• 13 undergraduate and 13 postgraduate teams make the final of CIM’s The Pitch 2026 
• IBM set challenge to deliver an AI marketing plan  
• The finals to take place on 10th and 11th March – title of ‘Marketers of the Future’ up for grabs 

25th February 2026: The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has unveiled the finalists for The Pitch 2026, CIM’s global student competition, with 13 undergraduate and 13 postgraduate teams earning a coveted place in this year’s live finals. 

Now in its fifteenth year, The Pitch, a competition that challenges participants to react to a real-life marketing brief, continues to push emerging marketing talent to think strategically. 

For the 2026 contest, CIM has joined forces with global brand IBM to provide students with the opportunity to gain a valuable, practical hands-on experience – sharpening their strategic thinking and boosting their employability in an increasingly competitive job market. 

This year’s briefs challenge students to shape the future of AI marketing: 

• Undergraduate students have been tasked with creating a bold, content-led campaign that tackles AI myths and positions IBM as the go-to expert for practical, responsible AI. 
• Postgraduate students have been challenged to craft a strategic plan that establishes IBM as the global leader in ‘Green AI’ – championing a more sustainable future for artificial intelligence.  

The shortlisted teams include: 

Undergraduates: 

• 3 Marketeers – University of West London 
• AI Allies – Aston University 
• A.S.A. – Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) 
• B.A.T – University of Greenwich 
• BLC: born to pitch – Leeds Beckett University 
• Bright Minders – Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TARUMT) 
• Catalyst – Manchester Metropolitan University 
• METAMORPHOSIS – The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance 
• NAM – Canadian College of Kuwait (CCK) 
• NEXUS – Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) 
• SMD – Leeds Beckett University 
• The Turing Point – University of Nottingham Malaysia 
• Triad Methods – University of Portsmouth 

Postgraduates: 

• Alina & Xijian – University of Glasgow 
• Apex Strategy – Heriot-Watt University 
• CarbonLite Imaging – King's College London 
• DinoMighty Consultancy – University of Birmingham 
• EcoAi – University of Leicester 
• Good Transport Coming – University of Glasgow 
• GreenGlobal – University of Strathclyde 
• GreenLens AI – University of Leeds 
• Pitch Perfected – University of Birmingham 
• Team Varry – University of Leicester 
• Terra-tory Marketers – University of Glasgow 
• The Greenprint – University of Strathclyde 
• Verdis AI – Loughborough University

Following the announcement of the finalists for The Pitch 2026, Maggie Jones, Director of Qualifications and Partnerships at CIM, said: “Selecting this year’s shortlist was no easy task. We saw an increase in submissions, and the standard continues to rise year on year. It has been especially encouraging to see students from across the globe engaging so thoughtfully with the brief. 

“Congratulations to all of our finalists, and best of luck in the live finals. I’m really looking forward to seeing your pitches brought to life.” 

Justin Ablett, Strategic Partners Lead for UKI in IBM Consulting, commented: “We’ve been hugely impressed by the creativity, skill and passion shown by participants from around the world. On behalf of everyone at IBM, thank you for the time and effort you’ve invested. We hope the experience has been valuable for all involved, regardless of whether you’ve progressed to the final stage or not.

“Creating the shortlist was exceptionally challenging, and selecting our undergraduate and postgraduate winners in March will be no easier, but we relish the chance to see the finalists bring their ideas to life during next month's finals.” 

Océane Bax de Keating, a member of ‘007 Girls’ from Henley Business School, winners of the 2023 competition, added: “The Pitch was a real turning point in my career. It gave me the chance to challenge myself beyond the classroom and apply what I had learned in a real-world context. Taking part in the competition pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me realise the value of my ideas and perspective. It also helped me stand out during job applications and interviews, especially when talking about real-life business problem-solving.” 

The undergraduate finalists will compete in a live virtual final on 10th March, followed by the postgraduate final on 11th March, where the title of ‘Marketers of the Future’ will be awarded in each category at the end of their respective finals. 

Winners in each category will win a one-year complimentary CIM Affiliate Professional membership and a place on a CIM virtual e-learning course, as well as an interactive session with four IBM experts. All finalists will receive a Pitch 2026 finalist certificate.

To find out more, please visit The Pitch webpage.

-ENDS-

For CIM media enquiries
James Delves
Head of PR and External Affairs, CIM
james.delves@cim.co.uk 

Adam Jones
PR Executive, CIM
adam.jones@cim.co.uk

About CIM 
For over 100 years, CIM has been the universal voice of marketing, championing our industry and its positive impact on organisations, economies, and the wider society. Today, we play a more significant role than ever in supporting, developing, and representing our members and the profession around the world. Always on top of the latest developments, we offer inspiring insights and thought leadership to generate transformative discussion and ideas. 

On an individual level, marketers at every stage of their career find us a trusted and people-centred provider of clear guidance, training, and professional qualifications – especially on their path to being accredited as a Chartered Marketer. If it carries a CIM stamp, it’s taken seriously: proof of the essential skills that boost long-term success for any business. 

We’re at the forefront of all that’s exciting about marketing. Our services build careers and boost businesses. We continue to speak out for our industry, working alongside like-minded organisations to bring on the latest generations of talent and set professional standards for the entire marketing ecosystem. Find out more about CIM by visiting www.cim.co.uk.