CaseCatalyst: Unlocking Potential, Solving Challenges, Creating Impact
Business Case Competition for High School Students
What is CaseCatalyst?
CaseCatalyst is an innovative platform founded by students from Stanford and UChicago, designed to give high school students a unique opportunity to tackle real-world challenges faced by startups. Over the course of four weeks, participants work on cases created in collaboration with our partner startups, competing to develop the best solutions. This hands-on experience provides students with invaluable insights into business and entrepreneurship.
Participants receive mentorship from top university students, including those from Stanford, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Harvard, and UPenn, as well as seasoned industry professionals and consultants from leading firms like Bain, McKinsey, and BCG. A key highlight of the competition is that the winners will not only receive recognition but also the chance to implement their solutions and intern with the startups, gaining real-world experience.
This virtual competition welcomes students from all over the world, creating a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative learning environment. CaseCatalyst is more than just a competition—it's a platform for shaping future business leaders equipped to thrive in a global economy.
Who is it for?
CaseCatalyst is designed for high school students from around the world who are eager to develop business and problem-solving skills. Participants can join individually or in teams of 3-4 members, and no prior experience is required—just a passion for learning and innovation.
How will participants benefit?
- Learn Business & Entrepreneurship Fundamentals: Through interactive workshops, students will learn essential business skills that will benefit them in both academic and professional settings.
- Mentorship: Work closely with mentors from top-tier universities and leading consulting firms, receiving expert guidance throughout the competition.
- Global Impact: This year's case is based on a healthtech startup in Rwanda, allowing students to contribute to real-world innovation in an emerging market.
- Skill Development: Build critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical, research, and presentation skills that are key to success in both higher education and the workforce.
- Exclusive Internship Opportunities: Winners will be able to implement their solutions through internships with the startup, gaining hands-on experience in a professional setting.
- Certificates & Recognition: All participants will receive certificates, and the winning team will be spotlighted in the media.
Logistics & Application Details
The 2024 CaseCatalyst competition launches on November 15, 2024. High school students can apply individually or as part of a team of 3-4. This year, participants will tackle a case from a fast-growing healthtech company in Rwanda.
Key Dates & Deadlines
DEADLINES AND PRICES
| Early Bird I / Early Bird II / Regular Registration | ||
| Deadline: October 6th 2024 | Deadline: October 20th 2024 | Deadline: November 10th 2024 |
| Price: $80 USD/Student | Price: $110 USD/Student | Price: $150 USD/Student |
EVENT FLOW
| PRE LAUNCH | LAUNCH DAY | CASE | PITCH | |||
| November 13 Individual Participants will receive their team assignments | November 16 All participants will have a welcome session with a representative from the startup. This will be followed by a session with a guest speaker from a top consulting firm e.g McKinsey. | November 16-30 Students can book up to two meetings with their assigned case coach who is a business student from a top university e.g Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley etc. | December 6 Top 5 teams will be announced as Finalists |
| All participants will receive a welcome packet | November 30 All deliverables to be submitted before 11:59pm PST | December 6-14 Finalists will have one week to prepare an additional pitch to present to founders | |
| November 15 Startup the case is based on will be revealed along with the Case | Teams will have two weeks to submit their solutions which will include a 2-page writeup, 1 slidedeck, and a 3-5 minute video presenting their solutions. | December 14 Finalists will present their pitches to a panel of judges that include the startup founders, mentors, and advisors | |
| Students will also receive access to resources and learning material that will help them solve the case | Winner will be announced |
Top five teams will have the opportunity to present their solutions to a panel of judges. Apply today using this link: https://bit.ly/casecatalyst2024.
How to Highlight CaseCatalyst in Your College Application
CaseCatalyst offers multiple ways to enhance your college application:
- Activity Section: List this competition as a major extracurricular activity, showcasing your teamwork, innovation, and business skills.
- Supplemental Materials: Students will submit a 2-page report, a 3-5 minute video, and a presentation as part of the competition. These can be included as supplemental materials in your application to highlight your work.
- Recommendation Letters: Finalist teams can request a recommendation letter from their mentor or case coach (consultants and top university students). Winning teams will also receive a recommendation letter from the startup where they interned.
- Professional Experience: If you win, you can list the internship experience as part of your professional background in your application.
- Essay Material: CaseCatalyst provides rich content for personal essays, especially for students interested in business, social impact, or global development.
Highlight your participation in a way that aligns with your personal story and goals for college. The flexibility of this competition allows you to emphasize the aspects most relevant to your journey.
