We Helped Students Gain Real-Life M&A Experience
Close the Deal was a global student competition designed to better
prepare students for careers in investment banking, corporate finance,
and private equity.
Founded in 2020, the competition originated from Focus Finance, a financial research platform led by students from the world’s top universities, after the team previously coordinated IE University’s M&A Competition. As it expanded internationally, it became independent as a separate entity from April 2021 (registered in the UK Company No. SC694790).
The platform hosted the world’s largest student M&A competition, run twice annually with live finals where shortlisted teams pitched original M&A proposals to investment banking and private equity professionals. Open to high school, undergraduate, graduate, and MBA students from any academic background, Close the Deal supported over 2,200 students worldwide.
Open to students from any degree discipline, Close the Deal also offered a range of free educational resources, particularly supporting those from non-finance backgrounds. This included online learning materials, workshops, panel events and a dedicated podcast. In 2022, Close the Deal also partnered with FMI Online, the London-based digital arm of MDA Training, a trusted partner to leading banks and financial institutions, to deliver expert-led workshops to competition participants.
Close the Deal provided thousands of students globally with a platform to compete, build practical M&A skills, and gain meaningful exposure to the financial services industry. Through its competitions, education, and industry engagement, the platform helped many participants progress into internships and full-time roles, leaving a lasting impact on early-career talent in finance.
Live Finals
🎥 Watch back our finals broadcast live on YouTube in [] and [] below
Over 2,200 Participants Globally
Since the first competition was held in winter 2020, over 2,200 students registered for the M&A Competition
Testimonials
As a Master in Finance student, I am interested in the M&A industry and I wanted to gain exposure to M&A industry in general. I have learned to screen through current trends in the markets, companies, and find potentials acquirers/buyers. Further, I have learned to set up a clear and concise pitch to present the research made to a jury
Nicolas, P. BELGIUM
I participated in the "Close the Deal" competition to get an insight into M&A, learn from industry experts and collaborate with colleagues to pitch a deal. I learned how to originate deals and gained valuable knowledge of how business is conducted worldwide from
real-life examples
Spyros, M. GREECE
It was great to be in contact with people who have been in the field (Investment Banking) for so many years, it was reassuring as I knew the advice I was given was projecting me in the correct direction to further my career
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Katia, G. UK
Close the Deal was a great opportunity to understand the M&A field from a more practical point of view, notably thanks to our mentors and professionals sharing their experiences and tips. Completing this project with a real objective in mind has introduced new challenges such as the deal origination process.
Aurore, G. SPAIN
Previous episodes still available on major podcast platforms
