Bulls & Bears
Bulls & Bears
Market Maker
Overview:
A simulation-based event where participants play the role of market makers in a virtual stock
exchange. They will manage both buy and sell orders and provide liquidity while balancing risks,
profits, and maintaining market stability.
Event Structure:
- Roles: Each team is assigned as a "market maker" for a particular stock or sector. They have to
manage buy/sell orders to keep the market balanced and make profits.
- Phases: The game is divided into different trading sessions with market volatility simulated through
news updates, economic indicators, and global events (e.g., geopolitical tensions, monetary policy
changes).
- Order Books: Participants will maintain digital order books for their respective stocks. The order
books will update in real time, and they need to react quickly to price changes.
- Market Dynamics: A software platform will simulate stock price changes based on demand-supply,
news, and participant actions. Teams will use their understanding of fundamental and technical
analysis to forecast market movements.
- Winning Criteria: Teams with the highest profits while maintaining liquidity and minimal price
volatility win. There will also be bonus points for strategic handling of unexpected market crashes or
surges.
Why It Works:
- Teaches participants about the real-world role of market makers and their impact on financial
markets.
Overview:
A gamified event where participants form teams (Bulls and Bears) and make long/short trades based
on fundamental analysis, company news, and sectoral trends.
Event Structure:
- Teams: Teams of 3-4 members are formed, and each team is assigned a starting portfolio with
virtual money (e.g., ₹10,00,000).
- Rounds: The event consists of multiple rounds, each representing a trading day. Each round starts
with market news updates, including economic indicators, earnings releases, and global market
trends.
- Trading Mechanism: Teams can go long (Bullish) or short (Bearish) on different sectors or
companies. Short selling is allowed, and a margin account is provided.
- Dynamic Challenges: Flash challenges like "Sectoral Surprise" (sudden sector-based changes) or
"CEO Scandal" (specific company-related news) can create disruptions, forcing teams to rethink their
strategies.
- Market Sentiment Analysis: Teams can analyze social media sentiment, expert opinions, and news
to forecast price movements.
- Winning Criteria: The team with the highest portfolio value by the end of the event wins. A separate
award can be given for the most strategic short trade.
Why It Works:
Overview:
An event focused on financial crisis management and decision-making under pressure. Teams are
given a simulated scenario where a financial crisis occurs, and they must develop strategies to save
their company, sector, or country from economic collapse.
Event Structure:
- Scenario Building: Each team represents a different entity (e.g., Central Bank, Investment Bank,
Hedge Fund, Government, Regulatory Body).
- Crisis Phases: The game unfolds over multiple phases—starting with a market crash, followed by
liquidity crunches, debt defaults, and potential rescues or bailouts.
- Decision Making: Teams must decide on interest rates, fiscal policies, bailout packages, austerity
measures, and other economic policies. Decisions must be justified with economic theories and
potential outcomes.
- Negotiations: Teams can negotiate with other teams to form alliances, merge entities, or even
propose controversial measures like a "Bailout Package."
- Real-Time Feedback: A simulation tool will provide real-time feedback on the impact of each
decision, showing how it affects market confidence, GDP, inflation, and unemployment.
- Winning Criteria: The team that successfully navigates the crisis with the highest recovery metrics
(e.g., market stability, GDP growth, reduced inflation) wins.
Why It Works:
Overview:
A high-stakes event where participants create and manage their own hedge funds, investing in
various assets like stocks, derivatives, commodities, and bonds to maximize returns.
Event Structure:
- Fund Creation: Each team starts with an initial fund amount (e.g., ₹50,00,000) and can allocate it
across different asset classes based on their chosen strategy (e.g., Long/Short Equity, Global Macro,
Event-Driven).
- Dynamic Market Environment: The event will feature simulated news releases, economic data, and
policy changes that affect different asset classes. Teams must adjust their portfolio accordingly.
- Risk Management Tools: Teams have access to derivatives like options and futures to hedge their
positions. Using these tools wisely will be crucial.
- Performance Metrics: Teams will be judged based on overall returns, Sharpe Ratio (risk-adjusted
returns), and drawdown management.
- Bonus Rounds: Unexpected events like "Market Crash," "Commodity Boom," or "Currency
Devaluation" can create additional challenges.
- Winning Criteria: The team with the highest risk-adjusted returns at the end of the event wins.
Why It Works:
- Encourages participants to learn about alternative investments, derivatives, and risk management.
Overview:
An interactive event focused on Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), where participants play the roles of
investment bankers, company representatives, and institutional investors.
Event Structure:
- Roles: Participants are divided into teams of investment bankers, companies, and investors.
Investment bankers manage the IPO process, companies seek to raise funds, and investors bid for
shares.
- IPO Phases: The event is split into different phases—Roadshow (pitching the company to investors),
Book Building (price discovery process), and IPO Listing.
- Pitching and Negotiations: Company teams must prepare a pitch deck, and bankers will guide them
through financial projections and valuations. Investors will analyze and decide how much they want
to invest.
- Market Sentiment Simulation: Once the IPO is listed, stock prices will be simulated based on market
sentiment, economic indicators, and company fundamentals.
- Winning Criteria: Successful IPOs are judged based on the post-listing price performance and
investor satisfaction. Bankers with the most deals and companies with the best valuations win.
Why It Works:
- Offers a practical experience of investment banking, corporate finance, and institutional investing.
To help you find inspiration for creating standout events for the Bulls and Bears Club at VIT Vellore,
I'll list some of the best finance and investment-related events hosted by universities around the
world. These events are known for their creativity, depth, and ability to engage students in financial
literacy, trading, investment strategies, and economic policy analysis. Here are some of the top
events from renowned universities:
1. Harvard Business School - Stock Pitch Competition
- Overview: This event is one of the premier competitions for undergraduate and MBA students
worldwide. Participants present their best stock pitches to a panel of judges, including hedge fund
managers, equity research analysts, and other finance professionals.
- Key Features:
- Participants perform in-depth equity research, develop a thesis, and defend their pitch.
- Rigorous feedback from experienced judges helps students understand the nuances of
investment research.
- The event emphasizes fundamental analysis, valuation models, and risk assessment.
- Why It Stands Out: The competition attracts top talent from around the world and provides a real-
world experience in equity research and portfolio management.
2. University of Chicago Booth School of Business - The Global MBA Stock Trading Competition**
- Overview: This competition allows students to engage in a simulated stock market environment
that mimics real-life trading with real-time data.
- Key Features:
- Participants manage a portfolio over a set period using a virtual trading platform.
- The competition involves managing risk, timing trades, and responding to real-time market news
and updates.
- Why It Stands Out: Offers a dynamic and realistic trading experience, enhancing students’
practical skills in portfolio management, market timing, and financial analysis.
- Overview: The LSE Emerging Markets Forum is a student-led initiative that brings together leaders
from government, business, and academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities in emerging
markets.
- Key Features:
- Panel discussions with global thought leaders on topics such as economic policy, financial
regulation, and sustainable development.
- Why It Stands Out: Provides students with insights into global economic issues and the
complexities of investing in emerging markets, fostering a holistic understanding of finance and
economics.
4. Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania - Wharton Investment Competition
- Overview: This annual competition involves high school and college students competing in teams
to create the best-performing portfolio using Wharton's online trading platform.
- Key Features:
- Participants manage a simulated investment portfolio for an extended period (e.g., 10 weeks)
using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.
- Teams present their strategies and justify their decisions based on financial models and market
trends.
- Why It Stands Out: Encourages a long-term investment mindset and comprehensive portfolio
management strategies, combining both fundamental and technical aspects.
- Overview: The MIT Fintech Conference is one of the largest student-led conferences on financial
technology, bringing together students, professionals, and academics to discuss the future of fintech.
- Key Features:
- Keynote speeches and panel discussions by fintech innovators, venture capitalists, and banking
executives.
- Startup pitch competitions where fintech startups pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.
- Why It Stands Out: Provides insights into the rapidly evolving fintech landscape and fosters
innovation and entrepreneurship among students interested in finance and technology.
- Overview: A dynamic trading game where students from various programs, including MBA and
undergraduates, engage in a simulated trading floor experience.
- Key Features:
- Students use proprietary software to trade equities, bonds, derivatives, and commodities.
- The trading environment mimics a real-time market with news, economic indicators, and
corporate earnings reports.
- Why It Stands Out: Offers a competitive and highly engaging experience that combines real-world
trading, strategic thinking, and teamwork.
7. CFA Institute Research Challenge
- Overview: The CFA Institute Research Challenge is a global competition where students work in
teams to research and analyze a publicly traded company and produce a professional equity research
report.
- Key Features:
- Teams are mentored by a CFA charterholder and receive guidance on report writing and
presentations.
- Participants gain hands-on experience in financial analysis, valuation, and investment research.
- Why It Stands Out: Recognized worldwide, the challenge provides a unique opportunity to
develop skills essential for careers in finance and investment management.
8. University of Oxford - Oxford Finance and Investment Society (OFIS) Trading and Investment
Challenge
- Overview: A trading and investment challenge where participants use a simulated trading
platform to make investment decisions and build portfolios.
- Key Features:
- The challenge focuses on both short-term trading and long-term investment strategies.
- Real-time market data and news feed to simulate actual market conditions.
- Why It Stands Out: Combines trading skills with a deep understanding of investment
fundamentals, risk management, and portfolio optimization.
- Overview: A unique event where students play the role of venture capitalists and evaluate real
startups looking for funding.
- Key Features:
- Teams perform due diligence, conduct meetings with entrepreneurs, and negotiate investment
deals.
- Startups present their business models, and participants need to decide on the investment
amount and terms.
- Real-world venture capitalists judge the teams based on their decision-making, negotiation skills,
and investment thesis.
- Why It Stands Out: Provides hands-on experience in venture capital and startup funding, fostering
a deep understanding of entrepreneurship and investment strategies.
- Overview: A highly competitive event where teams analyze and present private equity investment
cases.
- Key Features:
- Participants analyze a case involving a potential buyout target, performing valuation, deal
structuring, and risk assessment.
- Presentations to a panel of private equity professionals who provide feedback and select the
winning team.
- Opportunity to learn about the private equity industry, deal-making, and exit strategies.
- Why It Stands Out: Focuses on private equity, an area that requires a deep understanding of
financial modeling, valuation, and strategic planning.
These events are renowned for their depth, competitiveness, and learning value, making them great
references for developing innovative and engaging events for the Bulls and Bears Club at VIT Vellore.
Each event emphasizes different aspects of finance, from trading and investment strategies to fintech
and venture capital, providing ample inspiration for creating a unique event tailored to your club's
goals and audience.
1. Harvard Business School - Stock Pitch Competition
- Format: Teams of 2-3 students select a stock and present a detailed pitch recommending a buy,
sell, or hold strategy. The presentation typically includes fundamental analysis, valuation models (like
DCF, multiples, etc.), industry analysis, competitive positioning, and risk factors.
- Judging Criteria: Judges evaluate based on the depth of research, originality of the thesis,
understanding of the stock's drivers, quality of the presentation, and ability to answer questions.
- Participation Rules: Open to MBA and undergraduate students globally. The first round may
involve a written report or video pitch, with selected teams advancing to a live presentation.
- Unique Aspects: Participants get to present to seasoned professionals from leading investment
firms, gaining invaluable feedback and networking opportunities.
2. University of Chicago Booth School of Business - The Global MBA Stock Trading Competition**
-Format: Participants are given a virtual portfolio and trade stocks in a simulated environment that
reflects real market conditions. The competition runs for several weeks, with live trading sessions
and periodic market updates.
- Judging Criteria: Performance is judged based on the risk-adjusted return of the portfolio,
strategy, diversification, and responsiveness to market news and trends.
- Participation Rules: Open to MBA students from around the world, often in teams of 3-4.
Participants must use a mix of fundamental and technical analysis for decision-making.
- Unique Aspects: The competition uses proprietary trading platforms and includes elements like
news impact analysis, making it highly realistic and challenging.
- Format: The forum features a series of panel discussions, keynote speeches, and workshops
focused on economic policy, financial regulation, and investment strategies in emerging markets.
- Judging Criteria: Not a competitive event, but panelists and participants are selected based on
their expertise and relevance to the topics discussed.
- Participation Rules: Open to all students and professionals. Participants can attend panels and
engage in networking sessions.
- Unique Aspects: Attracts high-profile speakers, such as government officials, economists, and
business leaders, providing deep insights into emerging market dynamics.
- Format: Teams of 4-7 high school or college students manage a simulated investment portfolio
over a period (usually 10 weeks). They make real-time investment decisions using a virtual trading
platform provided by Wharton.
- Judging Criteria: Teams are judged based on portfolio performance, risk management, the
rationale for trades, diversification, and long-term strategy.
- Participation Rules: Open to high school and college students worldwide. Teams must submit
periodic reports detailing their investment strategies and decision-making processes.
- Unique Aspects: The competition emphasizes long-term, value-based investing and offers
mentorship from finance professors and industry experts.
- Format: The conference includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops focusing
on the latest trends in fintech, such as blockchain, AI in finance, digital payments, and cybersecurity.
- Judging Criteria: The startup pitch competition is judged on innovation, scalability, business model
viability, and market potential.
- Participation Rules: Open to students, professionals, startups, and fintech enthusiasts. Startups
must apply to participate in the pitch competition.
- Unique Aspects: One of the largest student-run fintech conferences, providing a platform for
startups to pitch to VCs and industry experts, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Format: Participants engage in a simulated trading floor environment using proprietary software.
The game involves trading equities, bonds, derivatives, and commodities in real time.
- Judging Criteria: Participants are judged based on profitability, risk management, strategic
decision-making, and adaptability to market changes.
- Participation Rules: Open to Yale students and select invitees from other schools. Teams compete
over a series of rounds, each focusing on different asset classes and market conditions.
- Unique Aspects: The trading simulation is highly realistic, with news, economic indicators, and
events affecting market prices, similar to actual trading environments.
- Format: Teams analyze a publicly traded company, write an equity research report, and present
their findings to a panel of judges. The challenge involves multiple stages: local, regional, and global.
- Judging Criteria: Reports and presentations are evaluated based on analysis quality, valuation
techniques, investment thesis, risk assessment, and presentation skills.
- Participation Rules: Open to university students worldwide, typically in teams of 3-5. Each team is
mentored by a CFA charterholder and a faculty advisor.
- Unique Aspects: Highly recognized in the industry, providing participants with practical experience
in equity research and networking with finance professionals.
8. University of Oxford - Oxford Finance and Investment Society (OFIS) Trading and Investment
Challenge
- Format: Participants manage a simulated investment portfolio using real-time market data. The
challenge includes both short-term trading and long-term investment strategies.
- Participation Rules: Open to students from Oxford and other invited universities. Teams must
submit regular updates on their strategies and performance.
- Unique Aspects: Combines elements of both trading and investing, allowing participants to
explore different approaches to market participation.
-Format: Teams act as venture capitalists and evaluate real startups looking for investment. The
competition involves due diligence, entrepreneur meetings, term sheet negotiations, and final
presentations.
- Judging Criteria: Judged on deal-making ability, negotiation skills, understanding of the business
model, and the rationale behind investment decisions.
- Participation Rules: Open to MBA students from leading business schools. Teams must present a
comprehensive investment thesis and negotiate deals with startup founders.
- Unique Aspects: Unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in venture capital,
from deal sourcing to term sheet negotiation, mentored by real VCs.
- Format: Teams analyze a potential buyout target, perform financial modeling, valuation, risk
analysis, and suggest a deal structure. The case study typically involves a real-life private equity
scenario.
- Judging Criteria: Teams are judged on their analysis quality, valuation models, risk assessment,
strategic insights, and the feasibility of their proposed deal.
- Participation Rules: Open to MBA students globally. Teams must submit a detailed presentation
and report, with finalists presenting to a panel of private equity professionals.
- Unique Aspects: Offers a deep dive into the private equity industry, covering aspects like
leveraged buyouts, exit strategies, and post-acquisition management.
Cashflow 2.0 Structure:
Basic Rules:
You can do transactions when you land on specific spots on the board.
You get payday when you cross payday, irrespective of whether you land on it or not.
Loan is a principal free loan, you gotta pay the loan amount separately for the interest to
decrease, no concept of EMI, you have to pay the loan interest per payday.
To win:
Passive Income>Expenses.
When your Payday<0 aka negative(-ve) and it stays like that even when you have zero cash
and you have no stocks left to sell to pay back your loans.
Payday:
Payday=Income-Expenses
If your payday is negative but you have cash to repay your loans, once you have repaid all the
loans and your payday is still negative, you lose. Otherwise the game continues.
Expenses:
Your expenses include fixed expenses and the interest you ought to pay on the money you
have borrowed(loans) everytime you pass payday.
Cash:
Assets:
To buy assets you need a minimum down payment amount, which you can reach by taking a
personal loan at 12% interest rate.(Limit:₹1,75,000)
When you buy assets, the money you have goes towards purchasing the asset so whatever
amount you have less than or equal to the asset price gets deducted and the rest amount if
greater than zero becomes a loan as per the deal type.
Cannot be sold.
Liabilities:
Small deals:
These are small businesses and pieces of real estate that generate small to medium passive
income.
Big deals:
These are big businesses and pieces of real estate that generate medium to big passive
income.
Stocks:
You have to book the value of the stock if you want to buy it, otherwise the updated value
will be given to you irrespective it goes up or down.
Stocks can be bought and sold when you land on trade, you only have 2 minutes every time
you land at trade. Multiple transactions can be made.
If low on cash, you can buy stocks by taking a personal loan at 12% interest rate.
Stocks are financial assets not real assets, therefore they don't show up in your assets
section.
Loans:
Loans are EMI-Free loans, the installment under an EMI-free loan does not include the
principal amount.
For Example:
Loan Amount=₹1,00,000
Interest rates:
Loan repay karte hue dekhna bas, baaki sab is sahi by software hii.
DO NOT pay an extra loan amount, for example someone has 1L loan, and cash is 1.10L, do
not pay 1.10 by mistake, it leads to negative liabilities which is bad for the player as they
might need that money, it does not break the game so relax.