MESA Business Case Competition 2026 | Undergraduate Edition

Mesa School of Business presents the MESA Business Case Competition 2026 (Undergraduate Edition). The competition is designed to assess how undergraduate students analyse business situations, prioritise actions, and communicate decisions clearly.
The competition begins with an online screening round to shortlist teams for the on-campus finals. The on-campus finals, to be held on 12th February 2026, will involve a new business case exercise, which may be conducted in a live, interactive, or simulation-style format. The final round will test real-world decision-making under time and information constraints.

Eligibility:

• The competition is open to grade 12th students and undergraduate students from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year. Students from all school, colleges and universities may apply.
• Participation is team-based only. Inter-college or Inter-School teams are not allowed, and all team members must be from the same institution. Inter-specialisation teams are allowed, with no restriction on course or discipline.

Team Composition:

• Each team must have 3 to 4 members. Individual participation is not permitted.

Competition Structure:

Round 1: Online Screening Round

Round 1 is an online shortlisting round designed to assess clarity of thinking, prioritisation, and decision-making. Teams will analyse a short strategy-focused business case based on a realistic organisational situation.

Teams are required to submit a written case response, which will be evaluated out of 100 marks. The written submission is mandatory for all teams.

In addition, teams may choose to submit a short public-facing leadership video. The video submission is optional and will be evaluated as a bonus component of up to 10 additional marks. Submitting a video is not compulsory and will not disadvantage teams that choose not to submit one.

The written submission will remain the primary basis for evaluation. The optional video allows teams to earn bonus marks by clearly communicating their thinking and recommendations.

This round is used solely to shortlist teams for the on-campus finals.

Round 2: On-Campus Finals:

The final round will take place on campus at Mesa School of Business on 12th February 2026. Shortlisted teams will respond to a new business case, which may be presented in a live, interactive, or simulation-style format.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions must be original and uploaded within the prescribed deadlines. Page and time limits are strictly enforced. Non-compliant submissions may be penalised or disqualified.

Rules and Regulations:

• Each participant may be part of only one team. All decisions of the judges and organising committee are final and binding. The organising team reserves the right to modify the competition if required.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Submissions will be evaluated on clarity of thinking, quality of decision-making, and depth of observation. Video submissions will also be judged on clarity, credibility, and creativity.

Accessibility Statement:

• Mesa School of Business provides an inclusive and accessible campus environment for differently abled participants.