Global Case Competition

think-cell Global Case Competition

The think-cell Global Case Competition is a premier, multi-stage competition in which top students from around the world tackle a real-world business case.

Dates of the next edition to be announced TBA.

Read about the previous editions:

Get to know the winners and view the case prompts and winning solution of previous editions: 

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 1600+ students from top Global universities such as Harvard, HEC Paris, Standford, NUS Singapore and IIM-Ahmedabad, etc. Registering for it.

Only the best 19 team made it to the regional finals.

Spring 2025 Competition

230+ teams consisting of 800+ students participated in the inaugural edition of the think-cell Global Case competition. The consulting case was based on the intersection of private equity and technology.​

Learning support and resource:

To support students throughout the competition and beyond, we offer:

Why participate?

Solve a Real Business Case

Work on a real-world challenge and test your analytical and storytelling skills under pressure

Compete and connect globally

Benchmark yourself against top students worldwide and expand your network beyond your university.

Win Prizes & Recognition

Compete for attractive prices, certificates and earn visibility for your team’s performance

Eligibility criteria

Team of 3 to 5 students, no participation fee

Currently enrolled in a higher education institution

Three employees taking a break around the coffee machine
Open to all accredited academic institutions across the globe

Frequently asked questions

How much does a think-cell student license cost?

think-cell 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 think-cell 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 think-cell license via the think-cell 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 think-cell.

Does a think-cell student license come with full access to the software?

Yes! Any student using think-cell 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 think-cell.

Is there a way to learn more about think-cell 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 think-cell 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 think-cell professor license cost?

think-cell 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 think-cell 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 think-cell?

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 think-cell provide material to help introduce the tool to the classroom?

Yes! We have a wealth of material to help you integrate think-cell 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 think-cell.

For more information on how think-cell 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 think-cell’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 think-cell for free?

Any student or member of teaching staff can gain free access to think-cell via our landing page for students and professors.

Apply today and compete with other universities