The latest edition has taken on a new dimension thanks to the rapprochement between NextWise and Euronext, the European leader in financial markets. Together, they have given birth to an unprecedented challenge, combining training, competition, and immersion in the world of stock markets: the Next Challenge at the national level and the Euronext Trading Game at the European level.
These competitions offered students the opportunity to test their portfolio management skills and to face other European investors. More than just a game, it was a genuine hands-on learning experience, where pedagogy met the realism of financial markets.
Discover in this article how NextWise, a benchmark player in financial training, partnered with Euronext to propel tomorrow’s investors to the heart of European markets, through two complementary challenges and an unprecedented strategic collaboration in 2025 and 2026.
Discover the outcome of this new edition which concluded on 16 April 2026 during a ceremony at Euronext’s headquarters in La Défense.
What is NextWise 2025 – 2026?
NextWise is a fintech specializing in financial training and investment simulation. Its flagship competition, the Next Challenge, returned for a fifth edition organized from 6 October 2025 to 16 April 2026.
Free and open to all students, the Next Challenge allowed each participant to manage a virtual portfolio of:
- €50,000 per individual,
- or €200,000 per team (up to 7 members per club).
The objective was simple: to build and evolve a portfolio of listed securities throughout the competition, while respecting diversification and risk management principles.
Performances were analyzed according to quantitative criteria (return, balance, risk/return ratio) but also qualitative: investment strategy, market understanding, and quality of project presentation.
A jury composed of finance professionals and listed companies evaluated the best strategies.
The competition concluded with a ceremony at the Paris Stock Exchange on 16 April 2026, a memorable moment for networking and exchanges with players in the investment world.
What are the novelties of the latest edition of Next Challenge by NextWise?
The year 2025 marked a major milestone as the Next Challenge expanded internationally thanks to the Euronext Trading Game. This partnership between NextWise and Euronext enabled seven European countries to participate simultaneously in the challenge: France, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal.
Cette expansion est intervenue à la suite du succès du projet pilote lancé en mars 2025, qui avait réuni plus de 300 participants issus de six pays. La première édition officielle du concours européen a été lancée le 6 octobre 2025 et s’est achevée avec la finale qui a eu lieu le 16 avril 2026.
Les participants français ont bénéficié d’un double avantage :
- des récompenses nationales du Next Challenge,
- et des récompenses européennes de l’Euronext Trading Game.
Parmi les distinctions offertes :
- un mentorat personnalisé avec des collaborateurs d’Euronext,
- un coaching en prise de parole,
- une formation certifiée via l’Euronext Academy,
- et pour les finalistes européens, une journée d’immersion auprès du CEO local d’Euronext.
The partnership with Euronext strengthened NextWise’s reputation and confirmed its position as a key player in practical portfolio management training. For Euronext, it was a new way to promote financial education while supporting the next generation of investors.
Why participate in the Next Challenge or the Euronext Trading Game?
Participating in the Next Challenge or the Euronext Trading Game could represent a unique opportunity to train, challenge oneself, and stand out in the world of finance.
The main advantages:
- Learn in real conditions: participants managed a virtual portfolio of listed stocks and ETFs traded on Euronext, with prices updated in near real time.
- Develop concrete skills: market analysis, risk management, asset allocation, financial communication… all useful know-how for a future career.
- Enjoy a stimulating environment: the competition could motivate, push for rigor, and foster exchanges between students, professors, and professionals.
- Value your background: such an experience is a real plus on a CV, demonstrating a genuine interest in finance and the ability to think like an investor.
Café de la Bourse is again a partner of NextWise 2025 – 2026
Café de la Bourse was once again associated with this valuable initiative to accompany participants throughout their journey. Indeed, Café de la Bourse provided educational content and analyses on the stock market, investing, and portfolio management, to help them better understand the issues behind their decisions.
The Editor-in-Chief of Café de la Bourse, Louis Yang, also served on the competition jury, bringing his expertise and his analyst’s perspective.
A logical partnership that aligned with common goals, because just like NextWise and Euronext, Café de la Bourse shares the same ambition of making investment accessible to all, through a clear, educational and practical approach.
Overview of the Next Challenge 2025 – 2026
The 2025–2026 edition of the Next Challenge marked a particularly formative milestone in the development of NextWise, both in its scale and its opening to the European stage.
Concluded on 16 April 2026, this fifth edition was highlighted by the successful launch of the Euronext Trading Game, the first pan-European version of the program, which complements the national framework and strengthens its international dimension.
Over the years, NextWise has established itself as a reference player in applied financial education, with a now solid community:
- nearly 6,000 participants in total,
- approximately 300 investment clubs formed,
- more than 250 institutions involved across Europe.
This edition of the Next Challenge was also marked by strong engagement and a diversity of profiles, illustrating the program’s pedagogical and inclusive vocation. In total, 50 laureates were rewarded at the end of the competition, with a structured prize schedule:
- up to €700 for the best individual profiles,
- up to €4,000 for the top-performing clubs,
- special prizes, such as the best video or the jury’s favorite.
On the European side, the Euronext Trading Game identified the best investors at the national level before facing them in a European final, with rewards of strong professional value:
- mentoring sessions with Euronext experts,
- certified training at the Euronext Academy (valued at €2,500),
- and, for the top profiles, a immersion with the local CEO of Euronext.
Beyond performance, this edition 2025 – 2026 of the Next Challenge stood out for the quality of exchanges between students and professionals, notably during the Pitch Battles held in iconic venues of the financial district.
True to its “learning by doing” approach, NextWise thus confirms its ability to bring younger generations closer to the realities of the financial markets in a concrete way, by offering an immersive, demanding experience and resolutely geared toward professionalization.
All of our information is, by nature, generic. It does not take into account your personal situation and does not constitute personalized recommendations for the purpose of executing transactions and should not be construed as financial investment advice, nor as any encouragement to buy or sell financial instruments. The reader is solely responsible for the use of the information provided, and Cafedelabourse.com cannot be held liable. The publisher’s liability cannot be engaged in case of error, omission or inappropriate investment.
