InnovationX: Capital One + VandyPASS Case Competition
Overview:
InnovationX is an exciting case competition where students like yourself will collaborate with Capital One to design an employer digital badge in VandyPASS. This competition offers a hands-on opportunity to develop solutions that connect students with career-building experiences while gaining valuable insights into employer expectations and skills. Selected participants will work in teams to research, ideate, and present their proposed badge framework to Capital One representatives, gaining real-world problem-solving and professional development experience.
Who Should Apply?
We’re looking for students who are:
- Interested in innovation, career readiness, or digital credentials
- Excited about collaborating in teams and solving real-world challenges for Capital One
- Looking to gain exposure to employer expectations and enhance their professional skills
Competition Timeline:
- March 5th – 21st | Teams comprised of three (3) undergraduate members apply via Handshake
- March 26th | Kickoff call with student teams to receive case (1 team member required to attend)
- March 26th – April 8th | Project plan and pitch development with Capital One mentor
- April 8th | Pitch presentations due to committee members
- April 10th | Pitch competition judged by Capital One & VandyPASS representatives
- Location: TBD
The Winning Team Prize:
- Exclusive swag item and opportunity with Capital One
Expectations:
- Accepted teams will receive notice of participation on Monday, March 24th, 2025.
- Only 5 teams will be selected to participate so apply sooner rather than later.
- Qualifying teams will receive the business case scenario on Wednesday, March 26th during the kickoff call.
- Your team presentation must upload your presentation to the appropriate inbox by the deadline: on or before Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, 11:59 PM. Failure to do so will result in automatic team disqualification.
- Qualifying teams will present to a panel of judges on Thursday, April 10th on campus.
How to Apply:
- Create a team of three (3) members:
- Student teams must be comprised of three (3) undergraduate members, all majors/years accepted
- Teams will submit one (1) application for all members.
- Create a PDF document that includes all three (3) team members resumes
- Upload a Word document that includes answers to the following prompt questions. You only need one (1) document per team.
- Teams will be selected based on knowledge about VandyPASS, Capital One & the Career Center which will all be components of the case.
Answer the following questions as a team in 100 words or less:
- Why is your team interested in participating in InnovationX?
- How has your team engaged with VandyPASS?
- What interests you about employer digital badges and their role in career readiness?
- Can your whole team attend the competition on April 10th (afternoon)?
Presentation & Competition:
- Each team will give a strictly timed 8-minute presentation which will be followed by up to 7 minutes of Q&A (15 minutes total).
- Winning teams will be selected based on presentation quality and the judging criteria below.
- Any team that goes over time will be deducted points from their overall score.
Deadline to Apply: March 21st
We’re excited to see your creativity and problem-solving skills in action! Apply today to be part of this unique experience.
If you have questions, please contact one of the committee members below:
- Allison Otto | allison.k.otto@vanderbilt.edu
- Grace (Adrian) Janoski | grace.janoski@vandebilt.edu