Quite simply, we were eager to learn more about finance and to observe the impact of the economy on the markets from the inside. Since all five of us are studying economics, the financial concepts we encounter can often be abstract. We wanted to apply this knowledge in a concrete way and develop new skills through managing our stock portfolio and our club. As for choosing the members, it happened quite naturally: we are a group of friends and we all wanted to get involved in a stimulating project together. Since our work styles are complementary, we knew the collaboration would go well. So, we just went for it!
Although we started later than the other clubs, we didn't feel disadvantaged. On the contrary, we took this handicap as a challenge, and it motivated our work. At the beginning, we thought through a solid strategy that we could maintain over the long term, while remaining ready to be flexible to seize opportunities to increase our profitability, particularly regarding market levels. Indeed, the real difficulty we faced due to our late start was entering the competition when markets were at their peak. We therefore had to adapt to this environment to ensure a return comparable to the other clubs.
In our view, the strength of our management lies in our responsiveness to the market and macroeconomic news. We adjust our portfolio daily to remain competitive and seize opportunities. To do this, we try to maintain enough liquidity to purchase securities. This is the strategy we are applying during this earnings season: buying shares of companies about to report, and thus benefiting from value appreciation.
To help everyone balance university life with their involvement in the challenge, we have implemented a task-sharing system. Our club’s operations are based on teamwork, which allows us to optimize the quality of our work while keeping individual workloads manageable. For example, the daily news updates we publish are handled by a different member each day. Furthermore, we have assigned each of us to manage a specific area. Ethan and Nil are responsible for our portfolio strategy in light of macroeconomic changes. For purchasing new assets, Adam and Sébastien are responsible for company analysis. Finally, Kheira brings these two sides together to manage the portfolio.
We believe that everyone has a role to play in the ecological transition. We are convinced that finance must serve the major environmental challenges of our time, which is why we have integrated responsible investment into our strategy. Consequently, ESG criteria are central to our analytical framework, and we ensure that the majority of our capital is invested in companies with an ESG rating between A and C.
The NextWise experience has been incredibly rewarding for us, both intellectually and personally. It encouraged us to build on our existing financial foundations to develop a robust investment strategy. Furthermore, it pushed us to better organize our student lives to fully commit to the adventure, which has helped us gain discipline. Finally, given the wealth of skills the challenge has allowed us to acquire so far, we are convinced that our participation in NextWise will be a significant asset in securing future internships or jobs in the field. We are very grateful for the opportunity to take part in this formative and valuable experience for any finance student.
The Team
We are indeed following a curriculum focused on audit and corporate finance. Nevertheless, some of us were already interested in the stock market before the challenge. It was the COVID-19 crisis and the market crash that prompted us to invest on our own behalf via PEA (Equity Savings Plans). Some members began their stock market journey thanks to the NextWise challenge.
It is true that we do not have courses dedicated to financial markets per se, but we knew the basics thanks to our corporate finance courses. We therefore self-trained by following the markets daily through specialized websites, YouTube channels, and even by reading certain books. Our studies were very useful when performing fundamental analysis of the companies we invested in. We are indeed able to read a Universal Registration Document and analyze the main aggregates related to the financial health of companies.
Our main strength is the constant questioning of our management strategy. At the very beginning of the challenge, we were very novice and had nearly 50% of our portfolio invested in ETFs. Our portfolio clearly lacked coherence and clarity. The constructive criticism from the jury members throughout the pitches helped us refine our strategy, alongside consistent collective work. We were thus able to build a coherent portfolio that we are proud of.
That was the main difficulty we faced. Balancing individual work, group projects, association and sports commitments, and student jobs on top of the NextWise challenge was not easy. Our numbers and our collective work were a strength, as when some members were unavailable, others took over. The key was to get involved in the challenge as early as possible to benefit from a long learning curve. Furthermore, this challenge became part of our daily lives and turned into a habit. Any occasion was a good one to "talk NextWise," whether during dedicated meetings, lunches at the university cafeteria, student parties, or calls during the holidays.
The most stimulating moments were the pitch battles because they required significant preparation beforehand. It was a real challenge to create impactful presentations in under five minutes. There were many highlights. We are proud to have been the only club selected for every pitch battle, which proves our consistency throughout this challenge. We have also held the top spot in the general rankings since the beginning of the challenge, which is a great source of satisfaction for all of us. It proves that it is entirely possible to create an effective stock market strategy by putting in the necessary effort. Beyond the "medals," our greatest pride is having shared unforgettable life moments together, as well as with other students and finance professionals. The cocktail events were a source of very enriching discussions, and that is what we will remember most. On the other hand, our low points were almost anecdotal. One example was our presentation of the ERAMET stock during a pitch while it was at the center of several governance scandals, which, quite rightly, did not please the jury.
The NextWise challenge was highly valued by every member of the club. It allowed us to strengthen our friendships while also learning a great deal about fascinating topics like economics and the stock market. We really enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk with professionals during the pitches and cocktail events, which helped us learn and expand our networks. In our view, this is a much more effective form of learning than theoretical coursework. In conclusion, we are thrilled to have participated in this challenge and recommend it to any student eager to have an exceptional human experience related to the stock market.
Our Master’s in Asset Management is a work-study program. Every member of this group completes their apprenticeship at the most prestigious asset management firms in Paris. As a result, this challenge allowed us to put what we learn in class and on the job into practice.
We believe our consistent presence on the podium in every ranking is due to our activity on the platform. We made sure to provide our investors with weekly updates on economic news, developments within the companies we are invested in, and the various strategic operations carried out by the fund.
It was an enriching experience because it developed our creativity. Moreover, each video raised a concern from our investors on a different topic, which allowed us to delve deeper into those subjects.
To build our portfolio, we combined a top-down approach with a bottom-up approach. Subsequently, we monitored our positions weekly during our management meetings. We implemented a tool that allowed us to track the various aspects of our portfolio (sector allocation, geographical allocation, the portfolio's ESG rating,
We really enjoyed the pitches in front of the jury. To our knowledge, this is the only competition that includes the possibility of raising funds from investors. We believe this is a very educational and enriching element. As for the downsides, we didn't quite understand the point-scoring system. A very large portion was awarded to elements external to "management." Furthermore, we were surprised that winning presentations (pitch/video) were not taken into account in the final ranking.
We take away only positive things from this challenge, which placed us in the real-world conditions of an investment fund. It was a highly educational experience for us, as the club members aim to work in asset management, and this challenge provided us with total immersion.
The Team
Pitch Battle
Regardless of the general Next Challenge ranking, here is a challenge within the challenge dedicated to Clubs that want to move from the virtual world to the real world!
ALL PARTICIPATING CLUBS RECEIVE A VIRTUAL REWARD BASED ON THEIR RANKING
ON THE CLUB'S VIRTUAL PORTFOLIO
● What does the Video & Pitch Battle challenge involve?
During ROUND 1, the 5 best Clubs from the monthly rankings create a VIDEO PITCH with a maximum duration of 3 minutes on a set topic.
The jury members watch and evaluate the 5 videos, resulting in a Top 3 list of the best video pitches.
The top 3 Clubs qualify for ROUND 2: they face off in front of the jury members during a PITCH BATTLE.
This time, the Clubs have 5 minutes to delve deeper into the topic they were assigned, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session.
The jury then retires to deliberate and selects the three Clubs for the podium.
● How are the Clubs selected?
Every month, a monthly Club ranking is used to select the 5 best Clubs.
Every month, the monthly ranking is reset to zero to allow all competing Clubs to participate!
● How do the Pitch Battles work?
The PITCH BATTLES are dedicated events held in prestigious venues (Carrousel du Louvre, Pavillon Cambon, etc.) or hosted at the offices of our various partners (Orange Group Headquarters, etc.).
It is an opportunity for competing Clubs to put their strategy to the test to refine it, as well as their public speaking skills, thanks to the expert feedback and advice from investment professionals on the jury.
While the jury deliberates, a special session allows us to host a conference with one of our many partners. Finally, a cocktail reception closes the event: an opportunity for networking between students and investment professionals.
The top 5 Clubs from the monthly Club rankings are invited to create a video with a maximum duration of 3 minutes on a set topic.
UPON PUBLICATION OF THE MONTHLY RANKINGS
An email is sent to every member of the 5 Clubs specifying the set topic.
Clubs have 10 days, including a weekend, to produce their video.
THE 5 VIDEOS ARE EVALUATED BY THE JURY
UPON PUBLICATION OF THE MONTHLY RANKINGS
An email is sent to every member of the 5 Clubs to inform them of their standing. The top 3 Clubs qualify for ROUND 2 - PITCH BATTLE
The email used is the one registered when creating the Individual profile
Creativity, marketing, mastery, and consistency of the pitch are all criteria that will be judged!
Based on the Elevator Pitch concept: you step into an elevator with an investor and must spark their interest before you reach your floor. You must be able to make your case in less than 3 minutes!
Communication & Marketing
❍ Your video must be short, clear, consistent, and structured.
❍ Don't hesitate to be creative: you need to make an impression.
❍ Keep the video production dynamic and ensure a smooth flow of speakers among team members.
❍ Be careful not to speak too quickly (about 150 words per minute).
Structuring your speech:
❍ Describe your thought process and its evolution, provide arguments, and use specific examples.
❍ Want to include visuals? Your presentation must be legible, precise, clear, well-spaced, and consistent with your speech.
❍ Spark interest: provide as much information as possible, but "just enough" to get selected for the second round.
NEED INSPIRATION?
Find all the video pitches on the Next Challenge YouTube channel
The 3 clubs that qualified after Round 1 - Video Pitch have 5 minutes to delve deeper into the subject they were assigned.
This is followed by a 10-minute Q&A session.
UPON PUBLICATION OF THE VIDEO PITCH RANKINGS
A summons is sent by email to each member of the 3 clubs qualified for the Pitch Battle. Clubs have 14 days, including two weekends, to prepare their pitch
48 HOURS BEFORE THE PITCH BATTLE
Clubs must submit their presentation in PowerPoint format
D-DAY: PITCH BATTLE
CLUBS MUST ARRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS
On stage and in front of the jury, each club has 5 minutes to speak, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session
THE JURY RETIRES TO DELIBERATE
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONFERENCE WITH A NEXT CHALLENGE PARTNER
FOLLOWING THE DELIBERATION
The Jury President announces the podium, ranking the clubs from first to third place
NETWORKING
A special time for students and investment professionals to connect over a drink!
The email used is the one registered when creating your individual profile
Oral skills, speech structure, quality and relevance of visuals, and the ability to answer questions are all criteria that will be judged!
Put to the test by investment professionals, this is your chance to compete against the best and showcase your skills to attract future investors. You will have less than 5 minutes to make your case!
Oral Communication
❍ Your pitch must be short, concise, clear, and captivating.
❍ Keep the energy high when passing the floor between team members: you need to hold your audience's attention.
❍ Be careful not to speak too quickly (aim for about 150 words per minute).
Structuring Your Pitch
❍ Make sure to address the assigned topic thoroughly.
❍ Describe your thought process and its evolution, provide arguments, and use specific examples.
❍ Your presentation must be legible, clear, well-spaced, and consistent with your speech.
❍ Spark interest: provide as much information as possible, but "just enough" to make them want to ask you questions during the Q&A.
❍ At the end of your pitch, summarize the main points to refresh the audience's memory and link the different sections together to lead into the Q&A session.
"The Next Challenge was a defining milestone in my academic and professional journey. It gave me the opportunity to deepen my technical knowledge in capital markets and asset management, while also strengthening essential skills such as public speaking."
"Participating in the Next Challenge allowed me to expand my network by connecting with peers who share similar ambitions, deepen my knowledge of portfolio management, and gain hands-on experience through practical exercises such as Pitch Battles, particularly in presenting and selling investment strategies."
"The challenge allowed us to not only strengthen our friendships but also to learn a lot about interesting topics such as the economy and the stock market. We really liked the fact that we were able to meet and discuss with investment professionals, which allowed us to learn and enrich our networks. For us, this is a much more effective form of learning than theoretical courses. We recommend this challenge to all students who want to live an exceptional human experience related to the stock market!"
"As far as we know, this is the only competition that includes the possibility of raising funds from investors: we believe this is a very formative element. All the members of our Club do their internship in the most prestigious management companies in Paris. So this challenge allowed us to put into practice the elements we learn in class and during our apprenticeship."