From long shot to first place

MS-AIB student Abhi Sorari's unexpected victory in the Vanguard ETF Trading Challenge earns his team a trip to the New York Stock Exchange.

When W. P. Carey student Abhi Sorari's (BS Business Data Analytics/Supply Chain Management '25, MS-AIB '26) team placed sixth in the first round of the 2025 Vanguard ETF Trading Challenge — a national experiential finance competition hosted by Vanguard and the Fox School of Business at Temple University — they assumed their participation in the competition had come to an end since only the top five teams were guaranteed a spot in the finals.

But when Temple decided to allow all teams to submit their ETF (exchange-traded fund) designs to the second round of the competition, Sorari and his teammates took a chance. And the decision paid off when their submission unexpectedly earned them first place.

"Participating in this challenge was a defining experience combining research, innovation, teamwork, and real-world financial exposure," said Sorari.

This year's competition was the largest and most competitive cohort to date, including 48 teams from 25 universities across the U.S. In recognition of their win, Sorari and his three teammates — Connor Whyte (University of Arizona), Tyrin Boyd (Saint Louis University), and Muhammad Ali (Fordham University) — were invited to visit the New York Stock Exchange where they toured the building, met stock trader Peter Tuchman, and joined the closing bell ceremony with challenge finalists from across the country.

For Sorari and his teammates, the experience underscored the power of initiative, collaboration, and perseverance.

"Standing on the NYSE floor symbolized the culmination of the competition. It connected everything we worked on — ETF design, market theory, and teamwork — to the real-world heartbeat of global financial markets," he said.

In celebration of his win, W. P. Carey News spoke to Sorari about his experience competing in the challenge and how his MS-AIB education influenced his ETF pitch.

Question: How did you get involved with this competition?

Answer: At the start of the semester, I used ChatGPT to research challenges and extracurricular activities I could participate in, which is how I discovered the Vanguard ETF Trading Challenge. I initially registered for the competition as an individual, and Temple University matched me with three other students. Our team, Epsilon Investments, was a fully remote, cross-university team that coordinated across multiple states and time zones. While none of us knew each other before the competition, we connected through our shared interest in markets, ETFs, and the willingness to compete.

Q: Can you describe what the competition entailed?

A: It was split into two phases. During the trading phase, teams managed a $1,000,000 virtual portfolio using Vanguard ETFs, with requirements including maintaining a long-only position, a 10% cash minimum, at least five trades per competitor, and no leverage. During the ETF pitch phase, teams designed and pitched a new ETF to Vanguard and Temple University judges, complete with an investment thesis, index methodology, target investor profile, and risk considerations.

Our ETF pitch — the Vanguard World Semiconductor ETF — was designed to provide structured, comprehensive exposure to the global semiconductor value chain. While all six finalist teams presented strong concepts, the Vanguard and Temple judges said our presentation stood out for how we clearly articulated market need, our balanced and risk-aware index construction, our innovative mid-cap inclusion, a structure that addressed gaps in existing ETFs, and a polished, data-backed presentation.

Q: What did this experience teach you?

A: This experience provided hands-on exposure to ETF design and index methodology and risk-adjusted portfolio construction, while helping us practice professional pitching to industry practitioners and aiding our understanding of semiconductor market structure.

The challenge was a great experience where I actually learned how to trade, even though it was with paper money. I experienced how the market fluctuates every time new sentiment enters the picture — one of the biggest things I learned was how unpredictable it can be. I also learned that, more than statistical analysis, research about the market is what will help you be more successful in the market.

Q: Did your experience in the MS-AIB program aid you in this challenge?

A: Yes, particularly during the second phase. I took a class with Clinical Assistant Professor of Information Systems Geoff Pofahl, who taught us how to create presentations that go beyond text and drive attention to numerical data. That was really helpful in developing our presentation.

Q: Have you learned anything in the MS-AIB program so far that has been particularly impactful or surprising to you?

A: What surprised me most is how quickly the MS-AIB program reshapes the way you think. It’s not just about learning AI tools; it’s about learning to view problems as systems, identify patterns earlier, and challenge assumptions more effectively. The most impactful part has been developing a sharper, more structured decision-making mindset that applies immediately in real situations.

Q: What are your goals for after graduation this spring?

A: While visiting New York, I fell in love with the city, so that's where I will most likely be relocating to. I'm interested in working for consulting firms specializing in technology, data analytics, and business intelligence.