Global Innovation Challenge (WMGIC)

The fifth annual Global Innovation Challenge (WMGIC), a premier intercollegiate​ hack-a-thon style international and sustainable development case competition, was hosted virtually on March 19th & 20th, 2021. WMGIC V welcomed over 120 students and 50 guests from eight time zones, ranging from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom to Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, and Taiwan. 30 student teams from 15 top universities presented innovative solutions on Kalimantan's palm oil industry and competed for $4,750 in cash prizes. ​

Event Program

Event Schedule

Career & Networking Expo

​WMGIC is a premier undergraduate hack-a-thon style case competition and a cradle for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in the field of international and sustainable development. In WMGIC's fifth year and second year online, we are thrilled to offer a new stream, more than double our cash prizes, and expand beyond the United States to welcome over 175 students and guests worldwide." - Thomas Liu (WMGIC V Executive Director)

120+ Student Participants, 30 Teams

Reducing Barriers to Regulation in the Kalimantan Palm Oil Industry

Streams: Governance, Social Entrepreneurship, Technology, Business Consulting

WMGIC V Case

Keynote: Michal Zrust, Lestari Capital

Watch Keynote Conversation

WMGIC V Mentors & Judges

Meet the WMGIC V Mentors

Meet the WMGIC V Judges

Final Judges

Alexis Bonnell
Google & fmr. USIAD

Craig Broderick
Goldman Sachs

Bobby Jefferson
DAI Global Health​

Dow Martin
World Resources Institute

Nick Martin
TechChange

Trish Martinelli
NSIN

Kenzie Reinoso
Volery Capital Partners

Meet the Final Judges

Winners & Presentations

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
​BAFKIN International Associates

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Recognizing the economic, environmental, and social complexities of the palm oil trade, BAFKIN Associates sought to leverage the investment and consumer base of Whole Foods + Amazon to maximize our global impact. Our plan involves creating a palm oil certification scheme in partnership with Rainforest Alliance, piloting a vertically-integrated supply chain in Kalimantan for the Whole Foods 365 and Amazon Essentials product lines, and launching a land buy-back program to support women, indigenous, and minority small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs.

Nathan Liu, Kshamata Neupane, Fatima Pate, Bennett Hawley, Alice Li (William & Mary; University of St. Andrews)

Second Prize Winner
Data Dreamers

Kimya Shirazi, Merielyn Sher, Joseph Lee (William & Mary) 

Third Prize Winner
​The Collective Good

Ariana Gueranmayeh, Alec Scicchitano, Erica Harp​ (University of Virginia; George Mason University​)

Fourth Prize Winner
Global Development Guild

Laura Lam, Lilly Doninger, Joshua Murray, Redeit Hailu​ (William & Mary​)

View All Presentations

Testimonials

The WMGIC team were incredibly detail oriented, organized and thoughtful in their design of a virtual challenge." - Jamie (WMGIC V Judge)

I enjoyed participating (in WMGIC) because I felt like I practiced another level of thinking that I am not normally used to. I enjoyed getting to know my team members and working with them." - Joseph (WMGIC V Finalist)

Thank you, WMGIC V Executive Board!

Executive Director - Thomas Liu '22
Deputy Executive Director & Development Director - Hannah Garfinkel '22
Deputy Executive Director & External Relations Director - Kiran Rachamallu '23
Creative Director - Benjamin Hotchner '21 & Kieffer Gilman-Strickland '21
Event Director - August Wagner '21
Recruitment Director - Mike Frost '22 & Grace Riley '22
Marketing Director - Giselle Figueroa '23
Career & Networking Expo Coordinator - Yuchieh Cheng '23

WMGIC V is made possible by: