ACG Cup 2026 -- Competition Details

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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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Image Career Conversation Networking Mixer   Friday, February 20, 2026 | 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM ACG Cup 2026 COMPETITION:  Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 8 AM - 5 PM

Our next ACG Cup Competition is coming up!  IMPORTANT DATES: All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST) The 2026 ACG Cup Competition timeline is here! Every effort will be made to keep dates as they are; times may change slightly. Mark your calendar now!

Image Career Conversations Networking Mixer 2/20: Mercantile Bank | Community Room 310 Leonard Ave, NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Image Competition, 2/21: Grand Valley State University  Seidman College of Business 50 Front Avenue, SW Grand Rapids, MI 49504   Image

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 -- 9 AM, EST: Team Registration Opens Friday, January 31, 2026 -- 1 PM, EST: Team Registration Closes Thursday, February 5, 2026 -- 12 PM, EST: Case Release Friday, February 20, 2026 -- 3:30 - 5:30 PM, EST: Career Conversations Networking Mixer at Mercantile Bank's headquarters Saturday, February 21, 2026 -- 8 AM - 5 PM, EST: ACG Cup 2026 Competition at Grand Valley State University

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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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1. 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.)
    
2. 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.
    
3. 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.
    
4. 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.)
    
5. 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.)
    
6. 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.
    
7. 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.
    
8. 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.

9. 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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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.

Cup Update No. 1: 9/15/2025