thinkcell Global Case Competition
Join the third edition of thinkcell Global Case Competition to solve a real-world growth challenge, showcase your analytical and storytelling skills, and compete for a share of $14,000 in prizes.
Represented universities
Fall 2026 Competition
Third Edition
Competition format
The thinkcell Global Case Competition is fully online and consists of three competition rounds following team registration.
Teams compete in one of the two separate tracks: Undergraduate or Graduate.
Team formation
- Teams of 3-5 students
- Undergraduate and graduate students, including MBA and PhD students, who are currently enrolled at a higher-education institution globally
- Teams may include students from the same or different fields of study or universities
Timeline
View the key dates for each stage of the Competition
Why participate?
Work on a real-world challenge and test your analytical and storytelling skills under pressure
Benchmark yourself against top students worldwide and expand your network beyond your university
Compete for attractive prizes, certificates and earn visibility for your team’s performance
Webinars
- Join our webinars to prepare for the competition and strengthen your case-solving and presentation skills. Register for an upcoming session below. More webinars will be added soon, so please check back regularly for new dates and registration links.
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7 Oct 2026 |
21:00-21:45 JST / 12:00-12:45 UTC |
From Data to Decision: thinkcell Case Competition Kick-off Session |
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14 Oct 2026 |
8:00-8:45 PM EDT / 15 Oct 00:00-00:45 UTC |
From Data to Decision: thinkcell Case Competition Kick-off Session |
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15 Oct 2026 |
12:30-13:15 CEST / 10:30-11:15 UTC |
From Data to Decision: thinkcell Case Competition Kick-off Session |
Previous editions at a glance
Explore past case prompts, winning solutions, and competition highlights
Fall 2025 Competition
This edition introduced regional rounds and separate tracks for undergraduate and graduate students. The Global Final was held on 7th November 2025 with 430+ teams consisting of 1,600+ students from top global universities including Harvard, HEC Paris, Stanford, NUS, and IIM-Ahmedabad registering for it.
Only the top 18 teams advanced to the Regional Finals.
Spring 2025 Competition
230+ teams consisting of 800+ students participated in the inaugural edition of the thinkcell Global Case Competition. The consulting case was based on the intersection of private equity and technology.
Supporting resources
To support students throughout the competition and beyond, we offer:
- A free thinkcell license for all participants
- thinkcell Academy to level up your presentation skills and boost productivity
- Live workshops on data storytelling and mastering thinkcell
- Access to thinkcell video tutorials
Frequently asked questions
How much does a thinkcell student license cost?
thinkcell licenses for academic use are completely free of charge. There is no autorenewal function and we will never ask you for your bank or card details.
Who is eligible for a free academic thinkcell license?
Any currently enrolled student at a verified higher education institution can access our program. Under this free licensing scheme, the software must be used exclusively for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Students are eligible to sign up for a free thinkcell license via the thinkcell Student Portal.
If you are a member of teaching staff, you can request a license directly via our Professor Portal.
How long is the license valid for?
Each academic license will be fulfilled by a free license key, valid for 12 months or until your graduation. Upon expiry, if you are still a student, you will be able to request a renewal. A new key will be generated and you will enjoy uninterrupted access to thinkcell.
Does a thinkcell student license come with full access to the software?
Yes! Any student using thinkcell will access the same product with full functionality and features as any paying customer using it for commercial purposes. Any users with a free academic license will also have the same level of software updates and access to new versions and upcoming features of thinkcell.
Is there a way to learn more about thinkcell capabilities for students?
Yes! Find more information on the student pages about our offerings on campus ambassadorships, case competitions as well as certifications.
I am a member of teaching staff at an accredited higher education institution. Am I eligible for a free thinkcell license?
Yes! You can request a free license as a member of teaching staff via our Professor Portal. You will be granted a free 12-month license pending a verification.
How much does a thinkcell professor license cost?
thinkcell licenses for academic use are completely free of charge. There is no autorenewal function and we will never ask you for your bank or card details.
Who is eligible for a free academic thinkcell license?
Any teaching staff at a verified higher education institution can access our program. Under this free licensing scheme, the software must be used exclusively for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Teaching staff are able to request a free license via our Professor Portal. We will verify your eligibility and typically send you a confirmation within a few days.
How can my students use thinkcell?
Any student currently enrolled in higher education is eligible to validate their own free license. To access their license key, they need to simply refer to the Student Portal.
Does thinkcell provide material to help introduce the tool to the classroom?
Yes! We have a wealth of material to help you integrate thinkcell into the classroom and engage your students with the hands-on use of an industry-standard tool.
From case-based homework assignments to free and comprehensive training resources, as a member of teaching staff you will be well set to help your students learn in-demand skills with thinkcell.
For more information on how thinkcell can help your students, please get in touch with our team at academics@think-cell.com.
I am a member of staff at a higher education institution (a research fellow, administrator, etc.). Can I access thinkcell’s free academic licensing scheme?
Yes, staff at an accredited higher university are eligible for free and full use of our tool, but this license must be used exclusively for non-profit or educational purposes.
To request access as a member of staff, simply request a license here.
How can students or my colleagues access thinkcell for free?
Any student or member of teaching staff can gain free access to thinkcell via our landing page for students and professors.