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Economics and Business Career Centre null

Summer Business Challenge

Put your knowledge into practice during the Summer Business Challenge

During this three-week programme, you and your team will solve a real-life challenge for a company. You are guided by professionals and participate in workshops.

Some examples of challenges

  • Develop a new value proposition
  • Find an interesting customer segment for a new product
  • Help a company to improve an internal process
  • Advise a company on campus recruiting
  • Help a company save money and/or get their financial numbers in order

Type of companies

Startups and scale-ups, SME’s, corporates (basically any company with a minimum of three people working full time in the company) from any industry. A selection of companies that took part previously: Unilver, GoSpooky, Philips, The Talent Institute, Deedmob, Findest, Quicargo, NN, and WPG.

  • Do I get course credits?

    No, it is fully extracurricular, but we expect you to spend in total around 60 hours (20 hours per week per person) on solving the challenge. However, participation is free of charge.

  • For whom?

    This programme is for ambitious 3rd and 4th year students or recent graduates (of UvA Economics and Business). It is especially aimed at those who are about to enter the job market in the Netherlands. Participating in this programme will boost your cv and increase your network.

  • When

    28 June – 16 July (but we will match you to a business challenge a week earlier).

    Please note that it is not advised to apply if you’re planning to take exams during the period of this challenge.

  • How to apply

    Admission is based on a short motivation, so fill in the form  and show us why companies need you to solve their problems. You can upload a video pitch (max. 30 seconds) or write a short motivation (max. 150 words). We will carefully select participants based on motivation, work experience, extracurricular activities, and so on. It is up to you how to convince us!

    You’ll hear by 18 June if you’re selected. Please note: we only have a limited number of spots available.

  • Programme

    Please Note: Due to the corona crisis it is possible that the meetings will be held online and that you work on these problems with your team during online sessions.

    Prior to the actual challenge

    Sign up deadline

    • When: 15 June

    Team information and challenge selection

    • When: 21 June, 13:00-16:00
    • Where: Online
    • What: During this session you will meet your fellow participants and form teams. Next to that you will make a selection of the challenges you like to solve. Later this week you will be matched to a challenge.

    Week 1

    Workshop: Scoping the assignment

    • When: 28 June, 10:00-12:00
    • Where: Online
    • What: Learn how to scope the assignment together with your client. You also learn how to draft a work plan and hypothesis tree.

    Kick-off: Meet the companies

    • When: 28 June, 13:00-15:00
    • Meet your company and discuss the challenge and make arrangements.

    Workshop: Manage the execution and expectations

    • When: 30 June, 10:00-12:00
    • What: A workshop in which you learn to come up with winning solutions that your client will adopt.

    Week 2

    Consultation hours, drop by for feedback

    • When: 5 July, 9:00-12:00

    Workshop: Convincingly reporting your findings

    • When: 7 July, 10:00-12:00
    • What: Learn how to create a great story board and construct a convincing presentation.

    Week 3

    Consultation hours, drop by for feedback

    • When: 15 July, 9:00-12:00

    Final presentations (different parallel sessions)

    • When: 16 July, 13:00-15:00

    Networking drinks (if allowed)

    • When: 16 July, 16:00-18:00