Annually, the Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge extends an invitation to graduate student teams worldwide, urging them to craft and present innovative financial strategies addressing urgent social and environmental issues.
In the year 2024, exceeding 300 students representing 53 countries and over 60 esteemed schools introduced inventive financial mechanisms aimed at fostering positive impact. This Challenge not only provides a platform for creative solutions but also fosters connections with influential industry experts, nurturing and empowering the future leaders in sustainable finance.
The Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge is a global competition inviting graduate student teams from various disciplines and backgrounds to innovate and propose impactful financial strategies addressing environmental and social challenges.
This challenge encourages participating teams to develop creative financial approaches that align with sustainable investing principles. Teams work on devising innovative solutions that can generate positive social or environmental impact while delivering financial returns.
Throughout the challenge, student teams engage in rigorous research, analysis, and strategic planning to design and present their sustainable investing proposals. The focus lies in creating financial instruments that can address pressing global issues, such as climate change, social inequality, or environmental sustainability.
The challenge not only provides a platform for students to showcase their ideas but also facilitates connections with leading professionals in the sustainable finance sector. By leveraging the expertise and mentorship of industry leaders, the challenge aims to inspire and empower the next generation of pioneers in sustainable finance and investment.
Benefits
- Grand Prize: $10,000
- Runner Up: $5,000
- Third Place: $2,500
Requirements For The 2024 Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge.
- Teams are limited to a maximum of four (4) members.
- All team members must be currently enrolled in a graduate program at the time of the prospectus submission.Undergraduate students are not eligible.
- Your team may include members from different graduate schools.
- All ideas must be the original ideas of the team members.
Judging Criteria
Creativity & Financial Innovation (25%)
- Has the team proposed an innovative investment vehicle that is designed to drive both returns and impact? They are looking for either:
- An innovative financial structure orA known investment approach applied creatively to a problem previously outside the scope or reach of a social or environmental challenge
What’s interesting about this project? Is it just like a dozen others or truly innovative?Does the proposal have a unique capital structure, e.g., including different forms of capital, employing diverse types of institutional investors?Does the proposal uncover new ways to drive returns, a new asset class, or a new cash flow or value stream?
- Does this provide a scalable solution that can mobilize sufficient capital and forge significant environmental or human impact?Are there specific metrics for impact? Is the impact real and persistent?Does the impact derived from the proposed approach stem from the financial levers rather than ancillary charitable remains?Has the team demonstrated diligence in defining and projecting impact to be derived?
- Does the investment thesis seem plausible?Are there real sources of risk-adjusted market rate returns here? (even if considering a gestation period with concessionary returns)Could you see institutional investors responding to and funding this?Was the thesis thoroughly researched and is there strong evidence of financial depth that incorporates the overall economy?
- How thorough and deep is the research on the thesis?Do the returns and cash flow projections hold water? Has the team demonstrated strong financial logic and validity of key financial assumptions?Have the key investment questions relating to returns, asset quality, underwriting, and risk management (both market-based and non-market) been identified and addressed?Does the team have the skills needed to execute? Have they defined the skills needed on the investment team?Are the proposed fees and incentives reasonable?
- Has the team been clear, compelling, and concise with their proposal?For the final event: Have all team members participated in either the original presentation or Q&A?
Impact & Scale (25%)
Feasibility (25%)
Quality of Due Diligence & Financials (20%)
Presentation (5%)
Method of Application
- Application Deadline: January 21, 2024.
- For More Information,
