Request for Proposal ListingsFall 2026 Live Case Competition

Fall 2026 Live Case Competition

Paier
Fall 2026 Live Case Competition
10/19/2026 to 11/23/2026
Matt Finkle
Collaboration Overview
About Students
The competition attracts a diverse mix of students from institutions across the U.S. and internationally. 

Participants represent undergraduate and graduate programs in business-related disciplines, including management, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, and operations. Each team is guided by a faculty advisor who helps coach and mentor students through the competition process. 

These students are motivated, collaborative, and eager to apply academic knowledge to real-world business problems through research, innovation, and structured presentation.
About Program Goals
  • Develop real-world business problem-solving skills

  • Strengthen teamwork, communication, and leadership competencies

  • Engage in critical thinking, data analysis, and decision-making

  • Present findings and solutions in a professional, persuasive format

  • Network with peers, faculty, and sponsoring industry leaders

  • Gain a reference-worthy experience that supports career readiness and resumes

By engaging in this live challenge, students enhance their understanding of how business strategy works in practice, while gaining visibility and feedback from sponsoring executives and judges.
About the Collaboration Format
The CapSource Live Case Competition Series is a high-impact experiential learning program that connects forward-thinking companies with undergraduate and graduate students to work on real-world strategic projects. 

Each competition challenges students to tackle a real business problem provided by a sponsoring organization, culminating in presentations of research, insights, and strategic recommendations. Competitions are held virtually, with finalists typically presenting live to senior company leadership

Ideal sponsors are companies eager to tap into the next generation of business leaders while advancing real-world priorities through creative, student-led problem solving.
Benefits for Industry Partners
  • Receive fresh insights and bold ideas from diverse student teams tackling your real business challenge

  • Gain brand exposure through website, newsletter, and social media

  • Participate in the final competition, where top teams present their solutions

  • Network with educators, students, and industry professionals

  • Establish your brand as a champion of innovation, education, and talent development
Program Details

Students Include: Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Degree, High School

Students Enrolled:  Students Enrolled

Program Duration: 5 weeks

Program Launch Date: 10/19/26

Program End Date: 11/23/26

Student Commitment: 8-13 Hours hrs/week

Course Format: Live Case Competition, Multiple Projects Multiple Teams

Modality: Fully Remote

# of Projects: 1

View All Program Details

Project Requirements

Industry Partner Requirements
Project Topics Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cost Optimization Data Management Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Innovation Marketing Operations PR & Communications Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research & Development Research, Analysis, Evaluation Software Design & Development
Location Preferences

Located Anywhere

Compensation

Following compensation will be offered to the students

Top-Performing Teams Split the Following Prizes (in Amazon Giftcards): 1st Place Team Prize: $800 2nd Place Team Prize: $400 3rd Place Team Prize: $200 + Paid Internships, Partnerships, and Opportunities Available!!

Sponsorship

No Sponsorship Required
Other Requirements
  • Sponsors must provide a business challenge prompt (CapSource can assist with refinement)

  • Sponsors agree to attend a kickoff meeting, review student submissions, and attend final presentations

  • Sponsors receive prominent branding and visibility throughout the program and at the final competition
This is a turnkey brand-building and talent engagement opportunity—ideal for companies looking to cultivate future leaders, promote their mission, and inspire solutions to real business challenges.
Project Management Time Commitment 2 Hours per week
Interested Industries Finance & Investment
Skills & Expertise
AI-Assisted Prospecting Campaign Design Competitive Research CRM Analysis Customer Acquisition Customer Discovery Executive Communication and Presentation Design Experimentation and Hypothesis Testing Generative AI and AI Agents Go-to-Market Strategy Interview Design KPI Development Market Research Persona Development Positioning Product Strategy Prompt Engineering Roadmapping Sales Strategy Segmentation Spreadsheet Analysis Value Proposition Design
Key Program Dates Due Date
Request for Proposal published

Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.

Oct 05 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Interview

Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.

Oct 06 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Proposal Application Deadline

Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.

Oct 14 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Finalize Project Charter

Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.

Oct 16 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Official Program Launch

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.

Oct 19 2026
Official Program End

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.

Nov 23 2026

* We’ve got some inspirational project ideas below! These are related project topics that you can mix and match the components for the best cross-functional project experience possible.

See Examples

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

See Examples

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cost Optimization

See Examples

Data Management

See Examples

Entrepreneurship

See Examples

Growth Strategy

See Examples

Innovation

See Examples

Marketing

See Examples

Operations

See Examples

PR & Communications

See Examples

Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis

See Examples

Research & Development

See Examples

Research, Analysis, Evaluation

See Examples

Software Design & Development

Program Overview
Program Title Fall 2026 Live Case Competition
Organization Paier
# of Students Enrolled
164
# of Projects Running
1 Project/s Added (of 1 Project Expected)

Program Timeline

Project Duration

Start Date: 10/19/26      End Date: 11/23/26

1 month
Collaboration Overview
About Students

The competition attracts a diverse mix of students from institutions across the U.S. and internationally. 

Participants represent undergraduate and graduate programs in business-related disciplines, including management, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, and operations. Each team is guided by a faculty advisor who helps coach and mentor students through the competition process. 

These students are motivated, collaborative, and eager to apply academic knowledge to real-world business problems through research, innovation, and structured presentation.

Student Level:   Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Graduate Degree High School

Student Time Commitment:   Full Time

Team Structure:   1 - 5

Program Goals
  • Develop real-world business problem-solving skills

  • Strengthen teamwork, communication, and leadership competencies

  • Engage in critical thinking, data analysis, and decision-making

  • Present findings and solutions in a professional, persuasive format

  • Network with peers, faculty, and sponsoring industry leaders

  • Gain a reference-worthy experience that supports career readiness and resumes

By engaging in this live challenge, students enhance their understanding of how business strategy works in practice, while gaining visibility and feedback from sponsoring executives and judges.
Format Structure

Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Format Title Live Case Competition
Format Description
The CapSource Live Case Competition Series is a high-impact experiential learning program that connects forward-thinking companies with undergraduate and graduate students to work on real-world strategic projects. 

Each competition challenges students to tackle a real business problem provided by a sponsoring organization, culminating in presentations of research, insights, and strategic recommendations. Competitions are held virtually, with finalists typically presenting live to senior company leadership

Ideal sponsors are companies eager to tap into the next generation of business leaders while advancing real-world priorities through creative, student-led problem solving.
Benefits For Industry Partners
  • Receive fresh insights and bold ideas from diverse student teams tackling your real business challenge

  • Gain brand exposure through website, newsletter, and social media

  • Participate in the final competition, where top teams present their solutions

  • Network with educators, students, and industry professionals

  • Establish your brand as a champion of innovation, education, and talent development
Project Modality Fully Remote
Industry Partner Requirements to Participate
Project Topics Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cost Optimization Data Management Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Innovation Marketing Operations PR & Communications Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research & Development Research, Analysis, Evaluation Software Design & Development
Target Industries Finance & Investment
Skills & Expertise AI-Assisted Prospecting Campaign Design Competitive Research CRM Analysis Customer Acquisition Customer Discovery Executive Communication and Presentation Design Experimentation and Hypothesis Testing Generative AI and AI Agents Go-to-Market Strategy Interview Design KPI Development Market Research Persona Development Positioning Product Strategy Prompt Engineering Roadmapping Sales Strategy Segmentation Spreadsheet Analysis Value Proposition Design
Location Information & Preferences

Located Anywhere

Sponsorship

No Sponsorship Required
Compensation
Following compensation will be offered to the students:

Top-Performing Teams Split the Following Prizes (in Amazon Giftcards): 1st Place Team Prize: $800 2nd Place Team Prize: $400 3rd Place Team Prize: $200 + Paid Internships, Partnerships, and Opportunities Available!!
Other Requirements
  • Sponsors must provide a business challenge prompt (CapSource can assist with refinement)

  • Sponsors agree to attend a kickoff meeting, review student submissions, and attend final presentations

  • Sponsors receive prominent branding and visibility throughout the program and at the final competition
This is a turnkey brand-building and talent engagement opportunity—ideal for companies looking to cultivate future leaders, promote their mission, and inspire solutions to real business challenges.
Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers 2 Hours per week
Key Program Dates Due Date
Request for Proposal published

Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.

Oct 05 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Interview

Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.

Oct 06 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Proposal Application Deadline

Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.

Oct 14 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Finalize Project Charter

Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.

Oct 16 2026, 07:30 PM UTC
Official Program Launch

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.

Oct 19 2026
Official Program End

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.

Nov 23 2026
Matt Finkle
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Paier
Tim Muth
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International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
Carmelita Lao
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Adina Scruggs
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Lee University
Holly Perleoni
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spopek
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David Gargone
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Misericordia University
Marne Arthaud-Day
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Gary Karnish
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Catherine Boatright
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Lindsey Wilson University
Kathleen Mahoney
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SUNY Potsdam
Associate Professor, Graphic Design and New Media @ Suny Potsdam for 14 year(s)
Helen MacLennan
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Lindsey Wilson College
Holly Loncarich
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Resources

Links & Documents
Paier Pitch Deck
Paier for Accounting Firms & Fractional CFOs
Paier for Businesses
Future of Finance 2.0 Emerging Themes
Paier Update (August 2026)
About Paier & Matt Finkle
Competition Rubric
Competition Rules
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants: Future-ready finance: Technology, Productivity, and Skills Survey Report
Financial Executives International: Financial Executives Prioritize Technology, AI, and Disciplined Growth for Resilient Performance
Financial Executives Priorities 2026 Report
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants: Client Accounting Services Benchmark Survey
McKinsey — How Finance Teams Are Putting AI to Work Today
Deloitte: Technology Transformation Emerges as a Top Priority for CFOs in 2026
Paier Competitor Research Starter Pack
Paier Customer Discovery & Experimentation Frameworks
Kickoff Webinar Recording
Kickoff Webinar AI Notes
Q&A Recording
Q&A Webinar AI Notes
Paier CapSource Student Field Guide 2 pdf

Projects

Filters
Project Organization Topics
Scaling Paier: Building the Go-to-Market Engine for an AI-Native Financial Back Office Paier Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cost Optimization Data Management Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Innovation Marketing Operations PR & Communications Product Design & Development Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research & Development Research, Analysis, Evaluation Sales & Business Development Software Design & Development Strategic Planning