Thank you for your interest in Duke University’s third annual Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition, held at The Fuqua School of Business. To confirm your attendance at the competition, please complete the below application and submit by Friday, October 9th at noon EST.
COMPETITION BACKGROUND:
The Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition was founded in 2013 to address a growing interest in the nexus between energy access, clean energy and development in emerging markets. Since its inception, both support and participation in the competition has grown tremendously. It represents a challenge that affects more than 2 billion people every day, and some of the biggest names in energy are taking notice.
Mission
The Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition (EEMCC) engages diverse and creative teams to address real energy challenges affecting the developing world. The one-day competition connects students, academia, and industry in pursuit of unconventional business-based solutions that expose unrecognized opportunities with positive social and environmental impact. Showcasing analytical and presentation skills, future leaders in the energy industry can demonstrate their global mindset, innovative thinking, and passion.
Important Dates
Friday, October 9 - EEMCC Registration closes.
Friday, October 16 - EEMCC case distributed.
Tuesday, November 3 - Case presentation submission deadline.
Sunday, November 8 - Final
Monday, November 9 - Networking reception for EEMCC sponsoring companies, judges and competitors.
Tuesday, November 10 - EEMCC COMPETITION DAY, Duke University Energy Mix
Wednesday, November 11 - Duke University Energy Conference
Logistics
Travel and accomodation recommendations will be posted on the EEMCC website. After reviewing that material, any questions regarding the logistics should be directed via email to Daniel Suits (daniel.suits@duke.edu).
CASE SCOPE DEFINITION:
This year’s case content is sponsored by Off.Grid:Electric (OGE), the world’s first massively scalable “solar as a service” company. Under its MPOWER brand, Off Grid Electric distributes high-quality lighting and energy services to communities that cannot access or afford the electrical grid. They employ local agents who specialize in matching their offerings to customer needs and providing all necessary maintenance, with the aim of making renewable energy services available to millions of households across Africa. Established in Arusha, Tanzania, Off.Grid:Electric has built a thriving business that employs hundreds of Tanzanians to serve the bottom of the pyramid. Tech and energy giants in US are taking notice, with Off.Grid:Electric receiving investments from Solar City, Vulcan Capital, and the Omidyar Network. For more information, please visit offgrid-electric.com.
This year’s case will focus on Off.Grid:Electric’s aspirational product line and how to best serve customers that are looking to access services beyond lighting, phone charging, and radio.
COMPETITION:
The event will feature two rounds of competition. All teams will participate in Round 1 during the morning portion of the EEMCC. Only a selection of top scoring teams will advance to Round 2 in the afternoon. Round 2 will feature an additional challenge that will be distributed along with the case materials. While a polished presentation of teams’ analysis and proposals is expected, emphasis should be on the feasibility and impact of the solution presented. The two challenge questions are provided ahead to allow teams to develop a thoughtful response to both.
Additional information about the case structure is available under the Rules and Regulations section of the EEMCC website.
The case will be distributed to teams on Friday, October 16th.
The deadline for submitting presentation documents is Tuesday, November 3rd at noon EST.
Submissions will be accepted through the EEMCC website only. Presentations received after this deadline will not be accepted.
ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS:
Teams are to be composed of a minimum of three (3) to a maximum of five (5) graduate students. At minimum, your team must have one (1) first year MBA student, one (1) second year MBA student and (1) non-MBA student from any other graduate school at your university. The non-MBA students may be a dual degree student – i.e. pursuing a graduate degree at the business school concurrently with another graduate degree from any other school in the university. Only one (1) team per university/institution is permitted.