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All you need to know heading into the next competition!
ACG Cup 2026 will be held at the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
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ACG CUP 2026 | RULES & REGISTRATION | RESOURCES | GALLERIES |
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ACG Western Michigan's ACG Cup Mission:
To engage top academic talent in a challenging case competition, allowing them to showcase their valuation and critical thinking skills in front of local employers.
Objectives:
- Connect employers and high-potential students, encouraging talent to locate in West Michigan
- Build a network of ACG Cup competitor alumni to act as a a feeder pipeline for ACG Western Michigan involvement
- Create a lasting bond between majority-Michigan colleges and universities and ACG Western Michigan
- Ensure the provision of a unique and challenging case to student competitors
ACG Cup is an intercollegiate competition among business school students from colleges and universities across the nation. Retaining and recruiting talent in West Michigan is a major objective of the Cup competition for ACG's Western Michigan Chapter. During the competition, students analyze a complex business case and present strategies involving merger and acquisition alternatives, valuation, capital markets, finance options, and corporate strategy. Student participants gain invaluable experience in a real-world context, receive feedback from leaders in the local business community, and create networks, all while competing for a top prize of cash -- and their school's name on the ACG Cup trophy!
ACG Western Michigan is known for bringing together a robust and diverse group of students representing teams from around our state and the nation. We once again look forward to hosting teams from near and far. We're also renewing our popular networking reception the afternoon before our competition so teams can make new connections to the West Michigan business community, competition judges, and other volunteers in a low-stress, high-energy way.
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ACG Cup 2026 registration will be open for two weeks -- from January 14, 2026, to January 30, 2026. All teams must be registered by January 30 to receive access to our ACG Cup Resource Materials Library and to receive the case on February 5. Registration will close at 1 PM on Friday, January 30.
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- Teams may be comprised of a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, or teams may be comprised solely of undergraduate or graduate students. Repeat competitors are welcome! (If a returning competitor was on a team that placed first or second in the previous year's competition, s/he cannot compete on the same team with former teammates.)
- Teams shall be comprised of a minimum of three and a maximum of four members from the same institution; schools may register a maximum of five teams per institution.
- Teams must appoint a main contact upon registration for ease of communication. The main contact will be responsible for the team's entry fee if a professor or instructor is not identified.
- Participating students must be enrolled at least part-time during the 2025-2026 academic year. Teams may have no more than one member who has recently obtained an undergraduate degree from the same institution. (Students who graduate in December 2025 may still compete with classmates who are enrolled at the time of competition.)
- Teams shall register for the competition no later than 1:00 PM EST on Friday, January 30, 2026. (Contact ACG Cup Director Heather Edwards if you need more time.)
- Team names may not reference the students' school in any way, formal or informal. The ACG Cup Director will alert teams with problematic names as soon as possible.
- Teams may seek general finance understanding, presentation training, and mentoring from faculty, ACG members, ACG Cup Committee members, and outside sources only before the case is distributed. Teams are encouraged to view all materials available in our on-demand Resource Library to better understand the intricacies of the case.
- Once the case has been distributed, teams may not enlist help from outside their teams, including from professors, for any aspects specific to the competition case.
Teams may not use outside resources to prepare the case study. They may only use materials available to them with case study documents.
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- Cash prize! The winning team will receive $6,000 for their efforts.
- Each team advancing to the final round, including the overall winner, will receive an invitation to a facilitated lunch with ACG Western Michigan sponsor representatives.
- Receive direct exposure to professionals in the M&A community across Michigan and the Midwest.
- Participate in Career Conversations and network with finance industry representatives looking for new talent.
- Complimentary professional headshots to use when marketing yourself to potential employers.
- Share a resume with competition judges and wranglers via our online ACG Cup Competitor Resume Gallery.
Gain valuable, real-life skills in the M&A space. This kind of exposure and training is not found anywhere else!
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All teams must prepare the following for competition day, Saturday, February 21, 2026:
- Teams must prepare an electronic presentation (e.g., PowerPoint) detailing their case recommendation. Presentation materials must not reference the team's college or university affiliation in any way.
- Teams must provide hard copy handouts of the presentation deck to all judges in their competition group. Teams are encouraged to have ten (10) copies of materials for use in Round One and the Final Round, if applicable.
- All materials must be submitted in the English language.
- All team members must take part in the presentation.
- Team names may not reference the students' college or univeristy in any way, formal or informal.
- Team attire shall consist of business wear, and shall not showcase any particular college or university affiliation (necktie, lapel pin, scarf, etc.)
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- Student competitors, professors, or student advisors may register teams.
- Each institution is limited to sending five (5) teams to the competition.
- The cost to participate in the ACG Cup 2026 competition is $175.00. ACG Western Michigan will invoice the individual listed on the team registration form as the professor/advisor. All teams will be invoiced after registration closes on January 30, 2026; prompt payment is appreciated. ACG Western Michigan has the ability to bundle team fees and invoice your department or liaison directly.
- Each professor/advisor is encouraged to promote the competition to classes/student groups. ACG Western Michigan may share promotional language for email and social media as it becomes available.
- Each professor/advisor is encouraged to provide or facilitate training and mentoring for student teams before the case is released.
- Each college/university is encouraged to share contact information and to receive information regarding an ACG Cup informal visit to campus or a virtual meeting with your students.
Each professor/advisor is empowered to encourage teams to review the on-demand materials available in our Resource Materials Library and to access the Library for teaching supplements.
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Our Resource Materials Library is intended to be a one-stop primer on M&A methodologies, presentation and personal branding basics, and includes a case sample presentation video and a Private Equity overview. At the close of registration, all teams (and their professors) will receive access to the library.
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Sample Case for student review: See this PAST ACG CUP CASE as an example to help your team understand the scope of work required to prepare for the competition. (This case was written by and is the property of ACG Western Michigan. It contains no answers and is provided strictly for enhancing understanding of the competition.)
Here, our professors can find the latest
information about ACG Cup 2026 through our newsletters that let you know how our competition is shaping up. All Cup Updates will be emailed directly to professors before they are cached here.
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WHAT: Informal, complimentary networking mixer for ACG Cup competitors and professors
WHERE: Mercantile Bank, 310 Leonard, NW, Grand Rapids, MI
WHEN: Friday, February 20, 2026 | 3:30 - 5:30 pm
During our popular Career Conversations Networking Mixer, student competitors meet one-on-one with company leaders and decision makers looking for new talent in the finance and M&A space. Competitors and professors are welcome to attend this complimentary pre-competition event and connect with representatives from Michigan companies and competition judges, many of whom represent prestigious local and regional firms. ACG Western Michigan members are actively seeking graduate and undergraduate students with a finesse for finance who possess the skills and qualities that enable them to become experts in corporate finance, investment banking, financial advisory roles, and private equity. Our Career Conversations event connects participants with employers in the greater West Michigan region. Every year, ACG Cup competitors are hired as a direct result of participating in this competition!
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Below is a list of participating companies and firms that have taken part in our Career Conversations Networking Mixer in the recent past. Click on any logo to learn more about each company -- and how you might want to connect with them at our 2026 mixer. Our list of participating companies will be udpated as we gain commitments from the firms looking to meet you!
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Take a look at the dedicated professionals from our business community who are looking for talent like you. Make a plan to connect with them during our competition! (2026 Judges' Gallery to come as roster is filled.)
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(Competitor information to come)
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Each year, our competition requires many volunteers to make the day run smoothly. Our group of dedicated volunteer Wranglers is comprised of individuals from the business community who want to help our participants make the most of the competition day. They are dedicated to ensuring competitors know where to be and when to be there and they are an invaluable part of our competition.
(2026 Wranglers' Gallery to come as roster is filled.)
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We were excited to welcome the following colleges and universities to our 2025 competition, and look forward to seeing them -- and meeting competitors from new-to-us schools -- at our upcoming 2026 competition! Click on any logo below to learn more about their business program offerings.
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Prior to the ACG Cup 2026 competition, we'll hold Finance Feud for local firms and individuals who want to participate at the Embassy Suites in downtown Grand Rapids. Student competitors are welcome free of charge! Reach out to ACG Cup Director Heather Edwards at hedwards@acg.org if you want to participate in this fun trivia night on November 6, 2025.
Finance Feud is an annual fundraising event to support ACG Cup. Held in the autumn preceding the Cup competition, Finance Feud presents a fun way for teams in business and related industries to try to one-up each other in a friendly trivia competition. This fun, high-energy trivia night pits teams from accounting and law firms as well as corporations and universities against one another. The winning team takes home the trophy and bragging rights for the next year.
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Meet members of our ACG Cup Committee -- the team that makes our ACG Cup Competition possible!
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Charter Capital Judges' Recruitment Lead | Image
Baking Company LLC ACG Cup Committee Chair | Image
EHTC Finance Feud Lead/Emcee |
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Aquila Equity Partners Case Team Lead | Image
Independent Bank Judges' Recruitment Lead | Image
Plante Moran Case Team |
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Adamy Valuation Case Team | Image
Seaman's Mechanical Cup Committee Co-Chair; Career Conversations Lead | Image
ACG Western Michigan ACG Cup Director |
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ACG Western Michigan is a local chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. The Western Michigan chapter was founded in 1999 by a group of West Michigan business leaders who recognized the need for a local organization to serve as a resource to executives actively involved in deal making and internal and external growth challenges in their companies.
Today, ACG Western Michigan is where change makers come to connect, share, and learn, and create an environment to foster growth for West Michigan business and all the markets our members serve.
Our global community serves a diverse membership of business leaders who bring perspectives from various disciplines, industries, and leadership experiences. Our programming features a vast array of thought-provoking and experiential content focused on the concerns of growing businesses. Our events foster a productive exchange of ideas, build critical relationships, and create conversations of consequence.
From driving growth to navigating change, from developing talent to investing in the West Michigan business community, your concerns form our agendas.
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Join us at ACG's Aerospace & Defense Forum in Los Angeles
Early rates end Oct. 1! Register now to attend ACG's Aerospace & Defense Middle Market Leadership Forum on Dec. 2-3 in Los Angeles.
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