CaseForge 2025 – A Case Study Competition
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
CaseForge 2025 – A Case Study Competition: Stages and Timelines
Preliminary Case Submission (via Unstop)
This will be a submission round! The teams would need to prepare a 4 slider solution(excluding introduction and appendix slides) in PDF format to the Problem Statement provided. You will see the “Submit” button here, once the round is live.
Webinar
We are organizing a mentorship webinar before the case submission. This session will provide valuable guidance, help clarify doubts, and offer strategic insights from experienced mentors to strengthen your submissions.
Grand Finale
Finalists will present their case solutions online through a 5-slide deck(excluding introduction and appendix slides) in a 10-minute live pitch, followed by QnA.
All that you need to know about CaseForge 2025 – A Case Study Competition
Hosted by: Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur in Association with Masters' Union:
- CaseForge is a strategic case competition that places participants in the high-stakes decision-making environment of early-stage startups.
- The event challenges teams to tackle real-world dilemmas faced by young ventures from go-to-market strategies to pricing models and the classic pivot-or-persevere crossroads.
- Participants will analyze detailed startup narratives, interpret operational and financial data, and propose bold yet practical strategies.
- Designed for analytical thinkers, problem-solvers, and aspiring founders, CaseForge tests clarity of thought, structured decision-making, and creative problem-solving under constraints.
Prize Pool: INR 70,000+
Eligibility Criteria:
- Teams can consist of 1–4 members.
- College/Inter-College students can participate.
- Students from any program or year of study may register.
- No changes in team composition will be allowed after registration.
Competition Structure:
Round 1 – Preliminary Case Round (Online):
- Teams will receive a detailed case brief containing the startup’s background, available data, and strategic options.
- Deliverable: A 4-slide recommendation deck(excluding introduction and appendix slides) in PDF format outlining your analysis and proposed strategy.
- Judging Criteria:
- Clarity of Analysis
- Strategic Soundness
- Creativity of Recommendation
- Top 15 teams will advance to the Grand Finale.
Round 2 – Grand Finale (Online):
- Finalists will present their solutions live before a jury panel.
- Deliverables:
- A 5-slide solution deck(excluding introduction and appendix slides) in PDF format
- 10-minute live pitch followed by Q&A with the jury
- Judging Criteria:
- Depth of Insight and Analysis
- Originality of Strategic Approach
- Feasibility & Potential Impact
- Quality of Presentation
Important dates & deadlines?
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2 Sep'25, 11:59 PM IST Registration Deadline
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22 Aug'25, 04:00 PM IST Preliminary Case Release
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2 Sep'25, 11:59 PM IST Preliminary Case Submission
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7 Sep'25, 02:00 PM IST Finals
Contact the organisers
Send queries to organizersRewards and Prizes?
Winner
The Winner team will receive a cash prize of INR 35k
First Runner Up
The First Runner Up team will receive a cash prize of INR 21k
Second Runner Up
The Second Runner Up team will receive a cash prize of INR 14k
About Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
- The first IIT was born in May 1950 in Hijli, Kharagpur, in the eastern part of India.
- This is possibly one of the very few Institutions of the world that started life in a prison house.
- Before the formal inauguration of the Institute on August 18, 1951, the present name 'Indian Institute of Technology' was adopted by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
- IIT Kharagpur, fondly referred to as IITKGP, has the largest campus among all IITs - at 2100 acres and as home to 20000 residents, it is a mini township. It is a two-hour drive from Kolkata airport, connected by National Highways and rail to Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai, with trains to and from Kolkata running throughout the day.
- IIT Kharagpur Motto: "Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam" which literally translates to "Excellence in action is Yoga". This implies that doing your work well is (true) yoga.