WeberBiz Case Competition

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What is a Case Competition?

  A case competition is a chance for students to act like business professionals, solve a real-world problem, and pitch their solution to a panel of judges.

  In our competition, students are given a challenge that a real Northern Utah business is facing—or could conceivably face—and are challenged to develop a solution. They then come to campus to present their solution to a panel of judges, including a representative from the company that proposed the challenge.

• How much time will we have to prepare?

  Cases will be sent to your team one week before the competition. You will have that week to prepare your solution. You will also be able to attend a 1-hour virtual Q&A session with the judges and the event organizers to ask any questions you may have.

  Here is the basic timing prior to the event:

  Oct. 28, 2026: Receive case

  Your team’s case will be emailed to you with full details.

  Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2026: 1-hour Zoom call with judges

  Get direct access to your judges with a joint Zoom call for all teams. You’ll be able to submit questions and learn more about what your judges are looking for in your solution to their case. An invitation email will be sent before the call. 

• How will you be judged?

  The rubric for your case will be provided when you receive your case. Your team will be evaluated on the content and quality of your presentation, how thoroughly you address the key points outlined in the case, and how professionally your team presents itself.

  Here is some additional information about judging:

  Presentation Criteria

  • Presentations may be delivered via print or digitally.
  • WSU will not provide projection equipment, computers or internet access.
  • Teams will have 10 minutes to present the solution to their case to one of the four case judges.
  • Anything after 10 minutes will not be counted.
  • After the 10-minute presentation, there will be a five-minute question-and-answer session.
  • Questions will be related directly to the case and the team's knowledge of the two or three identified business concepts of the case.
  • There will be three-four judges per case.
  • Judges in each case will use the same scoring rubric.
  • Each judging team in each case will identify their top scoring team based on their scoring rubric.

  
  Twist Round (Final Round)

  • The top team from each judge’s scoring rubric will move on to the semifinal twist round.
  • Each team in the twist round will have one hour to develop a presentation addressing the twist.
  • Computers with internet access will be available during the twist.
  • All twist presentations must be provided in Google Slides and as a PDF at the end of the one hour.
  • The slide deck will be shared with the event coordinator for the final presentation at the end of the one-hour time allotment.
  • Presentations shared after the one-hour time allocation will be disqualified. 
  • Teams in the final round will have five minutes to present with no questions asked.
  • Afterward, the microphone will be turned off and the next team's slides will be displayed.  

• Who will the judges be? 

  The judges will consist of corporate representatives, Goddard School professors and / or field professionals / experts.  The week prior to the event, mentors and judges will host a one-hour Zoom call where teams can ask questions and gather more information about the case. Attendance is optional, but advantageous. All judges will score the final twist round. Judges will have additional scoring criteria for the cases they are affiliated with. The winning team will be decided on overall points scored. In the case of a tie, the team who scored the highest in the semifinal round will be declared the winner.

• Can students from different schools compete together? What about homeschool students?

  Yes! While it is strongly preferred, there are no absolute requirements that team members be from the same schools, and you can certainly compete if you are homeschooled. You'll just have to be a little more creative in how you meet together to prepare for the competition. 

  Note: If you want to register but you don't have a team, there is a possibility that we can put you on a team with other "single" registrants. But, you MUST have a team of 3 in order to compete. We do not allow teams of less or more than 3.

• Can teachers help our team prepare?

  You may ask teachers for help or guidance if you are stuck on your presentation. However, presentations should be your work, not your teacher's.

• What happens during the competition?

  Here is a basic schedule of the day (subject to change):
  
  7:30-8 a.m. — Students check in; in front of Shepherd Union ballrooms
  8-8:30 a.m. — Welcome and opening speaker
  8:30-11:45 a.m. — Extra activities: Admissions, FAFSA, Clubs/Degrees exploration and free professional headshots; Shepherd Union Mezzanine
  9-11:20 a.m. — Case Presentations: Shepherd Union, Ballroom A
  11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Free lunch for all participants and advisors; finalists of each case are announced and the twist is given
  12:30-1:30 p.m. — Semifinalists prepare twists
  12:30-1:30 p.m. — Second-chance opportunity for all other students (cash prizes available)
  1:30-3 p.m. — Final twist presentations and judging, all students will attend; Shepherd Union, Ballroom B
  3-3:30 p.m. — Speaker and announcement of winners; Shepherd Union, Ballroom B
  3:30-4 p.m. — Head home

• What happens if we don't make the final round?

  Each case will have three teams advance to the final round to compete for scholarships and cash prizes. But if your team doesn't make the final three, the competition isn't over!

  While the finalist teams prepare their final presentations, the remaining teams can compete in Second Chance Competitions—fun, fast-paced challenges hosted by clubs within the Goddard School of Business & Economics.

  You’ll have the chance to win cash and prizes, have some fun, and connect with Weber State student leaders.

  You may not still be in the running for the grand prize, but you could still leave with cash, great prizes, and a memorable Weber State experience!

• What should students bring?

  Bring your presentation with you! We will not have the ability to print or project your presentation for you, so please bring everything your team needs to present to the judges.

  Everything else is on us! When you arrive, we'll have a competition bag, event shirt, name tag, and all the materials you'll need for the day waiting for you. We'll also provide food, so you don't need to worry about bringing meals or snacks.

  Just bring your team, your presentation, and your game face!

• What should students wear?

  Students should dress professionally. This is a business presentation! You will want to be dressed to impress.

• Can parents attend?

  Parents have not attended this event in the past. However, we certainly will not turn parents away. They will not be allowed to attend initial presentations, but would be allowed to attend the final presentation. We will not provide food or parking passes for parents. 

• Will you provide parking passes? 

  Certainly! Buses should drop students off in front of the Student Union Building (SUB) (on the south side) and they can park in the Dee Events Center parking lot. The shuttle can then bring drivers back to campus. For those driving individual vehicles, we can provide vouchers for the covered lot south of the SUB. Please let us know if you need one of these vouchers. (Find Eliza at the competition and she can provide you with one).  

• What are the event rules?

  Presentation Criteria

  • Presentations may be delivered via print or digitally.  WSU will not provide projection equipment, computers or internet access.
  • Teams will have 10 minutes to present the solution to their case to one of the four case judges. Anything after 10 minutes will not be counted.

  
  Event Rules

  • Students may bring only that which they can carry by hand (not push or pull).
  • During the twist work, students must work alone in their group of three.  Internet access and projection equipment are not provided for the initial round.
  • After the 10-minute presentation, there will be a five-minute question-and-answer session. Questions will be related directly to the case and the team's knowledge of the two or three identified business concepts of the case.
  • There will be three-four judges per case. Judges in each case will use the same scoring rubric.
  • Each judging team in each case will identify their top scoring team based on their scoring rubric.
  • The top team from each judge’s scoring rubric will move on to the semifinal twist round.
  • Each team in the twist round will have one hour to develop a presentation addressing the twist. Computers with internet access will be available during the twist. All twist presentations must be provided in Google Slides and as a PDF at the end of the one hour. The slide deck will be shared with the event coordinator for the final presentation at the end of the one-hour time allotment. Presentations shared after the one-hour time allocation will be disqualified. 
  • Teams in the final round will have five minutes to present with no questions asked. Afterward, the microphone will be turned off and the next team's slides will be displayed. 

  
  AI Use Policy

  AI tools, including ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms, may be used as a supporting tool during the case competition, but your team’s solution must be your own.

  You may use AI to:

  • Brainstorm ideas or approaches
  • Research or better understand a topic
  • Help organize or refine your thoughts
  • Proofread or improve the clarity of your writing

  You may not:

  • Ask AI to solve the case for you or generate your complete solution
  • Submit an AI-generated solution as your own work
  • Rely on AI-generated facts, recommendations, or analysis without verifying them
  • Use AI to replace the critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving your team is expected to demonstrate

  We want to see your thinking. Judges are evaluating how your team analyzes the problem, develops a solution, makes decisions, and communicates its recommendations—not simply how well you can use an AI tool.

  If you use AI, use it as a tool to help you think, not to think for you. Misuse of AI may result in a lower score if it prevents the judges from accurately evaluating your team’s own thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.

• Who will be the judges? 

  Judges for each team will consist of corporate representatives, Goddard School professors and / or field experts / professionals.

• What happens during the competition?

  Case Competition Semifinalists

  Each student in the top four teams from each category will receive $100 and move on to the final twist round.

  Twist Winners

  First Place: Each student on the grand championship team will receive an additional $1,000 scholarship to the Goddard School. 

  This team will also win a permanent banner for their school and will receive the grand champion traveling trophy until the next year’s case competition.  

  Second Place: Each student on the second-place team will receive an additional $500 scholarship to the Goddard School plus $75 cash.

  Third Place: Each student on the third-place team will receive an additional $250 scholarship to the Goddard School plus $50 cash.

  Second-Chance Events

  Teams that don't make it into the final twist round will select one of three additional competition opportunities. 

  The three second-chance competitions will be announced the day of the event. These competitions will take place while the top 12 teams prepare their twist. 

  Students will select the second-chance category the morning of the event upon check in. Second-chance competition winners will win cash prizes, swag and other prizes to be announced the day of the event. Watch your email for more information about these second-chance events.