Lindner Investment Challenge
In the Lindner Investment Challenge, students will trade actual U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds on a professional trading platform. Teams will have a paper trading account with a $1 million starting balance.
When: The competition begins January 15, 2026, and ends on April 1, 2026.
Who: The Lindner Investment Challenge is open to all UC students. Teams may comprised of up to three students.
Goal: Outperform the S&P 500 while managing risk and controlling transaction costs.
Prize: A total of $18,000 in scholarship funding is available. First place wins $10,000, with second place receiving $5,000 and third place taking $3,000.
Additional details
- Pre-competition training sessions will be supervised by Lindner faculty to teach portfolio management fundamentals, trading strategies and platform basics.
- Competitors can gudiance and refine their trading approachers during the challenge by visiting with Lindner faculty during established checkpoints and office hours.
- Students will progressively build skills from training through the competition to the final presentation.
- Students will gain industry visibility and real-world experience by presenting to investment professionals, who will act as the competition’s judges.
You are going to get real trading experience. You are going to make real trading decisions like a portfolio manager in Cincinnati or New York.
Mehmet Sağlam Johnson Investment Institute Academic Director
Contact Us
If you are interested in or have questions about the Lindner Investment Challenge, please sign up to receive more information and/or contact Johnson Investment Institute Academic Director Mehmet Sağlam.
