CLIMB Stock Market Experience Rules and Prizes

We are pleased to announce that the 2025 CLIMB Stock Market Experience (SME) is now underway. Youth, adults, parents, extended family and Community Organizations can now “earn while they learn” by participating in the 2025 SME. Cash prizes will be awarded to participants who meet the below requirements.

*Though anyone from any country may participate in the CLIMB Stock Market Experience, only participants residing in the United States will be eligible for cash prizes. 

The top 3 youth, top 3 adult, and top 3 Team winners will be awarded as follows:

● 1st Prize = $750
● 2nd Prize = $500
● 3rd Prize = $250

Youth is defined as anyone ages 21 and under and adults are defined as anyone over the age of 21. Teams can be a mix of youth and adults, all youth, or all adults.

Winners will be determined based on the ranking of their portfolio’s Sharpe Ratios at the close of the NYSE on August 1st (3 PM CST/4 PM EST). The Sharpe Ratio measures risk-adjusted returns, with a higher ratio indicating better performance relative to risk. The youth and adult participants and team with the highest ranking Sharpe Ratio will earn first place, second highest will earn second place, and so on. Winners must follow the rules and complete the curriculum as stipulated. See Official Rules Below.

Click Here To Register

Official Rules

  • The program is free and open to all youth and adults who may compete individually and/or as part of a team.
  • To be eligible for monetary prizes, participants must reside in the United States.
  • Registration opens Thursday, May 1, 2025, and closes at 11:59 PM ET on Monday, June 16, 2025.
  • Trading begins Monday, June 16, 2025, and will run through 3:00 PM CST/ 4:00 PM EST on August 1, 2025.
  • Participants will start with $100,000 in virtual cash and have the ability to earn more along the way.
  • Participants can trade in publicly held U.S. stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds.
  • There will be a position limit enforced so participants cannot invest more than 25% of their money in any one security.
  • Day trading is NOT allowed.
  • Short selling, buying fractional shares, and buying on margin are allowed.
  • To be declared an Individual winner, participants MUST
    • Place a minimum of 1 trade during the event.
    • Complete all the Curriculum Lessons by 3:00 PM CST/ 4:00 PM EST on Friday, August 1, 2025.
    • Provide a valid phone number at registration and respond with your acceptance within 48 hours of notification of an award if you have been declared a winner.
    • Agree to receive the award via Direct Deposit. (In the event you do not have a depository account, we can facilitate your opening one with Summit Credit Union at any time throughout the competition.)
    • Agree to supply a photo and be available for a recorded interview at Capstone or another time to be made public as CLIMB deems appropriate.
    • Complete a W9 tax form if your monetary award exceeds $600.
  • To be declared a Team winner, Teams MUST
    • Have at least 50% of team members complete the curriculum.
    • Have at least 50% of team members complete one trade.
    • Agree to supply a photo and be available for a recorded interview at Capstone or another time to be made public as CLIMB deems appropriate.

*Failure to complete any part of the requirements will disqualify you and the organizing committee shall go in descending order to award winners. PLEASE NOTE: Winners will be certified by an internal audit to ensure rules compliance, so leaders shown on the SME Platform rankings page may not necessarily be the competition winner.

There will be other ways to win prizes throughout the competition and at Capstone, so stay engaged and active. We are primarily looking at engagement with the platform, attendance and participation in Speaker Series sessions, and overall Program engagement.

*Current Employees, Consultants, and Interns of CLIMB USA are not eligible to win placement prizes, but may participate in the SME.