Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore
A consulting case competition hosted by IIM Indore under its Prabodhan conclave, with a ₹2,00,000 prize pool for MBA teams from India's top B-schools.
- Funding amount
- ₹2L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (27 Jul 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Ace the Case is the consulting case competition held as part of Prabodhan, the flagship Leadership & HR Conclave at IIM Indore. The conclave is run by the Corporate Interaction Committee (CIC) of the institute's EPGP programme, which draws industry leaders and students together through competitions, workshops and networking sessions.
The contest puts student teams in a consultant's chair. They work through a live business problem drawn from one of India's fast-growing sectors, then put together a structured recommendation that stands on data and financial reasoning. Every solution has to be defended before a judging panel made up of people from industry and academia.
There is a ₹2,00,000 prize pool on the table, split across the top three teams, plus certificates for finalists and for every registered participant. Registration closes on 27 July 2026 at 11:30 PM, the case document follows on 28 July, and the finale is scheduled between 10 and 12 August.
Participation is limited to students enrolled in full-time or executive management programmes at a defined set of Indian B-schools, and every team member needs a Unstop account in place before registering.
Highlights
- Consulting case competition run under Prabodhan, the Leadership & HR Conclave at IIM Indore
- Prize pool of ₹2,00,000 — ₹1,00,000 for the winner, ₹60,000 and ₹40,000 for the next two teams
- Open to MBA/PGDM/EMBA students at IIM BLACKI, ISB, XLRI and SPJIMR
- Register by 27 July 2026, 11:30 PM through Unstop
- Two rounds: a written deck submission, then a live finale for the top 10 teams
- Certificates of Merit for finalists and participation certificates for all registered teams
Who can apply
Entry is limited to students who are currently enrolled in a full-time or executive management programme — an MBA, PGDM, EMBA or an equivalent qualification — at one of the institutions named in the eligibility list:
- IIM BLACKI
- ISB
- XLRI
- SPJIMR
A few conditions sit alongside the institute requirement:
- Each participant may be part of only one team.
- Every team member must have a valid account on Unstop.
- Duplicate registrations result in disqualification.
This is a student case contest, so eligibility is decided by your current enrolment at a listed B-school rather than by a company, a startup stage or a sector.
Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
The most recent application window for Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore closed on 27 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Awards are paid as cash prizes to the three best-performing teams after the grand finale:
- 1st prize: ₹1,00,000
- 2nd prize: ₹60,000
- 3rd prize: ₹40,000
These three awards together make up the ₹2,00,000 prize pool.
Beyond the cash:
- Every finalist team earns a Certificate of Merit.
- Every registered team receives a participation certificate.
Because this is a competition and not an investment programme, the returns come as prize money and certificates — no equity is taken from participants.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
The contest runs across two rounds, and the finale line-up is built from the first round.
Round 1 — Case solution submission. The detailed case is released on 28 July, giving teams 14 days to prepare. Solutions must be submitted as a slide deck in PDF format by 7 August, 11:59 PM, and the deck may run to a maximum of 10–12 slides — the cover page, index and thank-you slide are not counted towards that limit.
Shortlisting. The top 10 teams are announced on 10 August and invited to present at the grand finale.
Round 2 — Grand finale. Shortlisted teams present their solution live before the judging panel, followed by questions. Each team gets 10 minutes to present and 10 minutes of Q&A. The finale takes place between 10 and 12 August, and the winners are announced on 14 August.
Submissions must be original work. Plagiarism or undisclosed AI-generated content leads to disqualification, late entries are not accepted, and the decisions of the judges and organisers are final and binding.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much prize money does Ace the Case offer?
The winning team receives ₹1,00,000, the runner-up gets ₹60,000 and the third-placed team takes ₹40,000, adding up to a total prize pool of ₹2,00,000. On top of the cash, finalist teams receive Certificates of Merit and every registered team gets a participation certificate.
Who is eligible to participate?
Only students enrolled in a full-time or executive MBA, PGDM, EMBA or equivalent management programme at IIM BLACKI, ISB, XLRI or SPJIMR can take part. You need to be a current student at one of those institutions at the time of the competition.
What is the registration deadline?
Registration closes on 27 July 2026 at 11:30 PM. The case document is released the following day, 28 July, so teams that register on time get the full 14-day window to build their Round 1 submission.
How do we apply for the competition?
Registration is done through the Unstop competition page for Prabodhan's Ace the Case. Every member of your team must hold a valid account on Unstop, and duplicate registrations will lead to disqualification, so make sure your team puts in a single entry.
Does Ace the Case take equity in participating teams?
No. This is a case competition rather than an investment, so the rewards are cash prizes and certificates. Nothing is claimed from participants in exchange for the prize money.
What is the format of the competition?
There are two rounds. In Round 1, teams receive the case document and submit a written solution as a PDF slide deck within 14 days. In Round 2, the top 10 teams present their solution live to the judging panel, followed by a Q&A session of 10 minutes each.
What are the submission rules for Round 1?
The solution must be a PDF deck of 10–12 slides at most, excluding the cover page, the index and the thank-you slide. It has to be submitted by 7 August, 11:59 PM. All work must be original, plagiarism or undisclosed AI-generated content leads to disqualification, and late submissions are not accepted.
Can I be part of more than one team?
No. Each participant is allowed to be on only one team, and registering more than once results in disqualification.
How are the finalists selected and judged?
The top 10 teams from the Round 1 submissions are shortlisted and announced on 10 August. They then present live between 10 and 12 August before a judging panel drawn from industry and academia, with 10 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for questions. The judges' and organisers' decisions are final and binding.
Who organises Prabodhan's Ace the Case?
It is organised by the Corporate Interaction Committee (CIC) of the EPGP programme at IIM Indore, as part of Prabodhan, the institute's flagship Leadership & HR Conclave. IIM Indore is one of India's leading management institutes.
Is DPIIT recognition required for Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore?
No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.
How do I apply for Prabodhan's Ace the Case — ₹2L Consulting Case Competition at IIM Indore?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
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