UNM Anderson School of Management hosts fourth annual Global Scaling Challenge
April 15, 2024 - Megan Borders
The University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management hosts the final round of its fourth annual Global Scaling Challenge April 26-27. This challenge takes place on Zoom over the two days. Twenty student teams from 15 institutions from around the world have qualified to compete in this main event.
Highly trained student-led teams, mentored by faculty, are competing in this real-life case competition, working with active companies in the aerospace sector with presence in New Mexico. Students will learn about the companies' goals and recommend solutions to help address a scaling challenge unique to each participating firm. Students compete for over $35,000 in awards and recognition, as well as paid internships with the participating companies.
This year's participating firms are two entrepreneurial and highly innovative companies: Rhea Space Activity, a startup focused on providing reliable navigation and secure communication solutions based in Washington, D.C. with satellite offices in Santa Fe and the UK; and Space Kinetic, an Albuquerque company building an electromechanical propulsion system that turns solar power into low-cost in-space mobility.
By participating, these companies expect to leverage the fresh perspectives and innovative scaling advice provided by the student teams to gain a more competitive edge and overcome their business challenges.
The teams have the two weeks leading into the challenge to research and prepare their scaling recommendations. Each team has 10 minutes to present their recommendations, followed by 10 minutes to respond to questions from the judges. Teams will complete three rounds of presentations in front of judges and their assigned firm.
This main event is the final round for the challenge. The three regional Global Scaling Challenge rounds took place last month to establish the regional qualifiers for the main event. The Europe and Africa regional round was co-sponsored by Grenoble Ecole de Management and Johannes Kepler University; the Americas was co-sponsored by Rowan University and Stevens Institute of Technology; and the Asia and Oceana regional round was co-sponsored by Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Judges for all rounds consist of faculty, subject matter experts, community leaders and entrepreneurs.