Devising the world’s most elaborate trading challenge | IMC

Recruiting the top 1% of young STEM talents. How did the leading global market maker captivate their interest with an irresistible challenge of a lifetime?

The fast-paced trading scene is constantly seeking new talents. But this is no easy feat, as the market making industry is often framed as stale and unimaginative. And IMC Trading wants to change that.
We put the world’s brightest minds to the test with Prosperity. In this exciting 10-day global challenge, participants use programming skills and analytical thinking to create trading algorithms, become the highest earners, and bring prosperity to their islands.

Employer branding

IMC Trading knew that conventional approaches wouldn’t appeal to the Gen Z talent they need. They wanted a campaign that reflected the market making experience, where only individuals with drive, intellect, and inventiveness can succeed.

Prosperity

We created Prosperity, the world’s most elaborate trading challenge simulating dynamic real-life financial markets. The young talents, kindled by their interests in gaming and competition, were called on to build and bring wealth to their virtual islands by trading tropical capitals like seashells, coconuts, and pineapples.
Solo and team players alike must wield Python expertise and analytical thinking to program strategic trading algorithms and do it faster than everyone else - while immersing themselves in the bustling trade of market making.

The results blew us out of the water. Over 11,000 participants stepped up to the challenge, with the champions winning a tropical paradise trip. But the real winner was IMC. Prosperity turned players into prospective candidates, with 94% considering a career in trading. Now that’s a lot of fortune.