
- Registration and eligibility screeningPass or fail
- YES AcademySix sessions
- Proposal submission and evaluationScored
- Semi-FinalPresent and defend
- Grand FinalFinal pitch
Participants are expected to take an active part in the Academy. Any specific attendance requirement for progressing is set out in the official participant guidelines.
Conduct
Professionalism, integrity, respect, fair competition.
What's expected
- Professionalism — meet commitments and communicate responsibly
- Integrity — provide truthful and accurate information
- Respect — toward participants, speakers, judges and organisers
- Fair competition — compete on the merits of your own work
Grounds for disqualification
- False or misleading information
- Failing to meet eligibility requirements
- Plagiarism or intellectual-property violations
- Manipulation of the judging process
- Serious misconduct
- Failure to meet material requirements or deadlines
By entering YES you agree to follow the official competition rules, requirements and deadlines. Eligibility determines who enters. Judging determines who advances and wins.