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International Business Challenge 2026

Organization: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Subject: Business City: Amsterdam

Summary

Are you planning to do (more) business in other countries? Would you like to explore the business opportunities of markets abroad? Let students from the Master Business Administration help you out.

Description

✅ Key features of the challenge

Programme: Master Business Administration | International Management Track

Students per team: 4-5 students.

No. of hours spent per team: 150 hours

Duration: November - December

Supervision: Student teams are jointly supervised by lecturers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a contact person at the company.

Deliverables: Report with recommendations and presentations.

Company time investment: 8-12 hours

Matching fee (only when matched to one or more teams):

For-profit organizations: €950,- (ex tax, charged by Master Challenge (NOT the university)).

Non-profit organisations / NGO's / Overheidsorganisaties / Onderwijsinstellingen: free of charge

📑 Challenge Examples

The main deliverables are a practically relevant advisory report and a presentation containing recommendations for your challenge. Considering the unique characteristics of international markets, e.g., in terms of culture, institutions, infrastructure and competition, students can (non-comprehensive) ...

Assess different international markets for their potential and risks in a data-driven way

Analyze the organization's fit with the international markets (or specific market segments)

Conduct a stakeholder analysis for the international markets of interest

Conduct primary research to understand customers' attitudes to your products and services

Develop a market entry strategy

Develop a strategy for the phase after market entry

Identity potential business partners in the foreign country

Develop a strategic roadmap for establishing operations in the international markets

Devise a marketing plan for the international markets

Below you can find a (non-comprehensive) list of regions or countries that could be particularly interesting as destinations for or origins of companies participating in the challenge:

Southeast Asia

Central Asia

Latin America & Caribbean

Sub-Saharan Africa

Middle East & North Africa

Central & Eastern Europe

Questions? Want to discuss your challenge before submitting one? Schedule a call here.

🏢 Company requirement

Any company/organization from any industry can apply.

💰 Costs

To help facilitate this challenge a matching fee applies (charged by Master Challenge and NOT the university).

For-profit organizations: €950,- (ex tax, charged by Master Challenge (NOT the university)).

Non-profit organisations / NGO's / Overheidsorganisaties / Onderwijsinstellingen: free of charge

❗️You will only be charged when matched to a team.

📨 How to apply

You can submit the challenge directly through the website. Provide a title that summarises the challenge. Subsequently, briefly elaborate on your challenge. See link for a template you could use: https://link.masterchallenge.me/challenge-template or use the challenge generator: https://masterchallenge.me/challenge-generator

🗓 Planning

September 15: Deadline for submitting your challenge

September 15: Receiving message if your challenge is approved by the Course Coordinator at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

October 19-23: Matching phase

October 26: Our matching algorithm will create optimal matches

October 28-November 3: Kick-off meeting with your team

Early-mid December: Receive the final advisory report

December 16 (or later): Final presentations

Information for students

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Key details

Open on Master Challenge