HSEO

Student Preparation

Free Prep Resources

Practice materials and guidance to help students prepare for HSEO rounds.

Practice Questions

Set A: Market Logic

10 questions on customer pain points, TAM/SAM/SOM, and product-market fit logic.

Set B: Unit Economics

10 questions on pricing, gross margin, CAC, LTV, and breakeven assumptions.

Set C: Strategy Tradeoffs

10 questions on sequencing, channel choice, and execution risk.

Study Guide

  • How to analyze startup cases under time constraints
  • How to justify assumptions with evidence and logic
  • How to compare alternative strategies clearly
  • How to present a concise recommendation
Students reviewing strategy notes together

Official Rubric

This rubric is used for the Round II Startup Strategy Challenge panel review.

Criterion 1: Problem Framing (25%)

Clear diagnosis of customer, market, and core strategic challenge.

Criterion 2: Strategic Logic (35%)

Coherent strategy with defensible assumptions, tradeoffs, and sequencing.

Criterion 3: Feasibility and Communication (40%)

Practical execution plan with clear communication and measurable outcomes.