The International Political and Economic Forum (IPE)

IPE: An annual project in which SIBC teams from all three SIBC schools research, prepare and   present their findings on a current topic of political economy. The judges are the SIBC donors, SIBC alumni and leading industry professionals. IPE is a “friendly” case competition type project in which students will gain invaluable research, executive presentation and teamwork skills.

Presentation Prompt: The team will analyze the political, economic, and societal impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the lens of international political economy (IPE) for their assigned firm and industry. To do this, the team must evaluate the geopolitical dynamics of AI on global power balances, assess international economic impacts on labor markets and trade, and address evolving ethical and regulatory frameworks. Finally, the team will propose collaborative, innovative strategies to mitigate the digital divide and harness AI to drive sustainable development and address global challenges.

Yuccan

Company: Yuccan is France's #1 mobile referral application, bridging the gap between customer satisfaction, social impact, and digital word-of-mouth. Uniquely involved across the entire post-purchase pipeline—from Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys to AI-powered review generation and Google Business integration—Yuccan drives local growth. Through its "Referral for Good" model, ambassadors can wire cash rewards directly to their bank accounts or donate them to local charities. Operating with an exceptional B2B ROI, every $1 invested in Yuccan yields $8 in revenue for the client.

Presentation Prompt: The team will design a localized U.S. market-entry strategy for Yuccan, targeting high-value (≥$1,000 purchase value), small-scale B2C service businesses (under 10 employees) in Southern California. Focusing on the HVAC, Solar, Real Estate, and Car Dealership sectors, the team must evaluate the regional competitive landscape against established platforms like Get the Referral and Ambassador Referral. The team will formulate positioning recommendations, propose a targeted, high-intent B2B lead list in Southern California, and build a localized marketing framework spanning digital acquisition, local trade events, and strategic community partnerships to secure market traction.

VistaBee

Company: VistaBee is a premier, AI-powered real estate video and photography platform. Boasting over 10 years of experience, more than 750,000 processed images, and 10,000+ custom property videos, VistaBee helps agents tell captivating visual stories that bring listings to life. Specializing in HDR photography, dynamic walkthrough videos,licensed aerial drone capture, CubiCasa AI floor plans, and immersive 3D virtual tours with a guaranteed 24-hour turnaround, the company recently expanded from the UK and Ireland into the East Coast U.S. market (New York and Florida).

Presentation Prompt: The team will design an international market entry and expansion strategy for VistaBee as it enters the premium California real estate market, targeting luxury brokers and property vendors in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego) and Northern California (San Francisco, San Jose) with listings valued between $3 million and $4 million. The team must assess California’s luxury real estate and prop-tech landscape, evaluate VistaBee's internal assets, and perform a PESTLE market-entry analysis. Utilizing these insights, the team will craft a localized value proposition, map out a competitive positioning strategy against established West Coast real estate media firms, and outline a targeted B2B sales model. Finally, the team will present a high-priority, qualified prospect directory of premier agencies in the target regions,

Dayla

Company: Dayla is a 100% family-run, women-led social enterprise from Chiapas, Mexico, with over 30 years of generational heritage in handcrafting premium artisanal hammocks, swings, and cribs. Certified under the prestigious "Marca Chiapas" collective mark, Dayla preserves ancestral weaving techniques and empowers local female artisans to bring authentic, high-quality Mexican craftsmanship to international markets.

Presentation Prompt: The team will design a comprehensive U.S. export and market-entry plan for Dayla to launch its artisanal product line in the premium home-decor and outdoor-living sectors. To do this, the team must evaluate Dayla's export readiness (SWOT) against U.S. import regulations, tariff classifications, and logistics documentation. The team will define the exportable product portfolio, calculate landed-cost export pricing, and identify any cultural or regulatory product modifications required. Finally, the team will establish an omnichannel distribution strategy—proposing a target buyer list of specialty U.S. retailers—and outline a localized marketing communications plan built on authentic, heritage-led storytelling.

Diablo

Company: Djablo Sauce is the first locally produced, family-owned Filipino hot sauce brand in the United States. Launched in June 2019, their zesty, ginger- and garlic-forward small-batch sauces deliver a rounded, comforting heat for flavor-conscious foodies. Sold online and through premier specialty grocers like Heatonist, the brand is currently expanding its retail footprint to Whole Foods Supermarkets.

Presentation Prompt: The team will design a comprehensive global supply chain, regulatory compliance, and B2B expansion strategy for Djablo Sauce. First, the team must develop an import and FDA compliance roadmap to source sustainable coconut vinegar (Sukang Tuba) from the Philippines to the U.S. under HS Code 2209.00, including a detailed landed-cost analysis. Second, the team will formulate a B2B market development strategy to launch this raw coconut vinegar as a premium functional ingredient to U.S. CPG brands, food service groups, and specialty retailers. Finally, the team will construct a B2B West Coast expansion plan for the finished Djablo Sauce line, identifying high-priority retail leads (such as Erewhon and Bi-Rite) and outlining localized marketing, distributor, and promotional frameworks.

BuySide

Buyside: An annual project in which SIBC teams from all three SIBC schools research, prepare and present their findings on companies whose are mission oriented. The judges are the SIBC donors, SIBC alumni and leading industry professionals. Buyside is a “friendly” case competition type project in which students will gain invaluable research, executive presentation and teamwork skills.

Presentation Prompt: Acting as a buy-side investment committee for the M&T Foundation SIBC Case Competition, your team will deliver a 20-minute pitch (followed by a 10–15 minute Q&A) proposing a high-performing equity portfolio that directly advances your institution's two assigned UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Your presentation must diagnose the key friction points of these goals, evaluate the most disruptive technologies addressing them, and recommend four publicly traded stocks (two per SDG) with a rigorous, alpha-driven investment thesis. Ultimately, you must convince the judging panel that "impact drives alpha"—demonstrating that these companies possess strong competitive moats, pricing power, and long-term financial growth because they are solving the world's most critical sustainability and infrastructure challenges.

SemantiWeb

Company: Semantiweb is a pioneering consumer intelligence agency that decodes the "who" behind big data. Specializing in deep semantic and social listening since 2011, they turn millions of unfiltered online conversations into highly actionable demographic insights, community maps, and strategic market reports for leading global beauty, luxury, and fashion brands.

Presentation Prompt: The team will design a comprehensive U.S. market-entry, positioning, and growth strategy for Semantiweb. To do this, the team must analyze the $48B U.S. market research landscape—focusing on enterprise social listening trends, pricing models, and competitors—to build a unique, non-SaaS positioning strategy for Semantiweb as an AI-powered consumer ethnography partner. Additionally, the team will develop a strategic M&A evaluation framework to identify and analyze independent social listening platforms (such as visual-AI or video-first platforms) for potential acquisition. Finally, the team will construct a localized B2B marketing and communication plan, including high-converting website content, an outreach sequence for Fortune 500 prospects, and a targeted roadmap of major U.S. industry events.