Application Deadline: February 20, 2020, 11:59PM PST

Every year, Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge invites teams of graduate students from around the globe to develop institutional-quality investment vehicles that seek positive environmental or social impact and competitive financial returns. Culminating in a final event with experts from some of the world’s leading financial and impact investing institutions, students present their proposals for judging on scales of financial innovation, feasibility and impact.

Teams

Teams of graduate students from around the world are invited to participate. Each team is limited to a maximum of four members, all of whom must be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of the prospectus submission. See the Challenge website for guidelines about team composition

Prizes

The winning and runner-up teams are awarded cash prizes of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. The winning team will also have the opportunity to attend and present at the Milken Institute Global Conference.

Each year, finalist teams emerge from the Challenge and go on to launch funds and innovations. Students also have the opportunity to connect with potential employers.

As part of the Morgan Stanley Plastic Waste Resolution to prevent, reduce and remove 50 million metric tons of plastics waste from the environment, proposals that seek to address the issue of plastic waste will be eligible for an additional prize of $5,000.

Participant airfare and hotel will be covered by the competition.

Contestants must propose and defend a strategy that uses finance and investment tools rather than an operating enterprise to address an environmental or societal challenge. The competition is an opportunity to apply core finance principles to target the economic, social and environmental challenges that drive the field of sustainable investing. Pitches might focus on areas like water, energy, food, social mobility, climate change, education or healthcare, among others. Contestants are encouraged to apply the entire spectrum of investment tools, styles and asset classes.

The Challenge seeks to identify the next generation of sustainable finance practitioners, connect emerging leaders with industry professionals, and foster even greater emphasis on sustainability at graduate schools around the world.

Timeline

Key Dates for 2020

January 17

Deadline to Request Mentor

Our network of sustainable finance experts is available to give you feedback on your proposal prior to submission.

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February 20

Prospectus Submissions Due

Turn in your team’s prospectus to officially enter the competition.

March 10

Finalists Announced

Teams moving on to the final event will be notified, and will receive additional feedback and resources to turn your prospectus into a pitch.

April 17

Final

Event

The final event will be held at the Morgan Stanley Headquarters in New York City, and participant airfare and hotel will be covered by the competition.

Application Procedure

Teams of graduate students are invited to submit a two-page prospectus by February 20, 2020, 11:59PM PST that outlines an innovative financial vehicle that addresses a sustainability challenge and meets the requirements of an institutional investor (social operating enterprises are not applicable).

Each prospectus should appropriately address the guidelines provided. Finalist teams will be selected from the pool of submissions. Finalists will present their proposals to a panel of judges at Morgan Stanley in New York on April 17, 2020. A panel of experts from some of the world’s leading financial and impact investing institutions will review and judge the pitches.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable investing Challenge 2020