ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The Business Cup Challenge (BCC) is a unique platform that brings together the finest students and brightest business ideas throughout the UAE. BCC was introduced in 2011 by Transnational Academic Group, through its partner schools and has increased in popularity each year.

The BCC launches students into the business world at a young age. In this competition, students are required to review and implement real-life business plans, analyse crucial business situations, and present a case to an academic and professional panel.

High school and university students will also get the opportunity to work as part of a team, in a competitive environment, using their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills and business acumen.

This year the Business Cup Challenge will focus on Nanotechnology and its use in businesses.

BCC 2023 THEME AND TIMELINE

THEME: NANOTECHNOLOGY

Nanotech covers a wide range of technologies from nanoparticles to nanomachines.  Nanoparticles are in wide use worldwide, while nanomachines are still at the very edge of technology in the lab.  During the Curtin Dubai Business Cup Challenge 2023, cases will be addressed where nanotechnology can make a significant impact on society.  The cases will be sufficiently broad to allow for many creative solutions.  The case responses will be judged on the creativity / uniqueness of the solution, the technical and social feasibility of the solution, the financial viability, and the results of the PESTEL analysis.

Through this competition, students will have the opportunity to learn about many aspects of nanotech as they search for solution and will learn about how this exciting field has grown exponentially in the past decade.  Students will also have the opportunity to consider all of the impacts and risks that come from the use of nanotech.  As student move into their future careers, many or even most of the careers will be touched by nanotech during their working lives and nanotech will eventually touch nearly every aspect of their lives.

GUIDELINES

PRELIMINARY ROUND

In the preliminary round, case studies will be issued online over the duration of three weeks dependent on your entry level. Each week, a new case study will be released, and teams/participants will have one week to solve the case and submit their answers to earn a cumulative score which will be reflected on the leader board.

The top five teams/participant respectively will progress to the finale directly. Cumulative scores will be calculated based on points awarded for each case study submitted.

At the conclusion of the Preliminary Round, the remaining teams will enter the Elevator Pitch Round, giving the low-scoring teams/participants an opportunity to progress to the finale.

ELEVATOR PITCH

The elevator pitch is a 40 second pitch, which must be presented to the judging panel on the day of semi finals. Top five teams/participants selected by the Judges will then join the top qualifying teams for finale.

SCORING PANEL

All scores will return to zero on the day of the finale.

The team/participant with the highest score will be awarded first place – and subsequent teams/participants will earn first and second runners up position.

The winning team/participant will win a prize to reward their business excellence.

JUDGING PANEL

The competition will be judged by a panel of judges led by Prof John Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University Dubai.

There will be five members on the judging panel.

The judging panel will be selected by Curtin University Dubai.

All finalist teams will have the same judging panel for the competition.

PARTICIPATE NOW

Choose your level of study and register your team for the Business Cup Challenge 2023.

Over the Years

2011

11 Teams
88 Students

Runner Up
Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi

Winner 
Cambridge International School

2014

61 Teams
402 Students
37 Schools registered

Best Facebook Interaction 
Our Own English High School, Sharjah

Winner 
Cambridge International School

2018

117 Teams
754 Students and Faculty
43 Schools registered

Most Creative Team
Al Zuhour Private School

Winner 
Delhi Private School, Dubai

2019

225 Teams
1225 Students and Faculty
66 Schools registered

Gulf News Most Creative Team

Sunmarke School, Dubai

Winner & DEWA’s Best Solution Award 
GEMS Wellington International School

2020

117 Teams
1100 Students and Faculty
62 Schools registered

Winner
Al Diyafah High School, Dubai

2021

169 School Teams & 36 University Teams
1097 Students and Faculty
70 Schools & 10 Universities registered

Winner
GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis 
American University of Sharjah

2022

325 School Teams & 47 University Teams
1778 Students and Faculty
84 Schools & 18 Universities registered

Winner
Far Eastern Private School
Curtin University Dubai

WINNERS 2022

HIGH SCHOOL

MOST INNOVATIVE AWARD

UNIVERSITY

PRIZES AND SPONSORS

Apart from medals and the BCC Trophy, Winners will also receive internship and industry engagement opportunities, and funding for their higher education at Curtin University Dubai. Teams/participants that attempt and submit at least the first two case studies will be eligible for the participation certificate. Teams that drop out before that point will not be awarded certificates

SPONSORS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What should be included in the financial analysis?

Include relevant costs, revenues, and perform a break-even analysis.

Does the game master prefer applications or new theory?

Propose practical applications of existing technologies rather than new theories.

How do we predict demand for our financial plan when we don't have past data?

Estimate demand by looking at similar products or market statistics.

Do case study responses affect our finals?

The first two case study responses can get you into the finals if you are in the top five on the leader board but do not get considered in the final round.

What is the maximum number of slides on a PowerPoint?

There isn’t a specific limit, but the content should not exceed 2,000 words plus two slides of charts and graphs.

What format should we use to present the information?

The format is flexible and can be a Word document, PowerPoint, Prezi, audio, or video.

Is the elevator pitch in real life?

Yes, the elevator pitch is a live, in-person presentation in front of an audience.

Do all participants need to be in the top 5 for the first case study to proceed?

No, everyone gets to submit solutions for the first two case studies and the top five from the first two case studies proceed automatically to the finals, and the elevator pitch offers another chance for five more teams to enter the finals.

Are there prizes for positions other than the winners?

Certificates of participation will be given to those who submit at least two case studies.

Do linking sources count in the word limit?

No, sources do not count in the word limit, and citations are not required.

Is there a specific citation style for the case study solution?

No specific citation style is required as these are case solutions, not research reports.

Can we incorporate sub-themes into our solutions along with nanotechnology?

Yes, your solution must involve nanotechnology but can include other themes or sub-themes.

Can we use AI to assist with our presentation and ideas?

Submitting AI-generated content is not permitted.

How will the case study be presented to us?

The case study will be on our website for you to download.

Are there specific criteria related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Consider the SDGs in the PESTEL analysis if relevant to the case.

Is nanotechnology basically a scientific method of experimenting with atoms or chemicals to produce something?

Nanotechnology involves working with materials and technologies at the Nano scale, which can include atoms, chemical compounds, or Nano-sized machines.

Is the leaderboard available for us to see?

Yes, the leaderboard of the top 20 teams will be made available each week.

If we are presenting our idea in a video file, do we need to be in the video?

No, you don’t need to physically appear in the video; it can include other visuals.

Can we have a physical script or a script on the phone and present?

Yes, you can have a script on paper or on your phone to assist with your presentation.

Does everyone have access to the elevator pitch?

Yes, every team has the same question for the elevator pitch and one person from each team can present at the elevator pitch.

Will all the teams receive the same case study, or different depending on the points from case 1?

All teams receive the same case studies.

Can we choose our own country where we wish to launch the product, or do we focus on the UAE only?

You can decide which country unless the case specifies a country or region.

What are the prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions?

Prizes include trophies, medals, scholarships, internships, and additional prizes that will be revealed at the finals.

Does the solution have to be profitable, or can it be based on a non-profit organization?

The solution can be non-profit; it can focus on saving money or providing a benefit to the general public.

What is the percentage limit for plagiarism in our case studies?

There should be no plagiarism and 10% or more will result in automatic disqualification from that case, but even lower percentages can be problematic if they include substantial passages and may result in disqualification. Plagiarism is never okay and should not be considered an option.

If a team gets qualified after their elevator pitch, will a team from the original top 5 get removed?

No, the top 5 teams that were initially qualified will compete alongside the top 5 teams that qualify from the elevator pitch. The top 10 teams, in total, will present in the finals.

Do our solutions from different case studies need to be related to each other?

No, the case studies are not related to each other; you can propose different solutions for each.

Would one major idea be preferred, or perhaps 2-3 minor ones? Or is it up to us?

While it’s up to you, based on historical performance, having one major idea tends to work better as it’s often more feasible and focused.

How are we expected to get the information we need for PESTEL and break-even analysis?

You need to consider the specifics of your proposed solution and gather information relevant to the PESTEL and break-even analysis based on your chosen market or scenario.

Will the mentor or the teacher get a participation letter too?

Mentors will receive certificates of recognition.

Will everyone be getting the 3rd case study in case they get into the finals after the elevator pitch?

Yes, everyone will receive the third case study regardless of their standing after the first two cases, as the elevator pitch can still get the team into the finals.

Is Google Slides or Docs allowed?

Platforms such as Google Docs or Slides with real-time editing features will not be accepted.

Can we give our case study response for TurnItIn check before submitting to know the % of similarity?

Please do not run your case study through TurnItIn before submitting, as it will result in a 100% similarity score and will make it impossible to mark your case. Instead, focus on creating original content.

Can we propose a new nanotechnology that is economically and technically feasible?

Yes, if it is technically feasible and practical, you can propose a new nanotechnology solution.

How much is the time limit for presentation?

For case study videos, the time limit is 5 minutes. For the final case presentation, it’s 10 minutes and for the elevator pitch, 40 seconds.

What skills will we get from this competition?

Participating in the competition can help you develop research, creative thinking, critical thinking, analysis, financial planning, writing, and presentation skills, among others.

Will the mentor or the teacher get the case studies as well?

Case studies will be posted on the competition website, so mentors, teachers, and participants can access them.

Will the elevator pitch marks be added to the previous case studies' marks, or will the elevator pitch be judged individually?

Elevator pitch marks are separate and will not be added to the previous case study marks.

How much do we have to go into detail of the solution product?

There is no need to provide extensive technical details as long as it is possible to understand the proposed solution.

Would the case study be related to one specific industry?

The case studies can vary, and some may be specific to an industry or even a company.

Do all the teams that are not in the top 5 have to solve 4 case studies in total?

Teams not in the top 5 need to complete three case studies and an elevator pitch since the elevator pitch can get the team into the finals.

Is the submission of case study online? When should the students be present physically?

Case study submissions will be via a submission link that is emailed to participants. Physical presence is required for the elevator pitch and finals (please refer to timeline for dates).

Any recommended sources to learn about nanotech solutions?

Start with YouTube. There is a YouTube video from the Royal Institute in the UK covering nanotechnology basics.

Do you prefer narrow or broad ideas?

The idea should be narrow enough to address the case study but can be widely applicable within that context.

What exactly are we supposed to include in the elevator pitch?

The elevator pitch should spark interest and make someone want to hear more about your solution.

Are the topics given to us, or do we have to choose them?

Case studies will be provided; you don’t have to choose the topics.

Will we be provided with a success criteria/rubric for assessment?

A sample marking rubric will be made available for access on the official BCC webpage.

What if two teams come up with the same solution?

Solutions may have the same idea, but they’ll be graded on how they present the solution, and the quality of the financial and PESTEL analysis.

Should we include a SWOT analysis?

SWOT analysis is not necessary; the focus is primarily on the PESTEL analysis.

If we are making a model, do we need to make a prototype to present?

No, there’s no requirement to create a physical prototype, especially for the first two cases.

How many teams will there be in the finals?

There will be 10 teams in the finals, but it may increase if there’s a tie.

Is it necessary to state the introduction and definition of nanotechnology in the case study?

No, it’s not necessary to introduce or define nanotechnology as the markers are already familiar with it.

Will there be mentors involved in this?

Your school mentor can be involved in providing guidance, but the actual writing of the case solution and presenting should be done by the team members.

In case we’re planning on doing something different, practical but new, and no current competitors or similar products exist, can we estimate the numbers and create a hypothetical financial analysis?
Yes, you can estimate the numbers and create a hypothetical financial analysis for innovative solutions, just make it realistic.

COMPETITION ENQUIRIES

For more information or for enquiries, please contact us: [email protected]