A team of five students from Insper won first place in the BTG Experience 2024, one of the most prestigious university challenges in the Brazilian financial market. The group, entirely composed of members of the Insper Asset, the institution's student league, outperformed 162 other participants from universities across the country, demonstrating excellence in financial analysis and teamwork.

 

The winners — Eduardo Cardillo (4th semester of Economics), Fernando Kaizer (7th semester of Mechanical Engineering), Guilherme Lima (6th semester of Economics), Matheus Vieira (3rd semester of Economics), and Rodrigo Montoro (4th semester of Economics) — formed a multidisciplinary team, integrating different stages and areas of study. The academic diversity and previous experience at Insper Asset, where the students already conducted company analysis and investment management, were decisive factors for the victory.

 

The competition, organized by BTG Pactual, is structured into four challenging phases that test different skills of the participants. In the first stage, the groups must develop a one-page sectoral and macroeconomic analysis of a publicly traded company. The Insper team chose Hidrovias do Brasil, a company in the waterway logistics sector.

 

After the initial approval, the participants had about a month to elaborate a complete 10-page analysis, including sectoral evaluation, qualitative analysis, and investment recommendations. In the semi-final, the challenge increased: the eight qualified groups were tasked with analyzing São Salvador Alimentos, a company indicated by the bank itself, with only two weeks for submission.

 

"One of the biggest challenges was that the company operates in all stages of the chicken production chain. It's a sector with few companies, and no one in our group had analyzed it before. We had little time to learn about the sector and the company," says Rodrigo Montoro.

 

The group’s commitment went beyond data analysis. Rodrigo and Eduardo traveled to Goiás to visit the São Salvador Alimentos facilities. "They welcomed us very well; we visited the two factories and had lunch with the managers and the energy director. It was very enriching," reports Rodrigo.

 

Dedication to the project required a balancing act with academic demands. "Insper is a school that requires a lot, and the program is full-time. Our biggest challenge was to balance the demands of the challenge with those of the school. But we managed to be very productive, and in the end, all five group members passed all their courses with good grades," says Fernando Kaizer.

 

The knowledge acquired in Insper's classrooms was fundamental to success in the competition. "Especially the Finance and Accounting courses are the basis for all knowledge in the financial market. Information systems and all those subjects that deal with Excel, which we use a lot, also provide the foundation for us," stresses Rodrigo.

 

 

The importance of university competitions

 

Professor Paulo Sergio Oliveira Ribeiro, Assistant Program Director of Undergraduate Education in Economics at Insper, highlights that competitions like the BTG Experience are fundamental as they allow students to apply the concepts studied in the classroom to real situations during their undergraduate program. "These competitions provide real experience in a company or bank environment, allowing participants to experience how these knowledge areas are used in practice. This consolidates the learning acquired throughout the program, highlighting the relevance of fundamentals in Finance, Economics, and Management in the daily work environment," says the professor.

 

According to the professor, in this type of competition, students practice various skills, from hard skills to soft skills. "Among the technical competencies, the application of concepts in finance, company evaluation, portfolio management, budget and capital analysis, which are essential elements of the Business Administration and Economics programs, are widely practiced in these activities," explains the professor. "Moreover, participants also develop important interpersonal skills, such as presentation, argumentation, dialogue, and counterpointing ideas, all in a challenging environment where they interact with groups of people, they had no prior contact with."

 

Student Eduardo Cardillo, President of Insper Asset, highlights the impact of the victory. "The main gain is recognition, both with the professors and the entire community, friends, and market partners. A lot of people congratulated us and commented on the challenge," says Eduardo.

 

"The BTG Experience is known for being very demanding and, consequently, those who win receive great recognition for that. It is indeed very beneficial for those who participate and especially for those who manage to win the challenge," highlights Matheus.

 

As a prize, all team members secured internship positions at BTG Pactual. Matheus and Rodrigo will start in January 2025, while Fernando, Eduardo, and Guilherme opted for July of the same year. "It is an opportunity to work a month with the best in the investment banking area, a reference for us," celebrates Rodrigo.

 

The result represents not only an individual achievement but also confirms the excellence of the training offered by Insper and the work developed by Insper Asset. "Our student league provides various training sessions, complementary classes, and study materials. It was an aggregate from both Insper and the entity itself," emphasizes Fernando.

 

The victory in the BTG Experience 2024 crowns an exceptional semester for Insper Asset, which also won two other important challenges in the financial market. "Other groups composed solely of members of the entity also won the challenges from Opportunity and Bank of America. This combination of Insper with our Student League, which everyone takes very seriously, is bearing good fruit," concludes Rodrigo.