The "Four Diamonds" of Corvinus: Securing 6th Place in Belgrade
Four students from Corvinus University of Budapest traveled to Serbia to compete in the Belgrade Business International Case Competition (BBICC). Facing intense pressure and diverse industries, the team delivered their solutions, ultimately securing a commendable 6th place overall.
Between March 7th and March 15th, 2026, Belgrade became the center of the international case-solving world. Our university was represented by a team of four dedicated students: Fanni Bécs, Emma Földesi, Réka Ruprecht, and Gréta Szabó. The team was mentored and accompanied by Balázs Benedek Fejes, a PhD student at Corvinus and an active teacher and advisor of the Case Track community. The students were selected based on their outstanding performance in Case Track courses, proving their readiness for the international stage.
Preparation for such a high-stakes competition is never easy, and this year presented a unique challenge: part of the training had to happen in a hybrid format, as several team members were studying abroad. Despite the distance, the team focused on bridging the gap between innovative ideas and financial reality. As Fanni Bécs noted:
„Our preparation for the competition focused on several key aspects to ensure we were well-rounded in our approach. We worked on refining our messaging and ensuring clarity in our presentations, which was essential for effectively communicating our solutions. Additionally, we focused on applying data-driven methods to back our proposals, ensuring they were grounded in analytics and real-world insights. Financial aspects also played a significant role, and we worked on developing strategies that were not only innovative but also financially viable.”
The competition involved three distinct cases, each presenting unique strategic hurdles that required the team to pivot between different business models. The journey began with a strong B2C focus through the local cafe chain, Kafeterija, where the team explored customer acquisition and digital engagement to keep the brand relevant for a younger generation. This was followed by two B2B-oriented challenges: a complex dive into the pharmaceutical industry, which demanded rigorous prioritization, and a final 24-hour case centered on the strategic utilization of office buildings within the real estate sector. Across all three scenarios, brand positioning and marketing remained at the forefront as the team introduced innovative, yet feasible techniques, balancing online and offline strategies to align with each company’s resources. Réka Ruprecht reflected on the diversity of these challenges:
„The first case was a local cafe chain, Kafeterija. We were asked how the brand can remain relevant for GenZ. We were glad that we finally had a case which is this relevant for us, so we prepared our solution with a lot of enthusiasm. The second case was about the pharma industry, with a lot of tasks, so we needed to set priorities and select what we focus on. The third one was real estate, within that the utilization of office buildings.”
One of the most valuable aspects of the competition was the immediate feedback from the professional jury. While the team’s analytical depth was never in question, they had to learn to project their confidence as strongly as their data. Fanni Bécs highlighted how the team evolved throughout the week:
„They consistently mentioned that our analysis of the problem was thorough and addressed every challenge from multiple angles. For the first case, we received particularly strong feedback, with the jury describing our solution as „bulletproof,” which significantly boosted our confidence for the subsequent cases. In the first case, the jury also suggested we bring more energy and confidence to our presentation, and we quickly adapted based on that input. By the second case, the jury noted they were impressed with our increased energy and engagement, which reinforced our ability to improve and respond to feedback effectively.”
Reflecting on their performance, the team felt they had finally overcome the hurdle of playing it too safe. However, the experience also highlighted where they can push even further in future competitions. As Réka Ruprecht explained:
„Solution-wise, I think we were satisfied with all of our strategies. We dared to be bold, which we have been struggling with a bit otherwise, but also provided realistic and easy-to-implement solutions. What I would do differently is putting more emphasis on the storylines and highlighting even more why our strategic steps are beneficial for the companies.”
Beyond the rankings, the emotional highlight of the week was a personal encounter following the first case. The Marketing Director of Kafeterija was so impressed by the Corvinus team that he personally sought them out during the event. Réka Ruprecht shared this defining moment:
„After the Kafeterija case (5-hour), we received incredibly good feedback which we will undoubtedly remember for a long time. The Marketing Director even said that we were like four diamonds, and during the closing event he approached us to congratulate again for our solution. Personally, these encouraging words will be my key takeaway from this competition.”
We would like to extend our congratulations to the team and their advisor, Balázs Benedek Fejes, for this impressive 6th-place finish! We also want to thank the Corvinus Case Track Community seniors and mentors who supported the team throughout their preparation. This success in Belgrade once again proves that Corvinus students are among the „diamonds” of the international business scene.