Banner Year for Case Competitions

Looking back on 2021, our students at Nanyang Business School (NBS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, have done extremely well in business case competitions, showcasing the creative and innovative edge of a truly holistic education.

On 20 March, our teams emerged Champion and 1^st runner up in the Singapore Business Case Competition organised by Business Solutions, beating more than 150 case workshop participants from other universities and polytechnics.

Left picture: Team KC Strategy comprising students from NBS and NUS (clockwise from top left) Cleo Sim (ACBS, Y1), Karis Goh (NUS, Y1), and Lee Ngee Jhin (BEEC, Y2)

Right picture: Team Hui Tsu Consulting (L-R) Gordon Lim Hui Jie (ACBS, Y2), Jonathan Lim (ACBS, Y2), Joshua Lum (ACBS, Ys), and Charlene Kho (ACBS, Y2)

Our Year 3 student Jonathan Soh came out tops from among from 1,384 students from 692 teams in the preliminary round, and 76 students from 38 teams in the Grand Final, held on 21 March, to clinch the championship for the 2021 Global Markets Competition (APAC).

Year 3 student Jonathon Soh making his presentation

At the SMU-UBS Sustainability Case Challenge, our teams worked alongside students from other universities to win the championship and runner-up titles, out of 230 teams from Singapore that participated. After rigorous screening by the organisers and case companies, eight teams were chosen to present their solutions at the grand finals to a judging panel comprising UBS executives, representatives of leading NGOs, and professors on 22 March. 

Team Oakwood Partners comprising Year 3 undergrads (L-R): Wei Ren Lee, Eliel Simatupang, Megan Sim, and David Santoso

In the same month, our NBS undergraduates won the championship and 2^nd runner-up places at the Duff & Phelps University Deal Challenge APAC 2021, where teams had to value a fictitious company that operates a chain of full-service restaurants with pre-COVID and post-COVID 19 conditions. The top three finalist teams were selected to present to a panel of three judges, which included a managing director and a director from Duff & Phelps, as well as a professor from SMU. The finals took place on 31 March 2021. 

Left picture: Team LARS Advisors comprising (clockwise from top left) Business Solutions Associate Oong Li Yin (ACBS, Y3), Ada Lim (ACBS, Y3), and Raynold Lim (ACBS, Y3)

Right picture: Team ACK comprising (clockwise from top left) Business Solutions’ Associates Goh Lay Hin (BUS Y2), Charles Teo (ACC, Y2), and Azriel Chee (BUS, Y2)

We were champions again at the Eurasia Asset Management Challenge (EAMC) 2021 when team WhiteRock, comprising Year 3 undergraduates, emerged champions in the final round on 26 March 2021. The Eurasia Asset Management Challenge (EAMC) is an annual event organised by NTU Investment Interactive Club in collaboration with the London School of Economics Business and Finance Group. EAMC serves as a platform for students to showcase their portfolio modelling, portfolio analytics, and presentation skills to renowned industry professionals while expanding their professional connections globally.

Team WhiteRock comprising Christy Goh, Tan Jun Ting, and Lim Wei Jie

The NUS-SGX Stock Pitch Challenge 2021, held on 3 April, saw our teams Permafrost Capital take the first and Notice Capital the 2^nd runner-up positions from among 122 teams from 19 pre-tertiary and tertiary institutions competing. The teams were tasked to choose a stock from a list of 76 companies listed on SGX and deliver an investment report.

Left picture: Team Permafrost Capital comprising (L-R) Paxton Ong (ACBS, Y2), Guangci Huang (PPGA, Y3), Tay Wee Kuang (ABCS, Y2), and Weiduo Wang (BUS, Y2)

Right picture: Team Notice Capital comprising students from NTU and NUS. (l-R) Tan Jun Ting (ACBS, Y3), Gary Chong (BUS, Y3), Darren Cheo (ECONS, Y3), and Ethan Chong (NUS, Y2)

In the finals for the SMU APECS Private Equity Case Competition 2021, held on 15 May, our undergraduate team Aesop Capital emerged 1^st runner up with their concise investment memo on Yeahka – a payment-based technology business in China that provides payment services and value-added services including SaaS products, marketing services, and fintech services to merchants and consumers.

Team Aesop Capital comprising (clockwise from top left) Yeap Zong Xuan (ACBS, Y3), Yap Qi Long (ACC, Y3), Poh Hao Ze (ACBS, Y4), and Tang Jia Ying (ACBS, Y4)

In a collaborative win, our Year 3 undergraduates, together with a fellow undergraduate from NUS, formed the Hxddle Capital Partners Advisory Consulting Group, and took the championship title at the NTU IBC Mergers & Acquisitions Case Competition 2021 during the final rounds held on 21 May. Organised by NTU Investment Banking Club (IBC), teams were asked to propose an acquisition target for Sembcorp Industries to enhance their competitive positioning and sustainability offerings. Submissions were graded based on the decision process, analysis of the target, and the submitted pro forma financial statements.

Team Hxddle Capital Partners Advisory Consulting Group comprising (clockwise from top left) NBS students and Business Solutions Associates Hari Aran Krishnan (ACC, Y3), Nicole Kwok (BUS, Y3), Eliel Simatupang (BUS, Y2), and teammate Lee Wei Ren (NUS, Y3)

Six first-year accountancy students clinched the regional championship at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Accounting and Business Case Challenge competition on 22 May, after the winning the national competition in March.

Team Caffeine Consultancy comprising (clockwise from top left) Chia Wei-En Michael, Tan Sheng Loong Fabian, Tan Xin Yi Cindy, Mah Kar Lyn, Neo Jiun Jiu Samuel, and Tay Kai Ren

In the 4^th Nexia TS Business Case Challenge on 18 August, our undergraduates emerged Champions and 2^nd Runner Up for promoting sustainability in entrepreneurship. The teams representing each institution were tasked to develop financially viable innovative business proposals with an emphasis on sustainability. Unlike usual case competitions where context and direction are explicitly defined, this challenge tested our members’ ability to think feasibly, generate ideas, and demonstrate entrepreneurship.

Left picture: (clockwise from top left) Phan Hung Son (ACBS, Y2), Adrien Wang Kanghao (ACBS, Y2), Kasim Abdul Razak (BUS, Y2), David Ian Santoso (ACBS, Y4), and Isabel Tan (BUS, Y2)

Right picture: (clockwise from top left) Martin Chan (BUS, Y2), Joshua Low (BUS, Y2), Samantha Lim (BUS, Y2), Adil Akmal (ACBS, Y2), and Nathanael Muk (REP, Y2)

Consisting of three Double Degree in Accountancy and Business (ACBS) Year 3 students, Team Maple emerged champions in the International Risk Management Case-solving Competition (IRMCC) 2021 on 16 July. The team outshone a total of 89 teams from 17 universities and six countries, and eventually clinched the winning title after three rounds of intensive qualifying rounds. Organised by the Center for Risk Management and Sustainability (CRMS), IRMCC focused on how enterprise risk management can build an organisation’s resilience and sustainability in the post COVID-19 era.

Team Maple comprising (clockwise from top left) Pushparajan Saranya (ACBS, Y3), Wang Jieying (ACBS, Y3), and Li Peiyao (ACBS, Y3)

On 10 and 11 September, our NBS students, alongside their teammate from NUS, emerged champions in the Citi Foundation-SMU FInHack Challenge 2021. Competing against a total of 59 teamsvying for the winning title, team SpONt impressed the judges with their novel and potentially ground-breaking proposals that aim to help disabled youths understand more about the Central Provident Fund (CPF) and help them gain substantial financial knowledge. 

Team SpONt comprising (clockwise from top left) Li Jingchen, Jace (ACBS, Y1), Peh Cheng Hwee (BUS, Y2), Renfred Yeow Yong An (ACBS, Y1), Heng Jiu Xiao (BCE, Y2), and Koh Jin Zhen (NUS Business, Y1)

Finally, in the annual Dean’s MBA challenge 2021 that concluded in October, our MBA students emerged overall champion with their creativity, innovation and daring. Hosted annually by the three major business schools from NTU, NUS and SMU in Singapore, the friendly competition encourages networking, charity work, and puts project management skills of MBA students to the test. This year’s competition comprised a series of three mini matches – High Heels Challenge at NTU to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation, a Social Innovation Challenge case competition at NUS, and a Talent show with song and dance at SMU. Watch the full video here.

MBA participants during High Heel Challenge at NTU campus 

Congratulations once again to all the winners!