Over the years, Bizz comp. has evolved beyond simple case-solving exercises and now includes strategic pitching, financial modelling, marketing innovation, and sustainability-focused problem statements. The hype is growing day by day with newer competitions by universities across Bangladesh.

To know more about the culture behind such competitions, I talked with Fahmida Mayeeshah, a 4th-year student studying at Bangladesh University of Professionals who has participated in more than 20 business competitions so far, reaching eight finals, and securing semifinal positions in 12 others.

According to Mayeeshah, business competitions are not a shortcut to success. They are a training ground for it.

“Over the last few years, I have competed in flagship competitions organised by multinational corporations and leading university clubs. Along the way, I have worked on marketing cases, business strategy challenges, finance-based competitions, ideation contests, and perhaps my favourite category, which is OVC (Online Video Commercial) competitions.”

One thing Mayeeshah added after she consistently hears from prominent business competition winners and young professionals is that the real value of these competitions becomes visible during the recruitment process.

Whether it is a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Assessment Centre, Case Solving Round, Business Presentation, or Final Interview, participants often find themselves facing situations they have already practised dozens of times in competitions. Solving a business case under pressure, defending recommendations before judges, answering difficult questions on the spot, and presenting confidently before an audience are all experiences that directly translate into recruitment success.

That is why many former competitors describe business competitions as a rehearsal for corporate life. The knowledge, confidence, and practical exposure gained through repeated participation create a noticeable advantage. While no competition guarantees a job, it certainly prepares participants to perform better when opportunities arrive. In many ways, business competitions compress years of professional learning into a few intense university semesters.

When I asked her the reason behind its increasing popularity, she broke it down into three factors.

First, students are no longer looking for academic excellence alone. They want practical exposure. Business competitions provide a simulated corporate environment where participants solve real-life business challenges.

Second, competitions today are much more dynamic than before. Beyond traditional case-solving, many now include OVC production, TVC campaigns, business pitching, market activation planning, and digital marketing strategy development.

Finally, recruiters are paying attention. Whether it is a multinational corporation or a local conglomerate, many recruiters recognise business competition achievements as evidence of leadership, initiative, teamwork, and problem-solving ability. While winning does not guarantee employment, it certainly helps participants stand out.

Most business competitions follow a structured process divided into a few rounds, depending on the competition.

The first round typically involves submitting a slide deck containing a proposed solution. Teams usually consist of three to five members, depending on the competition requirements.

The second round often includes presentations and question-and-answer sessions. Participants defend their ideas before judges and industry professionals.

The final round is where the pressure peaks. It is usually held physically at universities, corporate offices, or premium venues where teams present their solutions live before judges and compete for the podium.

Some flagship competitions hosted by companies such as Unilever, BAT, Marico, HSBC, and others may introduce additional rounds or unique challenges.

As someone deeply passionate about OVC creation, Mayeeshah believes this segment has changed the business competition landscape significantly.

An OVC forces participants to go beyond spreadsheets and strategy frameworks. It requires understanding consumer psychology, storytelling, brand perception, and emotional engagement.

What makes it fascinating is that students often create impactful commercials despite having limited resources. We write scripts, develop concepts, direct shoots, edit videos, and communicate marketing messages in creative ways.

For Mayeeshah, one of the most rewarding moments has been seeing sponsor brands appreciate and even utilise OVC concepts developed by her team. As a team leader, she considers it the highest form of validation.

“When a brand finds value in your student-created work, it proves that your ideas can survive outside the competition stage.”

Many newcomers assume finalists simply generate more ideas. In reality, finalists usually generate better ideas. Business competitions reward quality over quantity. The strongest teams present solutions that are creative, feasible, data-backed, and executable. Judges want ideas that can realistically work in the market, as they are not looking for fantasy.

“From my experience, judges evaluate five major areas: problem identification and situation analysis, strategic thinking and ideation, storytelling and presentation, feasibility and implementation, clarity of communication,” Mayeeshah said.

Many teams lose valuable marks because they fail to explain their solutions properly. As participants, everyone must be extremely specific about their ideations, recommendations, and execution plans.

Finalist teams are usually excellent at presenting complex ideas in a simple, structured, and convincing manner. They do not overwhelm judges with dozens of disconnected suggestions. Instead, they present a focused solution backed by research, supported by data, linked to clear KPIs, and communicated through a compelling storyline.

The best teams understand their targeted audience, define their target group precisely, justify every recommendation with evidence, and ensure that every slide contributes to a larger narrative. In business competitions, creativity gets attention, but clarity wins championships.

“A good idea gets you noticed. A clear, feasible, and well-presented idea gets you to the finals.”

Strong teams conduct extensive market research. They analyse brand pages, customer reviews, social media conversations, consumer sentiment, and industry trends. Many conduct surveys or interviews to validate assumptions.

Financial feasibility is equally important. Judges expect participants to justify budgets, revenue opportunities, and implementation costs.

Brand positioning also plays a critical role. Every recommendation must align with how consumers perceive the brand or how the team wants consumers to perceive it. This combination of research, finance, marketing, and strategic thinking mirrors actual corporate decision-making processes.

In fact, during mock assessment centres and group discussions, Mayeeshah has consistently noticed that experienced business competitors tend to perform more confidently because they have already practised these situations repeatedly.

Beyond trophies and certificates, one of the greatest benefits is networking.

The business competition circuit in Bangladesh has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem. Participants connect with ambitious students, industry experts, mentors, recruiters, and former champions.

It is a community where knowledge-sharing is common. Many experienced competitors openly share winning slides, case-solving techniques, and strategic frameworks. Communities, mentorship platforms, and training initiatives continue to make business competitions more accessible for newcomers.

This culture of learning is what keeps the ecosystem growing.

However, there is one aspect she believes students should be aware of.

“Not every competition is worth participating in.”

Some events are exceptionally well-organised and provide meaningful learning opportunities. Others may lack structure, transparency, or proper judging standards. Students should evaluate the reputation of organisers, judging panels, timelines, and previous editions before investing their time and effort.

Time is valuable, especially as a student. Hence, she advised choosing wisely.

Mayeeshah’s advice to new participants is to start early. Do not wait until you feel ready.

“Your first ten competitions may not bring any trophies, and that is perfectly normal. My biggest lessons came from losses, not victories. Focus on learning rather than winning.”

Building a reliable team is highly important alongside learning how to create slides. Practising how to present, understanding marketing, finance, strategy, and consumer behaviour are equally important. Besides watching winning presentations, analysing successful OVCs can also play a crucial role.

“Every competition becomes a classroom if you approach it with the right mindset.”

For students aspiring to build careers in business, marketing, consulting, or corporate leadership, business competitions offer something invaluable, a chance to become industry-ready years before graduation.

“And that, in my opinion, is the real prize,” concluded Mayeeshah.