About the GIC
Explorer Hop's Global Investment Competition (GIC) is a virtual investment opportunity for youth ages 11-17. The competition is open to 500 participants from anywhere in the world. All experience levels are welcome as competitors learn how to trade stocks and build their own portfolio. And for those who are looking to compete, there are more than $100 in prizes to be won! The portfolio with the highest amount at the end of the competition is the first place winner. All participants will however receive a certificate at the end of the competition to acknowledge their learning achievement.
The next competition runs from September 26th-November 4th. Therefore the portfolio with the highest amount on November 4th, 2022 at 4:30 PM EST will be the winner of the first place prize. Second and third place, as well as the top earner in each age category, will subsequently win smaller prizes.
If you feel that you're on the lesser experienced side and want to prepare first, you have time before the next competition. If you would like to learn how to manage your money and invest we suggest enrolling for the following instructor-led online classes: Camp Millionaire Level 1, Personal Finance. If you are looking for self-learning options, check out Learn to Trade and Mutual Funds.
GIC Winners On Their Experience
The Explorer Hop team interviewed past participants on their experience, to help prepare future students, and offer them insight into what it's like to compete. Here are our interviews with the students who placed in the top three!
1st Place: Young Investor Bay Shen
Bay has been a long-term student at Explorer Hop and is known for his excellent sense of humour. A solid investor, he studies the market and follows news very closely. He was very strategic with his trading and timed the market incredibly. In the end, his portfolio outperformed the stock market many times over.
EH: How did you hear about the Investment Competition?
Bay: I found out about the competition through the Young Investors Club, which I joined after completing levels 1-4 of Camp Millionaire. We are encouraged a lot in the Investor's Club to try to invest in different things so I thought I should try this challenge as I can test my new strategies.
EH: How much investing experience do you have?
Bay: Technically I started way back in around 2016 with a simulator, but I didn't really know what I was doing. I started learning when I took Explorer Hop's program in my school. That's when I started understanding about stocks. After this I started trading with real money in September of 2020 when my mom opened a TFSA. I'm practicing my techniques in the challenge before I try it with real money.
EH: What are you hoping to get from participating in the competition?
Bay: The main thing I want to learn is how to control myself since I was a pretty emotional trader. Trading virtually helps me figure out what to do with my real portfolio, which is where the money really counts. During the course of a month, I basically lost all my gains due to a series of bad trades, but I'm determined to make things work better in the future and am trying different strategies. I would also like to win the 500 dollar amazon gift card of course!
EH: What would you say to inspire other kids to learn about investing?
Bay: Financial literacy is one of the most important competencies that many schools fail to teach in their basic curriculum. I think that it's very important for kids to start learning about investing at a young age to make them more prepared for the crazy world that we'll grow up into. Learning about these things now will definitely give you a leg up when you eventually become an adult and enter the workforce or decide to start your own business, etc.
During every competition we post weekly rankings on our social media accounts. Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to get the updates.