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Introduction

Model Entrepreneur®

Competition

Model Entrepreneur Competition (MEC) was launched ten years ago by Columbia Business School's Venture For All (VFA) in collaboration with IEG Global Association. MEC is the first entrepreneur competition that started at an Ivy League.

MEC began in 2014, and we're celebrating its impressive 10th anniversary. From the start, MEC has aimed to inspire and empower young talents to present innovative ideas with real business potential. Through unwavering dedication, it has become a standout among global competitions.

MEC winners have gained acceptance into prestigious institutions like Harvard, Stanford, Yale, UPenn, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Columbia, Cornell, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, and others. This success showcases the caliber of talent nurtured by MEC, opening doors for aspiring entrepreneurs.

As we commemorate this milestone, we are proud of MEC's impact on the next generation of visionary business leaders.

Official Competition

The world’s first and only official entrepreneur competition founded at an Ivy League – Columbia Business School. IEG now facilitates all MEC’s across the globe.

Total Prize Exceeds $100,000

IEG is dedicated to bringing the world’s top education experience to students all over the world. As a non-profit organization, IEG contributed more than USD 100,000 each year to MEC.

Judges from Ivy League Schools and Industry Leaders

The Judging Panel consists of top executives from Fortune 500 and current professors and instructors from top universities. All team members will have a chance to consult directly with professors and domain experts.

Special Guest: Esther Wojcicki

About MEC

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MEC stands as the quintessential entrepreneurship competition. It connects Columbia Business School’s MBA program teachings to aspiring entrepreneurs. It challenges students to tackle real-world business problems by crafting detailed business plans, including product analysis, market research, marketing strategies, financial planning, and risk management. Additionally, participants create promotional videos and deliver compelling presentations to the judging panel. This immersive experience equips students with practical skills and invaluable exposure to the world of entrepreneurship and business.

Market Analysis

Pain Point 

Your Product/Service

Market Size

Product Analysis

Competitors

SWOT

Product Positioning

Marketing

Market Segmentation

Marketing Plan

Distribution Channel

Financial Planning

Pro Forma Income Statement

Breakeven

Risk Management

Scenario Analysis

Sensitivity Analysis

Testimonial

School Feedback

A Word from the Judge

MEC is a unique entrepreneurship competition that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs globally by providing practical learning opportunities through crafting comprehensive business plans, market analysis, and impactful presentations, fostering valuable skills for future success.

— Martin Andersons

President, American Latvian Association
Phi Beta Kappa, Northwestern University
Columbia Business School Hermes Society

 

 

 

A Word from the Judge

Education plays a pivotal role in equipping children with adaptable skills like critical thinking and problem-solving, essential for navigating tomorrow’s challenges. It must move beyond outdated theories, embracing innovation and forward-thinking methodologies.

— Paul Shih

Founder of IEG Global Association
BA in Psychology, Johns Hopkins University
Columbia Business School Hermes Society

 

 

 

Past MEC Winners & Matriculation

2024 MEC - Top 5

Ranking Team Name School Matriculation
1 Tempo Titans Lexington High School, Deerfield Academy TBD
2 InSpec Mater Dei Catholic High School, John Randolph Tucker High School TBD
3 SustainaBuilders Jakarta Intercultural School, Nationalhigh Jakarta School, Surabaya Intercultural School TBD
4 Team EcoTurbine Havergal College, Middlesex School TBD
5 0INK Chinese International School TBD

2023 MEC - Top 5

Ranking Team Name School Matriculation
1 Greenlight Northfield Mount Hermon

Harvard University, Carnegie Mellon University
2 Edulite Chinese International School, Hong Kong TBD
3 JOAL Phillips Exeter Academy, St. Marks School, Iona Preparatory Upper School, Kent School TBD
4 Fish Tank NationalHigh Jakarta School, Jakarta Intercultural School Cornell University, USC, Boston University, UC Irvine, Northeastern
5 Team Fuhsing Taipei Fuhsing Private School TBD

2022 MEC - Top 5

Ranking Team Name School Matriculation
1 PetPartner  Chinese International School, Hong Kong TBD
2 Easy Math Keynote Academy Beijing TBD
3 Protagonists Taipei Fuhsing Private School NYU, UC Berkeley
4 Champion of the Elder Shenzhen College of International Education NYU, UChicago
5 CloudApp Canadian International School Singapore TBD

2021 MEC - Top 5

Ranking Team Name School Matriculation
1 VOBYUS Monta Vista and Cupertino High School Columbia, UPenn, Yale
2 Florago Chinese International School, Hong Kong Columbia, Northwestern, NYU
3 ECHO Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliation Rice University
4 Kallergy Monta Vista High School Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, UPenn
5 MELÁNGE Kang Chiao International School NYU, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC

Previous and Current Judges

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Dr. Jack McGourty

Venture For All® Founder

Dr. Jack McGourty is the Director of Community and Global Entrepreneurship at Columbia Business School and a faculty member teaching courses about entrepreneurship, venture creation, and product innovation.

Dr. Anas Chalah

Model Entrepreneur® Competition Judge

Dr. Anas Chalah is the Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He is an active member of Harvard’s Teaching and Learning Consortium. Dr. Chalah received the prestigious Hero’s Award from the President of Harvard in 2023.

Dr. Shelby Forbes

Model Entrepreneur® Competition Judge

Dr. Shelby Forbes received her Ph.D. in communication and teaches related courses at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. Her expertise lies in crisis communication and organizational communication, particularly as it applies to the healthcare industry. She serves as an affiliated researcher for Johns Hopkins University’s Inclusive Innovation Initiative.

Tatsuhito Sugaoi

Venture For All® Professor

In 2016, Tatsuhito Sugaoi launched the Japanese Venture For All® Program in Japan. Beyond this, Tatsuhito also develops corporate training programs and delivers training as an instructor to Global Fortune 100 companies. He received his MBA from Hitotsubashi University, one of the top business schools in Japan.

Dr. Joseph Rios

Venture For All® Professor

Dr. Joseph Rios received his Ph.D. in International Comparative Education: Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics from Stanford University, his MA from Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and his BA from University of California, San Diego. He is currently a senior consultant at Google.

Manoj Pooleery

Venture For All® Professor 

Manoj Pooleery is the Founder and CEO of M-Phi Innovators, a specialized technology services company that provides full range of innovation services to businesses. He provides end-to-end technology and business strategy definition and implementation to both startups and established businesses. He has helped many companies get started, out of the Columbia Business School as well as outside.

Herman Chan

Model Entrepreneur® Competition Judge

Herman Chan earned his B. Eng. and M. Eng. in Computer Engineering from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), as well as an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM). Herman serves as an adjunct faculty member at AGSM, where he teaches IT-led business transformation.

Elia Brodsky

Model Entrepreneur® Competition Judge

Elia Brodsky is an executive professional in information technologies, marketing, and healthcare strategy. He’s also the co-founder and CEO of Pine Biotech, a Big Data Analysis company with a vision to enhance human health and well-being by enabling Biological Research and Discovery with relevant data. He received his MBA from Tulane University.

Dr. Zelo Mangombo

Model Entrepreneur® Competition Judge

Dr. Zelo Mangombo obtained his Ph.D. Degree in Natural Science from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. He has expertise in Forensic Science, Research & Development, Mentoring as well as Teaching.

Patrick Pan

Model Entrepreneur® Competition Judge

Patrick Pan received his MBA from Columbia University and BA from the University of Toronto and is currently an alum interviewer for Columbia Business School. He is the founder of Smartnext Edu, an ed-tech firm dedicated to improving financial literacy and business acumen for global youth.

Participating Schools

Please click here to view the full 397 participating schools

Contact

A: 5214 Diamond Heights Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94131

A: 90 Hamilton Street, Floor 2, Cambridge, MA 02139

T: +1.800.965.9379

E-mail：mec@ivyedugrp.org

About Us

MEC is a global competition hosted by IEG Global Association. All university-run programs are conducted by each university respectively, and IEG serves as its official representative.