Learn. Earn. Get Hired.
Solve real-world challenges from top companies, earn rewards for your ideas, and get discovered based on how you think—not just your resume.
WHAT IS THIS?
A New Way to Stand Out
Most students apply to jobs hoping to get noticed.
This flips that model.
Instead of submitting resumes into a black box, you can:
-
work on real challenges from companies
-
show how you think and solve problems
-
get recognized for your work!
This is experiential hiring!
Companies don’t just read about your skills—they see them in action.
GET NOTICED BY TOP BRANDS
What are case challenges?
THE BOUNTY MODEL
High-Quality Learning Experiences
WITH FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Some challenges include bounties—cash rewards for top submissions.
Typical Structure:
-
Top submission earns the largest reward
-
Additional top performers also receive payouts
Why Companies Offer Bounties:
-
to attract stronger participation
-
to get higher-quality ideas
-
to identify top talent
How You’ll Be Evaluated:
Submissions are evaluated based on:
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clarity of thinking
-
quality of analysis
-
practicality of recommendations
-
communication and structure
You don’t need to be perfect—you need to be thoughtful and clear.
WHY BOTHER?

LEARN
Work on real business challenges—not hypothetical assignments.
Build skills in:
strategy
marketing
product thinking
analytics
and more

EARN
Many challenges include bounties—cash rewards for top submissions.
Your work can literally pay off.

GET HIRED
Stand out to companies by showing how you think.
Top performers may:
get contacted directly
be considered for internships or roles
build real relationships with companies
HOW IT WORKS


3. Demonstrate your Capabilities by Uploading Your Deliverable(s)


4. LEARN, EARN, GET HIRED - Top performers get noticed, get rewarded, and get jobs/follow-on opportunities
Explore Example Open Innovation Challenges
Your Next Opportunity Isn’t an Application—It’s a Challenge
Start solving real problems and get recognized for your work.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the GENUNO case! This whole experience has been and I assume will continue to be very beneficial for myself in the coming future.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the GENUNO case! This whole experience has been and I assume will continue to be very beneficial for myself in the coming future.
Thank you and your team for the chance to participate in the case competition this Fall. It was a great experience and chance to practice our studies in a ‘real-life’ scenario.
Thank you and your team for the chance to participate in the case competition this Fall. It was a great experience and chance to practice our studies in a ‘real-life’ scenario.
It was a pleasure taking part in this evening and grateful for the experience. Awesome experience and would recommend to anyone! Thanks!
It was a pleasure taking part in this evening and grateful for the experience. Awesome experience and would recommend to anyone! Thanks!
I appreciate CapSource’s support in securing an exciting internship experience. Thank you once again! It was great for me to really learn and leveraged my skills. I am confident I will use the strategies that I’ve learned throughout my career.
I appreciate CapSource’s support in securing an exciting internship experience. Thank you once again! It was great for me to really learn and leveraged my skills. I am confident I will use the strategies that I’ve learned throughout my career.
My Spring 2021 Virtual Internship with the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville, Florida is going really well! I believe Diane and her team are impressed with our work so far.My fellow intern, Melanie, is truly a godsend to work with! She’s more of a presenter than I am, so I do most of the research, and she does most of the presenting. We’re a great duo!I will really be sad when this project is over. This has been great experience!
My Spring 2021 Virtual Internship with the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville, Florida is going really well! I believe Diane and her team are impressed with our work so far.My fellow intern, Melanie, is truly a godsend to work with! She’s more of a presenter than I am, so I do most of the research, and she does most of the presenting. We’re a great duo!I will really be sad when this project is over. This has been great experience!
The KiT Undergarments was my first consulting project I have worked on, which really opened my eyes to the consulting field. I was able to work as a team, yet also become a leader within that team. I had the ability to work with project mentors who taught me the different aspects needed to consult; from communicating with the client to the precise details that create a neat and organized presentation for the client. Over the months spent committing myself to the project, I began to realize that I had a passion for this field and wanted to use this new knowledge on further projects. When I had heard about consulting internship opportunities with CapSource, I knew that was something that would greatly benefit me, as it was another opportunity to gain more insight in this field. Being selected to consult for C Evans is an amazing opportunity, and I am excited to work with, and learn from, my new team.
The KiT Undergarments was my first consulting project I have worked on, which really opened my eyes to the consulting field. I was able to work as a team, yet also become a leader within that team. I had the ability to work with project mentors who taught me the different aspects needed to consult; from communicating with the client to the precise details that create a neat and organized presentation for the client. Over the months spent committing myself to the project, I began to realize that I had a passion for this field and wanted to use this new knowledge on further projects. When I had heard about consulting internship opportunities with CapSource, I knew that was something that would greatly benefit me, as it was another opportunity to gain more insight in this field. Being selected to consult for C Evans is an amazing opportunity, and I am excited to work with, and learn from, my new team.
I believe [this experience] will be useful. Google analytics is very popular so having first hand experience with it is very nice. Furthermore, the CRM data was very interesting to work with since it wasn’t quite as prepackaged as the google analytics data which I think is great experience to have for a job. Management was very good for the project. The timeline was well laid out and we were able to organize ourselves to get it done without much hassle.
I believe [this experience] will be useful. Google analytics is very popular so having first hand experience with it is very nice. Furthermore, the CRM data was very interesting to work with since it wasn’t quite as prepackaged as the google analytics data which I think is great experience to have for a job. Management was very good for the project. The timeline was well laid out and we were able to organize ourselves to get it done without much hassle.
This one credit internship will look great on my resume and provided me with technical skills relevant to my program of study. A big thanks to Dr. Stone from the Math department for working things out with CapStone.
This one credit internship will look great on my resume and provided me with technical skills relevant to my program of study. A big thanks to Dr. Stone from the Math department for working things out with CapStone.
This internship will be helpful for future job placement. We were exposed to
a variety of applications used to interpret data that are unlikely to appear within
the computer science curriculum… the preparation and presentation of our group
findings forced me to improve my MS Office skills which is always desirable in a prospective employee. I think the experience was very well managed. Our group always had clear expectations, goals, and deadlines. Lesly was very clear with what she wanted from us and provided ample resources to help us succeed. I sincerely believe this experience was positive for everyone, and appreciate the opportunity
to have been a part of it.
This internship will be helpful for future job placement. We were exposed to
a variety of applications used to interpret data that are unlikely to appear within
the computer science curriculum… the preparation and presentation of our group
findings forced me to improve my MS Office skills which is always desirable in a prospective employee. I think the experience was very well managed. Our group always had clear expectations, goals, and deadlines. Lesly was very clear with what she wanted from us and provided ample resources to help us succeed. I sincerely believe this experience was positive for everyone, and appreciate the opportunity
to have been a part of it.
Over the last month I had the opportunity to participate in the CapSource Education Fall 2020 Virtual Live Case Competition. My team (Federica Pala, Shannon Kelley & Richard Murlin) created a strategy for DoorDash to exp and into the college student market, and I am happy to share that we won 1st place in the competition among the graduate teams!
Thank you to the Capstone Team for organizing this competition, DoorDash for giving us an insight into their company and Tim Muth at Florida Tech College of Business who supported us throughout.
Over the last month I had the opportunity to participate in the CapSource Education Fall 2020 Virtual Live Case Competition. My team (Federica Pala, Shannon Kelley & Richard Murlin) created a strategy for DoorDash to exp and into the college student market, and I am happy to share that we won 1st place in the competition among the graduate teams!
Thank you to the Capstone Team for organizing this competition, DoorDash for giving us an insight into their company and Tim Muth at Florida Tech College of Business who supported us throughout.
My experience of participating in multiple experiential learning projects was gratifying in many ways. I developed career-related skills that I would not have been able to get elsewhere and had first-hand experience working with real companies. I think college students worldwide should take advantage of the opportunity to learn, develop their skills, and find purpose in their work through CapSource.
My experience of participating in multiple experiential learning projects was gratifying in many ways. I developed career-related skills that I would not have been able to get elsewhere and had first-hand experience working with real companies. I think college students worldwide should take advantage of the opportunity to learn, develop their skills, and find purpose in their work through CapSource.
We were given a goal and allowed to choose our own tools as well as the autonomy to decide on our approach! This was an awesome opportunity to apply what we’ve learned in a high-stakes, real-world situation with a real client. As a member of the winning Oregon Tech team, I was able to truly integrate with the Coinsource team throughout the case competition. We are surprised with a summer internship and eventually a full-time offer to work at Coinsource!
We were given a goal and allowed to choose our own tools as well as the autonomy to decide on our approach! This was an awesome opportunity to apply what we’ve learned in a high-stakes, real-world situation with a real client. As a member of the winning Oregon Tech team, I was able to truly integrate with the Coinsource team throughout the case competition. We are surprised with a summer internship and eventually a full-time offer to work at Coinsource!
From the very first meeting, it was ‘GO!’ The experience was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to participate in this type of experiential learning.
From the very first meeting, it was ‘GO!’ The experience was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to participate in this type of experiential learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CapSource?
CapSource is a platform where you can work on real-world challenges from companies.
Instead of hypothetical assignments, you’re solving actual problems businesses care about—and getting visibility for your work.
What is a “Case Challenge”?
A case challenge is a real problem posted by a company.
You:
- – analyze the situation
- – develop recommendations
- – submit your solution
Some challenges also include bounties (cash rewards).
Do I need to be part of a class to participate?
No.
You can:
- – work on cases independently
- – or as part of a course (if your professor assigns it)
How is this different from normal coursework?
Most assignments:
- – go to your professor
- – get graded
- – and disappear
CapSource challenges:
- – come from real companies
- – can earn you money
- – can get you noticed by employers
Can I actually earn money?
Yes.
Some challenges include bounties, where top submissions receive cash rewards.
How do bounties work?
Each challenge may have a total reward pool.
Typical structure:
- – Top submission gets the largest share
- – Additional top performers also receive rewards
You compete by submitting the strongest solution.
Can this lead to a job or internship?
Yes—many companies use this to identify talent early.
If your submission stands out, companies may:
- – reach out to you directly
- – invite you to interview
- – explore internship or project opportunities
How much time should I spend on a case?
It depends on the challenge.
Typical ranges:
- – Small bounties: ~5–15 hours
- – Larger bounties: ~15–50 hours
You decide how much effort to invest.
Do I work alone or in a team?
Most case challenges are individual, unless otherwise specified.
What should my submission include?
Each case will provide guidance, but generally:
- – clear problem understanding
- – structured analysis
- – thoughtful recommendations
- – supporting research
Do I need prior experience?
No.
What matters most is:
- – how you think
- – how you structure ideas
- – how clearly you communicate
How are submissions evaluated?
Submissions are evaluated based on:
- – clarity of thinking
- – quality of analysis
- – practicality of recommendations
We use:
- – structured rubrics
- – AI-assisted evaluation tools
- – and, in some cases, company review
Who decides the winners?
Typically, the sponsoring company decides the winners, with support from CapSource tools.
Is this fair?
Yes.
We are building systems to ensure:
- – structured evaluation
- – consistent criteria
- – transparent selection of top submissions
How do I receive my bounty?
If you’re selected as a winner:
- – you’ll be notified through the platform
- – CapSource will guide you through payment setup
How long does it take to get paid?
Typically within a few weeks after winners are finalized, depending on processing and documentation.
Do I need to fill out any forms?
Yes.
To receive payment, you may need to complete basic tax documentation (e.g., W-9 or equivalent), which we’ll guide you through.
Is this taxable income?
Yes. Bounty rewards are considered income and may be subject to taxes based on your country and situation.
Who owns my work?
By submitting a response, you agree that:
- – the company can review and use your ideas
However:
- – you still retain your ability to showcase your work (unless otherwise specified)
Can I use my submission in my portfolio?
Yes (in most cases).
These projects are great for:
- – resumes
- – portfolios
- – interviews
What’s the benefit beyond money?
CapSource helps you:
- – build real-world experience
- – stand out from other students
- – develop critical thinking skills
- – gain exposure to companies
Why are companies doing this?
Companies want to:
- – discover talent earlier
- – see how students think
- – get fresh ideas
This creates a unique opportunity for you to stand out.
How do I start?
- 1. Browse available challenges
- 2. Choose one that interests you
- 3. Submit your response
How do I increase my chances of winning?
- – go deeper than surface-level answers
- – be clear and structured
- – connect ideas to real business impact
- – show how you think, not just what you know











