MSc Students from HEC Montréal Secure Top Prize at 2025 Investment Hackathon
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Montréal – A team including three students from HEC Montréal’s Master of Science (MSc) - Financial Engineering program achieved first place at the prestigious 2025 Hackathon, an international investment competition held in Montréal on November 5th and 6th. The victory underscores the program’s strength in quantitative finance and data-driven investment strategies.
Jean-Simon Desmarais, Venkat Narayana Ramakrishnan, and Alexis Roger, collaborating with teammates Alexis Perron and Romain Mrad, distinguished themselves by developing a winning portfolio strategy based on textual data analysis. Their innovative approach earned them a $15,000 cash prize.
The Hackathon, which began in September, challenged participants to construct investable portfolios comprising 50 to 70 publicly traded global equities.Teams were evaluated initially on the quality of their written reports, with ten finalists selected to present their solutions to a panel of industry experts and academics during the live competition in November.
While the winning team represented HEC Montréal’s success, several other MSc students from the program also participated in the Hackathon, gaining valuable experience and showcasing their skills on an international stage.
Investment Hackathons: A Growing trend
Investment hackathons are becoming increasingly popular as a means for identifying and nurturing talent in the financial industry. These competitions provide a platform for students and professionals to apply their skills in real-world scenarios, often focusing on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning in finance. The increasing availability of large datasets and computational power fuels this trend, allowing for more refined and data-driven investment strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions about the HEC Montréal Hackathon Win
- What is the HEC Montréal MSc in financial Engineering?
- the MSc in Financial Engineering at HEC Montréal is a graduate program designed to equip students with advanced quantitative skills for careers in finance. It focuses on mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and computational methods applied to financial markets.
- What was the challenge presented at the 2025 Hackathon?
- The 2025 Hackathon challenged participants to develop investable portfolio strategies utilizing textual data. This required teams to analyze and interpret information from various sources to make informed investment decisions.
- How were the finalist teams selected?
- Ten finalist teams were selected based on the quality and rigor of their written reports submitted in early October. These reports detailed their proposed investment strategies and the methodology used.
- What is the significance of winning the Hackathon?
- Winning the hackathon is a meaningful achievement, demonstrating the team’s ability to apply advanced financial engineering principles to solve real-world investment problems. It also provides valuable recognition and a financial reward.
- Did only HEC montréal students participate in the Hackathon?
- No, the Hackathon was an international competition, attracting participants from various universities and institutions worldwide. Though,HEC Montréal had a strong showing with multiple students involved.
- What will the winning team do with the $15,000 prize?
- The winning team’s plans for the prize money have not been publicly disclosed, but it is likely to be used to further their education, research, or investment endeavors.
We’re incredibly proud of Jean-Simon, Venkat, Alexis, Alexis, and Romain for this remarkable accomplishment! Do you have thoughts on the growing role of data science in finance? Share your comments below, or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on cutting-edge developments in the world of finance and technology.
