Solve Real-World Business Challenges

The inaugural Tippie Sustainability Case Competition will challenge teams of UI undergraduate students to utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve real sustainability problems. Students from all disciplines will have the opportunity to develop leadership and decision-making skills that will help them maximize economic, social, and environmental sustainability in their future jobs.

2024 Competition

The inaugural case competition will take place April 5-6 at the Pappajohn Business Building.

Who can participate?

  • University of Iowa students - all majors are welcome
  • Teams with 3-4 members (capped at first 20 registered)
    • First 10 registrations receive priority access to office hours from BCaP Instructors, UPO staff, and Frank Center Tutors on Saturday morning
  • Maximum of 2 seniors per team

What happens at the competition?

  • Teams receive the case on April 5 and get 24 hours with the business prompt written by the Tippie Social Impact Community.
  • On April 6, teams will be assigned to rooms where they will compete in the preliminary round.
  • Preliminary round presentations consist of 20-minute presentations and 10 minutes of Q&A.
  • Judges will decide on each room's top teams, who will advance to the final round.
  • Final round presentations will consist of condensed 10-minute presentations and 5 minutes of Q&A as an added variable for teams to overcome.
Clipboard and pen

Registration

Register as a team with 3-4 members or as an individual.

Prize ribbon

Team Prizes

1st Place—$1,200 
2nd Place—$1,000
3rd Place—$800

Pappajohn Business Building

Sponsors

Tippie Social Impact Community, Tippie Undergraduate Program Office (UPO), and Tippie Senate

Timeline of events

February 29 - April 3Registration period (closes at 11:59 p.m. on 4/3)
Thursday, April 4Email confirmations are sent
Thursday, April 4Final Free Agent/Individual registrations are determined
Friday, April 510 a.m. — Case competition prompt is sent out

4:30 p.m. — Event Kick-Off with Deans Amy Kristof-Brown and Charles Keene. Followed by Q & A with Case Writers (Tippie Social Impact Community)
Saturday, April 6

7:00-9:30 a.m. — Coaching from BCaP Instructors, UPO staff, and Frank Center Tutors

9:50 a.m. — Case competition presentation and materials are due

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. — Preliminary rounds 

  • Five teams (max) per Preliminary room (randomly assigned)

Afternoon — Final round

Evening — Dinner and awards ceremony

Contact

Tevin Robbins

Tevin Robbins

Associate Director, Student Engagement

Undergraduate Program
​​​​​​​tevin-robbins@uiowa.edu