The Rural Innovation Challenge provides students the opportunity to come up with a venture, innovation, or solution targeted at rural communities with the goal of benefitting the community. These benefits could include improving quality of life, strengthening the local economy through job and/or business creation, or attracting more people to the community. Students at all levels of experience are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this valuable learning experience (as part of a team or request team assignment)!

The Rural Innovation Challenge is generously sponsored by Byron (AB'81, MBA'82, University Trustee) and Tina Trott.

The prestigious ABI Corporate Restructuring Competition provides students from leading schools an opportunity to solve a hypothetical realistic business case of a distressed company before an audience of experts in the turnaround, crisis management, and restructuring industries. Judges this year include experts from Alvarez & Marsal, Guggenheim, Jefferies, B Riley, Hilco/Getzler, and more. Students participate in the competition in teams of 4, and prize money is awarded to winning teams by the ABI Endowment Fund. The top three teams receive prize money; 1st place receives $7,000, 2nd place receives $4,000 and 3rd place receives $3,000. On Thursday, November 13, there will be a cocktail party in NYC where students can meet many professionals in the restructuring industry and local members of the ABI. The competition is the entire day of Friday, November 14 in NYC.

The Fixed Income Investment Competition offers students a unique opportunity to delve into the world of fixed income investing by developing a comprehensive investment recommendation. Teams of three to four students will conduct in-depth analyses and present a fixed income strategy, showcasing their proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Participants will also demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate complex financial concepts. This competition serves as an excellent platform for students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, receive constructive feedback from industry professionals, and enhance their understanding of the fixed income sector. Students at all levels of experience are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this valuable learning experience (as part of a team or request team assignment)!

Working in teams, students take the role of VCs and hear pitches from real startups. You will assess the investment opportunities and pitch an investment strategy to a panel of judges who are practicing venture capitalists. The winner of the UChicago College event will advance to the February regional event at Columbia University and compete for a chance to participate in the global final in April with a $5,000 prize! Co-hosted by Midway Ventures, this day-long competition is an incredible hands-on opportunity for students interested in VC!

The CNVC is the dedicated track of the Polsky Center’s nationally ranked New Venture Challenge program. It supports UChicago students who are interested in launching a startup. Teams receive training to develop and pitch their business ideas during the Winter quarter. Startup investors and successful founders coach and evaluate each startup, and winners receive seed funding to support their venture. Students at all levels of experience are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this valuable learning experience!

The UChicago Sports Business Competition is your chance to step into the world of sports management, marketing, and analytics. This competition is designed for students who are eager to explore careers in the sports industry through real-world challenges, networking opportunities, and team-based problem-solving. Whether you're a business major, a sports enthusiast, or someone looking to break into a dynamic and competitive field, this event is for you. Students will collaborate with peers to propose a strategy to take U.S. sports international! Winners of the competition will have a chance to attend the final round from March 16-17 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Students at all levels of experience are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this valuable learning experience (as part of a team or request team assignment)!

The Distressed Bond Investment Pitch Competition gives students the opportunity to step directly into the world of credit investing by evaluating a single distressed bond and presenting a targeted investment recommendation to a panel of industry experts. Unlike full-company restructuring case competitions, this challenge is focused on security‑level analysis where participants will assess one bond’s positioning within the capital structure, evaluate downside protection, and articulate a concise thesis supported by valuation and recovery work. The first place team will win a cash prize of $500. This competition is open to members of the Restructuring Finance Program, but if you are especially interested in participating, please reach out to Fatima Chughtai at fchughtai@uchicago.edu.

The UChicago Trading Competition is the nation’s premier algorithmic trading competition. The competition features case studies designed to challenge participants in multiple aspects and themes of trading. Participants are asked to develop algorithms to make automated trading decisions, and will have their technical programming skills, financial acumen, and ability to adjust based on algorithm performance tested. The competition is supported by the leading companies in algorithmic trading.

The Digital Assets Trading Competition is a great opportunity for students to gain practical experience in the digital assets and crypto currency space. Participants will create a mock digital asset portfolio and run simulation activities focused on maximizing returns through cross-exchange arbitrage (capitalizing on price discrepancies for the same asset across different exchanges). Senior executives from Brevan Howard will join for lunch and networking with competitors.

Based on portfolio performance, the top three participants will receive cash prizes!

1st place receives $2,500

2nd place receives $1,500

3rd place receives $500

Interested students should register here by Friday, March 27.

The UChicago Stock Pitch Competition is an opportunity for you to explore public equities investing by constructing a detailed analysis of an investment recommendation. Teams of 3-4 UChicago undergraduate students will analyze and present a stock investment opportunity, demonstrating skills in research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and ability to effectively communicate their findings. This is a great chance for students to gain practical finance experience and receive feedback from industry experts on their application of finance knowledge. Participants will benefit from preparation workshops, mentorship, and office-hour coaching resources. Students of all experience levels are encouraged to apply (as part of a team or request team assignment)!