IACBE Live Case Competitions

 

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CapSource Technologies, Inc.

 

RULES & GUIDELINES

 

The purpose of the document is to communicate to all parties what they should expect from participants involved in IACBE CapSource Case Competitions.

 

CapSource Live Case Competition

Last Updated: February 2025

 

I. Introduction

The CapSource Live Case Competition is an immersive, real-world consulting experience where student teams collaborate to develop innovative solutions for an industry partner. Each competition features a unique industry partner and a real-world strategic challenge designed to provide students with hands-on experience in business problem-solving.

This competition is designed to:
✅ Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills
✅ Engage with industry professionals and executives
✅ Provide real-world experiential learning opportunities
✅ Offer potential career advancement through networking and prizes

Each competition has a detailed timeline outlining key dates, including registration deadlines, kickoff webinars, submission deadlines, presentation dates, and awards ceremonies. Participants must adhere to all deadlines outlined in the competition materials.

II. Competition Rules & Expectations

1. General Expectations

  • This is first and foremost an educational experience. Any value created for the industry partner is a byproduct of the student learning process.
  • All submissions must be original work created by the participating team.
  • Participants must maintain professionalism, integrity, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
  • The competition is conducted virtually unless otherwise specified.

2. Team Formation & Registration

  • Teams must consist of 2-4 students who are enrolled at the same institution. Teams may be composed of students from any academic level (undergraduate, graduate, or mixed) and may include participants from any field of study.

  • Each team member must register for the platform and program individually before the competition begins.

  • Institutions may submit multiple teams, but team members cannot be changed once the competition starts.

3. Communication Guidelines

To ensure fairness, all teams receive the same access to the Industry Partner and competition materials.

✅ Industry Partner Communication

  • Direct communication with the industry partner is prohibited outside of designated interactions, such as kickoff webinars, scheduled Q&A sessions, and office hours. Participants should utilize these opportunities for engagement and submit questions in advance when required.
  • If office hours are permitted, teams must schedule time through the provided system (e.g., Calendly).
  • Questions for the Industry Partner must be submitted through the official Q&A form and will be addressed at designated sessions.

🚨 Violation of this policy may result in disqualification.

✅ CapSource Support

  • For non-case-specific questions, participants should contact CapSource staff directly.
  • All inquiries should be directed to the official CapSource support contact or competition coordinator.

4. Required Surveys

To ensure program improvement and completion verification, all participants must complete three mandatory surveys:
📍 Pre-Kickoff Survey (before competition begins)
📍 Mid-Competition Temperature Check (during competition)
📍 Post-Competition Wrap-Up Survey (after final deliverables submission)

🚨Failure to complete all surveys may result in disqualification from prizes and recognition.

5. Code of Conduct & Sportsmanship

All participants are expected to:

  • Show respect for teammates, faculty, CapSource staff, judges, and industry partners.
  • Maintain professionalism in written, verbal, and digital communications.
  • Refrain from offensive language, taunting, or disruptive behavior.

🚨 Any violations may result in immediate disqualification at CapSource’s sole discretion.

III. Deliverables & Judging Criteria

1. Required Competition Deliverables

Each competition may require specific deliverables, which will be outlined in the competition materials. Common deliverables include:
📌 Executive Pre-Read Email (Concise summary of recommendations with supporting resources)
📌 Live Presentation (Typically 10-15 minutes + Q&A session with judges)

2. Submission Guidelines

  • All deliverables, including the executive pre-read email and any other required submissions, must be uploaded through the platform by the specified deadlines.
  • Late submissions will NOT be accepted.
  • All files must be in PDF format unless otherwise specified.
  • Teams should retain a copy of their work for reference.

3. Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges, which may include company executives, industry leaders, faculty members, and subject matter experts.

Typical judging categories include:
✅ Effectiveness – Is the proposed solution viable and relevant?
✅ Clarity – Are the recommendations well-articulated?
✅ Research & Support – Is the solution backed by credible data and analysis?
✅ Feasibility – Can the company realistically implement the recommendations?
✅ Creativity – Is the approach innovative?
✅ Professionalism – Is the submission polished and well-structured?
✅ Consistency – Do all deliverables align (memo, email, and presentation)?

Each competition will have specific rubrics tailored to the case challenge, which will be provided to teams upon registration.

IV. Prizes & Recognition

Prizes and awards vary by competition but may include:
🏆 Cash prizes for top-performing teams (amounts specified per event)
🏆 Internship or Full-Time Job Opportunities (at the discretion of the industry partner)
🏆 Certificates of Completion & Badges for LinkedIn (for all qualifying participants)
🏆 Honorable Mentions for Creativity & Innovation

All winners will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony, which may be hosted live and recorded for future viewing.

V. Intellectual Property & Confidentiality

📌 Ownership of Work:

  • All submissions and work products created during the competition are owned by the Industry Partner.
  • Participants may list their project experience on resumes and LinkedIn but may not disclose proprietary details.

📌 Confidentiality:

  • Participants agree to keep all case materials confidential and not share them outside the competition.
  • Unauthorized sharing of materials may result in disqualification.

VI. Agreement & Compliance

By registering for a CapSource competition, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to abide by:
✔️ CapSource Terms of Use
✔️ Competition Rules & Guidelines
✔️ Privacy Policy

Non-compliance with these policies may result in removal from the competition.

VII. Contact Information & Support

📩 CapSource Support – support@capsource.io
📞 Phone Support – (631) 729-0745
🌐 Website – www.capsource.io

🚀 Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your innovative solutions!