QSQuant Society

2026 Summer Challenge

Investment Competition

A six-week challenge where teams act as junior investment analysts, manage a virtual portfolio for a fictional client, and defend their decisions in a final report.

The brief

Introduction

The 2026 Summer Challenge asks teams to manage a virtual portfolio on behalf of Patrick Mahomes and the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. Teams develop an investment strategy, trade in a stock-market simulator, and explain the reasoning behind their decisions.

The case begins with $100,000 in foundation funds. Patrick wants a responsible plan that supports youth sports grants in the near term while growing a long-term community-center fund in Kansas City. Teams are judged on the quality of their case, not short-term returns alone.

ClientPatrick Mahomes & the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation
Starting portfolio$100,000
FormatVirtual portfolio + written report

The client brief

Two goals to balance

Goal 01 · Mid-term

Mahomies Youth Sports Fund

Fund $8,000 in annual grants to youth athletic programs in Kansas City and Tyler, Texas, beginning in 2026 and continuing through 2031. The plan must cover at least $48,000 in total distributions.

Goal 02 · Long-term

Mahomies Community Center

Grow the remainder of the portfolio aggressively enough over the next 10+ years for a Kansas City community center expected to begin construction in 2035. The foundation wants at least $60,000 for construction and the first year of operations.

Patrick is especially interested in healthcare, technology, consumer brands, and sports or entertainment, while emphasizing steady, thoughtful growth over speculative risk.

Competition schedule

Timeline and deadlines

The competition is organized by week. Calendar dates are not specified in the brief; the milestones below are the deadlines teams should plan around.

Week 1

Build the plan

Study the case, answer the required questions, and submit a one-paragraph strategy plan before trading begins.

Weeks 2–5

Manage the portfolio

Trading officially begins. All trades must follow the competition rules and support the team’s stated strategy.

Week 6

Submit the report

Trading ends. Teams refine and submit their final report by the end of the week; no new trades are allowed.

Week 1 submission

Strategy plan

Before trading, each team must answer four questions: Who is the client and what are their goals? What is the timeline for each goal? How much risk should the portfolio take on? Which industries align with the client’s values?

The team must then submit one cohesive paragraph of no more than 250 words. That plan should guide the portfolio through the trading period and remain consistent with the final report.

Trading and reporting

Rules and requirements

  • No more than 40% of the portfolio may be invested in a single stock or sector.
  • The final portfolio must contain at least five stocks or ETFs.
  • No new trades are permitted during Week 6.
  • Short selling is not permitted.
  • Teams may not copy another team’s portfolio; originality matters.

Final report: maximum six pages, 11-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. Sources should be cited outside the six-page limit.

Pages 1–2

Client and goals

Three paragraphs under 150 words each covering the client, financial goals, and why your team should manage the portfolio.

Pages 3–5

Portfolio breakdown

Explain the portfolio numerically and visually, including how each stock or ETF fits the case and the strategy.

Page 6

Conclusion and reflection

Close with the strategy’s outcome and reflect on trades, shortcomings, and how the approach could improve.

100 points total

Judging criteria

20 pointsUnderstanding of client goals
30 pointsQuality of investment strategy and reasoning
15 pointsPortfolio diversification
20 pointsWritten report clarity
15 pointsPortfolio returns

The competition emphasizes long-term trading: fewer trades with stronger justifications are valued more than high short-term returns alone.

Final standings

Winners

1st placeTeam Gstaad
2nd placeDIAQuantiRatis
3rd placeTeam Vortex