Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

The 2026 Midwest Entrepreneurship Case Competition (MECC)

February 27th, 2026

The Midwest Entrepreneurship Case Competition (MECC), now in its third year, has quickly gained recognition as a unique and valuable learning opportunity for undergraduate students across the Midwest. Setting itself apart from traditional business case competitions, MECC challenges participants to think critically, conduct independent research, and develop their strategies—skills essential for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

This competition isn’t just about solving hypothetical problems—it’s about fostering real-world entrepreneurial thinking and innovation. MECC provides an excellent platform for students to push the boundaries of creativity while honing the skills needed to succeed in the fast-paced business world.

This year’s challenge

The 2026 competition centered on the Sage Business case: “Uvida—Boston’s First Zero-Waste, Plastic-Free Store.” The case focuses on Uvida, a brick-and-mortar and online retailer dedicated to sustainable consumption and zero-waste products. 

Participating teams were tasked with developing strategic, research-supported recommendations addressing:

• Uvida’s online presence
• Market expansion and reach
• Packaging strategy
• Logistics and operational improvements

The company’s founder, Maria Vasco, participated in the competition and served as a judge during the final round. Her involvement provided students with valuable feedback grounded in real entrepreneurial experience.

Teams represented eight academic institutions from across the Midwest: Michigan State University, University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, College of DuPage, Macomb Community College, Indiana University, and Elmhurst University. With the variety of talented teams involved, the event showcased the ingenuity and business acumen of students eager to make their mark in entrepreneurship.

Judges and feedback

The competition featured a panel of judges from leading academic institutions, each bringing their unique expertise to the table. In the first round, judges included:

• Sheila Devaney, humanities and social sciences librarian in the University of Georgia Libraries
• Zachary Grisham, business and social science librarian in the Kansas State University Libraries
• Abigail Morgan, Social Sciences Librarian in the Miami University Libraries 
• HD McKay, business librarian and lecturer in the Vanderbilt University Libraries and the Owen Graduate School of Management
• Neal Baker, business information specialist and clinical assistant professor at Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies
• Sarah Negishi, Purdue marketing student and past MECC first-place recipient

The final round of judging featured:

• Maria Vasco, founder of Uvida 
• Rebecca Frankel, acquisitions editor at Sage
• Ilana Stonebraker, head of Business and Social Sciences at Indiana University Libraries

These experienced judges provided valuable feedback to the teams, elevating the competition by ensuring that solutions were evidence-based and carefully scrutinized by subject-matter experts. Their insights were crucial in guiding participants as they refined their ideas and business strategies.

2026 winners

After a competitive and rigorous competition, the top teams were recognized for their outstanding innovation and business strategies. Congratulations to the following winners:

• First Place: BR-Solutions (Purdue University)
  • Olavo Dietzsch
  • Stefan Lee
  • Francisco Scafuro

• Second Place: The Case Closers (University of Notre Dame)
  • Leah Burney
  • Cecilia Letherman
  • Emma Reese
  • Caitlin Vengazo

• Third Place: The Mackey Method Collective (Purdue University)
  • Laura Fagan
  • Mateo Heitner
  • William Spence
  • Addelyn Welch

Partnership with Sage Business

The competition was proudly sponsored by Sage Business, whose support went beyond providing funding for the top teams. Sage’s contribution was significant as they offered invaluable resources to all participating teams, including access to Sage Business Cases, Sage Business Foundations, and Sage Data—essential tools for exploring multimedia case content, developing new business skills and knowledge, and conducting market analysis using real-world data. 

Sage’s contribution extended to organizing training sessions for both teams and librarians, ensuring participants had the necessary resources to succeed. A special thank you to the Sage team: Rebecca Frankel, Alexandra Shay, Laura Berg, Maureen Adams, Nicole Wu, and Jennifer Bourque, whose dedication helped ensure the competition’s smooth execution and success.

Looking ahead

The MECC’s success would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts of its planning committee. Congratulations to Zoeanna Mayhook (committee chair), Annette Bochenek, Liz Grauel, Terence O’Neill, and Ilana Stonebraker on planning a successful event. Their hard work, strategic planning, and attention to detail ensured the competition was an engaging and enriching experience for everyone involved.

As the MECC grows in participation, it remains a vital platform for students to hone their entrepreneurial skills. The 2026 competition was a testament to the participating teams’ talent, creativity, and collaboration.