About the Global Scaling Challenge

What is the Global Scaling Challenge?

 The Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico invites schools, faculty/mentors, and students to participate in the Global Scaling Challenge. The Challenge offers participating teams and mentors a unique opportunity to understand and solve complex scaling needs and challenges that firms face operating in a highly diverse environment. These are real firms and the expert-led student teams will be presenting their ideas to these firms and judges in a live internet-based format.

The competition will challenge student teams and mentors to comprehend complex scaling challenges/needs of ‘live’ entrepreneurial small firms and design strategies for their short-term and long-term growth. The Challenge allows the mentored student teams to assess the practical relevance of their learning and knowledge in a new and highly diverse operating environment. The Challenge also invites entrepreneurial firms, with high growth aspirations seeking to position their firms for future growth, to apply for the competition.

Given the tremendous response to the Challenge from schools, mentors, and student teams from around the world, participating firms will receive innovative advice from a highly talented and diverse pool of students, faculty, and mentors. We also invite faculty, experts, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to serve as judges for the Challenge. The Challenge features over $35,000 in awards and recognition for participating teams.

Please complete the appropriate application if you are interested in participating in the competition.

Why is the Global Scaling Challenge different from other business case competitions?

Unlike other case competitions, student team presentations will be made of and to "real" firms in a "live" setting. The expert-led student teams will benefit from working with company executives and founders on current problems they face. Participating firms benefit from new perspectives on the current business challenges they face with innovative scaling directions. 

Who can apply to the Global Scaling Challenge?

The Global Scaling Challenge is open to any international student teams. To guarantee your spot, teams should reserve their place early. Please visit our Important Dates page for deadlines.

Local and international businesses can apply with their firm scaling case involving a 21st Century Global Scaling Challenge.

Apply for the Challenge!

When are the important dates and deadlines?

There are many deadlines for the GSC.  Visit the Important Dates page for the latest dates and deadlines.

What are the awards for the Global Scaling Challenge?

Over $35,000 will be distributed in student team prizes, awards, and internships.  The awards for the student groups are:

Regional Challenge

Final Event - April 4, 2025

Teams placing 11th to 24th in the finals receive a $200 award for presenting in the final round.

How does the Global Scaling Challenge work?

Fully registered teams will compete in their regional qualifier, which features a scaling challenge case from a real-world company. Teams will receive the business case for their regional challenge two weeks before the event, giving them time to prepare their scaling solutions. During this preparation phase, teams can consult with their mentors and reach out for any clarifications via the designated communication channels provided by GSC organizers.

As participants, you will act as consultants to the firms in your assigned case — because in this challenge, that's exactly what you are. Whether conducting primary or secondary research, confidentiality is key. You must not disclose the name of the company you are working with, or discuss your involvement with anyone outside your team.

On the day of the event, teams must submit their slide deck before the opening remarks; exact submission times will be provided. You are not required to attend every session, but must be present for the session in which your group is presenting. Each session will last approximately two hours, during which teams will deliver a 10-minute presentation, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session with the firm's leadership and a distinguished panel of judges. This panel will consist of top executives from participating firms and industry experts in scaling strategies.

Judges will assess each team based on their understanding of the firm's challenges, the quality of their analysis, and the practical relevance of their innovative solutions, using the GSC Judging Rubric, provided in the Challenger Handbook After all presentations, the judges will select the winning team from each regional qualifier.

Top-performing teams will advance to the GSC Main Challenge, where they will compete for over $35,000 in awards. The main challenge will follow a similar format, but with a brand-new case to tackle.

How should the team prepare for each case?

Two weeks prior to each round, student teams and their mentors will receive case materials directly from the GSC organizers. These materials will include a video introduction to the company, documents detailing key scaling goals and challenges, and additional context to help teams fully grasp the firm's objectives. Teams will also receive a detailed data analysis from Boston Analytics, an AI-powered company offering tailored market insights specific to each firm's case. Using this information, teams will conduct their own research, analyze the firm, and develop actionable short-term and long-term scaling strategies. Mentors are encouraged to guide teams throughout this preparation phase to help refine their solutions. While students won't be able to speak directly with the firm, they may reach out to subject matter experts for additional insights, though they must refrain from disclosing the name of the company in their outreach.

All final presentations, including slide decks and supporting materials, must be submitted before the welcoming remarks begin, to ensure that no changes can be made after observing other teams' presentations.