Details
2024 Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge
The Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge harnesses the power of capital markets and student creativity to create positive impact in a world of perpetual resource scarcity and continued population growth. Every year, the Kellogg School of Management and Morgan Stanley partner to host the challenge where teams of graduate students from around the globe develop and pitch creative financial approaches to tackle our world’s most pressing challenges.
In 2023, more than 300 students from 53 countries and over 60 schools proposed novel financial instruments for positive impact. The Challenge facilitates connections with leading industry professionals in order to identify, empower, and inspire those who will make up the future of sustainable finance.
Eligibility Criteria for 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.
Check: 2024 Hans Hartwig Ruthenberg- Graduate Award
Prize
- Grand prize : $10,000
- Runner up: $5,000
- Third Prize: $25,000
Judging Criteria for 2024 Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge
Creativity & Financial Innovation 25%
Has the team proposed an innovative investment vehicle that is designed to drive both returns and impact? We are looking for either:
An innovative financial structure or
A 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?
Also check: Singapore International Graduate Award (Singa)
Impact and scale 25%
- 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?
Feasibility 25%
- 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?
Quality of due diligence and financials 20%
- 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?
Presentation 5%
- 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?
You should check out: Grant 2024 U.S Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ)
Application
Specifications
| Type of Opportunity | Competitions and Awards |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 21 January,2024 |
| Open to | All |
| Organizer | Kellogg School of Management |
| Contact the organizer | @sustainableinvestingchallenge.org |