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ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge

The first ATLAS challenge with IE University: an official partnership that brought the ATLAS engine into the classroom, and a competition where the market settled the argument. It ran from 13 to 28 October 2026 and closed with a ceremony at IE Tower.

Opening

13 October 2026 · IE University, Madrid

ATLAS

The ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge

Students received virtual capital, the full ATLAS analysis stack and a ranking that moved with every close. They analysed, built a portfolio, then competed on what the market actually did, following the ATLAS probabilities or arguing against them.

Competition
ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge
Partner
IE University
Dates
13 – 28 October 2026
Format
10 teams of 5
Presenting the ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge to students at IE University, Madrid Honoré Le Conte de Poly presenting the ATLAS scenario map Santiago Avalos and Honoré Le Conte de Poly at the kickoff

Press release

ATLAS and IE University kick off the ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge

Madrid, 13 October 2026.

ATLAS and IE University launched the ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge with a kickoff session on campus. Ten teams of students begin two weeks of investing with virtual capital in the real US market, using the ATLAS engine to analyse companies and ETFs, measure risk and build a portfolio as a team.

Each team starts with $1,000,000 in virtual capital and can buy or short-sell US stocks and ETFs. Every order needs the approval of three team members, so decisions are argued before they are made. Positions are valued at live market prices and the ranking updates throughout the trading day.

The challenge runs until 28 October. It awards three prizes: the highest total return, the best risk-adjusted return and the best investment thesis. A jury with members from Vanguard, Crédit Agricole CIB, IE University and ATLAS will review every team's report and presentation.

The kickoff also included talks from guest speakers on the difference between speculating and investing, and on how professional investors move from numbers to value.

Teams
10 teams of 5
Virtual capital
$1,000,000 per team
Market
US stocks and ETFs, long and short
Dates
13 – 28 October 2026

The kickoff in pictures

IE University, Madrid · 13 October 2026

ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 1 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 2 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 3 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 4 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 5 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 6 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 7 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 8 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 9 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 10 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 11 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 12 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 13 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 14 ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge kickoff, photo 15

Closure

29 October 2026 · IE Tower, Madrid

Award presentation at the closing ceremonyThe jury at the closing ceremonySantiago Ávalos, founder of ATLAS, presenting at the closing ceremony

Press release

ATLAS and IE University close the ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge with an awards ceremony

Madrid, 29 October 2026.

ATLAS and IE University closed the ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge with a ceremony at IE Tower in Madrid. Ten teams of students took part in the 16-day challenge, investing virtual capital at real market prices during the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

The ceremony opened with remarks by José María Alarcón, Head of International Business at Banco Santander (Madrid region), followed by Santiago Ávalos, founder of ATLAS. Pablo Bernal, Head of Spain at Vanguard, and Caroline Chrestien de Poly, COO Middle East and Africa at Crédit Agricole CIB, then gave talks on geopolitical risk.

Three awards followed. Team 10 won Highest Return with +3.82%. Team 1 won Best Investment Thesis. Team 3 won Risk Management, with a return of +2.96%.

Santiago Ávalos closed the ceremony, followed by closing remarks from Pablo Marco, Vice Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs.

It was the first edition of the challenge, which ATLAS and IE University ran from 13 to 28 October 2026.

Teams
10
Duration
16 days · 13 – 28 October 2026
Ceremony
29 October 2026, IE Tower, Madrid
Highest Return
Team 10 · +3.82%
Best Investment Thesis
Team 1
Risk Management
Team 3 · +2.96%

The closing ceremony in pictures

IE Tower, Madrid · 29 October 2026

Caroline Chrestien de Poly, COO Middle East and Africa at Crédit Agricole CIB, giving a guest talk on geopolitical risk Guests arriving and greeting each other before the ceremony Guests arriving and greeting each other before the ceremony Closing ceremony of the ATLAS × IE Investment Challenge at IE Tower Santiago Ávalos, founder of ATLAS, presenting at the closing ceremony Santiago Ávalos, founder of ATLAS, presenting at the closing ceremony Santiago Ávalos, founder of ATLAS, presenting at the closing ceremony Santiago Ávalos, founder of ATLAS, presenting at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony The jury at the closing ceremony Details from the closing ceremony at IE Tower Details from the closing ceremony at IE Tower Award presentation at the closing ceremony Award presentation at the closing ceremony Award presentation at the closing ceremony Pablo Bernal, Head of Spain at Vanguard, giving a talk at the closing ceremony Pablo Bernal, Head of Spain at Vanguard, giving a talk at the closing ceremony Caroline Chrestien de Poly, COO Middle East and Africa at Crédit Agricole CIB, giving a guest talk on geopolitical risk Caroline Chrestien de Poly, COO Middle East and Africa at Crédit Agricole CIB, giving a guest talk on geopolitical risk Closing remarks at the ceremony Group photo at the closing ceremony Group photo at the closing ceremony Students and guests talking after the ceremony Students and guests talking after the ceremony Students and guests talking after the ceremony Group photo at the closing ceremony Group photo at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony A student team presenting at the closing ceremony Students and guests listening during the closing ceremony

Photos: IE University