2026 Bain PhD Challenge Brussels - In-person
Event ID
107556
Date
Sep 7
Audience
PhD students | PhDs | Postdocs
Date
Sep 7
Event Description
Bain PhD Challenge 2026 – Brussels, Belgium
Are you in the final two years of your PhD or a recent PhD graduate? Interested in applying your research to real-world business problems?
The Bain PhD Challenge is your opportunity to turn your academic insights into a business concept and present it to a jury of Bain Partners and experienced consultants across sectors including advanced manufacturing, technology, consumer products, financial services, and private equity.
What’s in it for you
- Present your idea at Bain’s Brussels office
- Gain visibility beyond academia
- Win a €1,000 voucher and a one-week immersion at Bain Brussels
- Explore a career in strategy consulting and connect with Bain consultants
Key Dates
- Applications open: July 16, 2026
- Application deadline: September 7, 2026
- Finalists announced: September 16, 2026
- Presentation Day: September 25, 2026
Application Requirements
Submit via our application platform:
- Resume (maximum 2 pages, in English)
- Abstract (300–500 words, PDF)
- Presentation (maximum 10 slides, PDF or PowerPoint)
Your submission should address:
- The problem you are solving
- Your solution and the resulting product or service
- Market potential
- Competitor landscape and your differentiation
- Business model and monetization strategy
- Roadmap and key milestones
Selection Criteria
Finalists will be chosen based on:
- Clear definition of the problem and solution
- Market opportunity
- Differentiation from existing solutions
- Viability of monetization and execution plan
What to Expect if Selected
- A 15-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A for each participant
- Interactive content during the afternoon
- Introduction to Strategy Consulting, testimonies from PhDs turned consultants
- Winners celebration with food and drinks & networking
Confidentiality
All submissions are protected under a non-disclosure agreement. Ideas will be reviewed only by Bain’s recruiting team and used exclusively for evaluation and recruitment purposes.
Contact
Questions? Reach out to Justine Forêt at justine.foret@bain.com
Applications open July 16. Take your research from lab to launch with Bain !