
NEW for 2023: After two years of virtual competition, we are pleased to host the next iteration of ACG Cup in a hybrid manner at GVSU's Seidman College of Business. This year, teams will be able to choose whether they'll compete in person or via a livestream feed.
NEW for 2023: We'll host a networking reception in-person on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 4:30 - 7:00 PM EST. This is your chance to meet judges and business community members in person and make meaningful networking connections. Place TBD, time subject to change. Questions? Reach out to us anytime at acgcup@acgwmich.org.
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Liaisons | Finance Feud |
Career Conversations |
Hired a Competitor | Participating Colleges & Universities |
ACG Cup Committee |
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Our next ACG Cup Competition is coming up! Image
![]() Download/print our February competition calendar, as shown below, HERE: Image
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Learn more with our FAQs here!
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 AC's Western Michigan Chapter. During competition, students analyze complex business cases 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 CASH!
ACG Western Michigan is known for bringing together a robust and diverse group of students representing teams from around our state and the nation. Our pivot to an all-virtual competition during the last two years enabled us to welcome teams from across the United States, from Texas to New York! For 2023, teams from all over will have the choice to compete virtually via a livestreamed feed or join us in person at Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business. We'll also host a networking reception the evening before our competition so teams can make new connections to the West Michigan business community and judges taking part in the ACG Cup initiative.
Attention Teams: Be sure to whitelist the email address "acgcup@acgwmich.org" so you don't miss important communications about our competition!
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![]() **Participation in the competition, including eligibility and payment of any cash prize, is subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions. |
The following list is comprised of colleges and universities that have participated in our competition in the recent past. As we continue to grow our competition, we are eager to expand the list of competing institutions. If your institution is taking part for the first time in 2023, email ACG Staff at acgcup@acgwmich.org and we'll add you to this list!
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![]() Teams must submit twelve (12) hard copies of presentation materials. Please see requirements for your team's choice -- in-person or virtual presentation -- below.
Virtual teams must prepare the following: This list is largely the same as above. Please pay close attention to items 1 and 2, as judges will still expect to receive hard copies of the teams' Cover Letters and supplemental materials prior to the actual competition date of February 25. Teams choosing to compete virtually will receive a link and presenation time prior to February 25.
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![]() The Valuation Seminar offers an introduction to M&A from different perspectives including, a Private Equity Group that uses the Leverage Buy-Out (LBO) methodology to acquire companies, and the Strategic Buyer that could use all cash or stock to acquire companies. The seminar focuses on theoretical and technical approaches to valuation, as well as qualitative factors that influence the value of a company. Valuation Seminar proves instrumental in understanding the ins and outs of M&A from different perspectives, and it also provides participants the opportunity to network with other students and ACG members. Image
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See the list of participating companies and firms that sent representatives to our ACG Cup 2022 event. Click on any logo to learn more about them.
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Adamy Valuation | BDO USA, LLP | Blackford Capital | Calder Capital |
Charter Capital Partners | Connection Builders | Crowe LLP | DWH |
Mercantile Bank of Michigan | NuVescor | Waseyabek Development Company |
Introducing ACG Cup Advisors
Feedback matters. Professional feedback about how a team can strengthen their presentation or points to address can teach our competitors so much. That's why this year, we're introducing a team of ACG Cup Advisors -- professionals from our business community who will be assigned to our competition judging rooms and offer follow-up guidance to our Round One winners. After receiving feedback from our judges on your team's presentation, each team advancing beyond Round One will receive fifteen minutes of time from an ACG Cup Advisor in a one-on-one session to help them use their feedback to strengthen their Final Round presenation. Meet our 2023 ACG Cup Advisors now.
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Our judges' combined experience and expertise in M&A, valuation, and financial products allows them to help simulate a real-world experience for our competitors. Judges come from our business community and volunteer their time and talent to make our competition a success. Our Judges' Lead, Megan Odegaard, works with Cup Committee members to recruit and guide our judges through competition scoring and training. Megan is supported by committee members Caleb Pols and Krista Flynn, who help our judges navigate the Cup Competition. Learn more about the Judges' Support team HERE.
Our volunteer judges come from our business community and provide our competitors with real connections to their industries. They are professionals who dedicate their time to ensuring the ACG Cup competition is a well-rounded experience and we are so thankful for them. Please select the bios below to learn more about the professionals who volunteer their time and talents to judge our competition. |
Meet the Committee that makes our ACG Cup Competition possible!
Select a Cup Committee member to learn more about his/her background.
Chloe Benzer, Crowe Liaison Lead |
Gunther Brinkman, Snackwerks Liaison Lead |
LoÏc Dimithe, Miller Johnson Case Writing Lead |
Heather Edwards, PAR ACG Cup Organizer |
Matt Fegan, EHTC Finance Feud Lead |
Eric Fischer, BDO USA Liaison Support |
Krista Flynn, PNC Bank Judges' Support |
Jake Helwick, Adamy Valuation Chair |
Jessica Kuster, Hello |
Todd McGuire, Plante Moran Valuation Seminar Lead |
Megan Odegaard, BDO USA Co-Chair, Judges' Lead |
Nathan Olberding, Adamy Valuation Valuation Seminar Lead |
Caleb Pols, Past-Chair; Judges' Support |
Our generous sponsors make it possible to bring outstanding programs and events to you. Please click below or see our main Cup page HERE to learn more about them.
PLATINUM SPONSORS |
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RUBY TALENT SPONSORS |
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EMERALD TALENT SPONSORS |
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