Four students. One institution. One case.
Every team is built around and led by a Division I college athlete who serves as Captain. The other three players are students from the same institution who join the team through pre-registration or by being drafted from the talent pool.
Positions
Roles establish accountability, not walls.
| Position | Owns | Primary Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Team | Establish priorities, make decisions, coordinate players and represent the team's collective case. |
| Product Manager | Solution | Design the solution and make it tangible. |
| Growth Manager | Evidence | Understand the problem, users and market and gather supporting evidence. |
| Operations Manager | Resources | Determine what the team needs, how to get it and how the solution becomes viable. |
The Captain leads the team. Every player leads their position.
All four contribute
Every player contributes actively throughout the competition, not just inside their lane.
The Captain leads the pitch
During the final presentation the Captain owns the narrative. Teammates demo the product, run slides, draw concepts and show evidence.
All four take Q&A
Judges can direct questions to any player. The Captain has to know when to answer and when to hand off.
Captain
Your job isn't to be in charge. Your job is to help your team win.
The Captain must be a Division I college athlete and ultimately represents the team's collective work during the formal presentation.
- Create clarity
- Establish priorities
- Get the ball to the right player
- Ask before telling
- Make decisions when required
- See the whole field
- Cover teammates
- Adapt the game plan
Operating principle
Read what's happening. Communicate. Adjust. Cover each other. Win together.
Players are expected to know their positions without retreating into functional silos. You have a position — own it — but read the game and cover your teammates.