From early uncertainty to a championship finish, Edward Torres from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona proved what it takes to win on the global stage. Competing against top students from around the world, Edward demonstrated exceptional strategic thinking, resilience, and data-driven decision-making to achieve the highest shareholder value in the competition. His journey from early setbacks to a strong final-round comeback showcases the power of disciplined execution and smart risk-taking. Edward shares his MikesBikes journey, from the beginning to achieving the 2025/26 MikesBikes World Champs title.
From Startup to Champion: My MikesBikes Journey
Hello! My name is Edward Torres, winner of the 2025/26 MikesBikes World Championship. This global competition brought together students from top universities, and the leaderboard shifted constantly. While I wasn’t always sure my strategy would win, a strong final-round comeback helped me achieve the highest shareholder value.
In this summary, I’ll share how I turned a startup bike manufacturer, Pedal Pusher, into a profitable business—and the lessons I learned along the way.
Competition Journey
My journey began with a chaotic qualifier round. Due to risk and uncertainty—factors the simulation captures well—my group over-drafted millions early on. I recovered to finish 6th, which secured a place in the championship rounds against nine strong competitors. My goal wasn’t just to win, but to build a healthy, growing business.
In the finals, I focused on operational excellence. Drawing from my experience as an IT field service technician, I treated the business like a system that needed to run efficiently. I invested heavily in worker training, preventative maintenance, supplier relationships, and quality systems. This reduced waste and improved productivity.
As quality improved, I increased mountain bike prices by 15%, confident customers valued performance. This strategy paid off, as my market share steadily grew.
Overcoming Challenges
The biggest challenge was scaling from a single-product firm to a multi-segment business. I expanded into electric, road, cruiser, and kids bikes—each with different customer priorities. This required careful balance between production, pricing, marketing, and investment.
Mistakes were costly. Underproduction led to lost sales, while overproduction drained cash. At the same time, competitors could enter any segment and reduce market share.
To manage this complexity, I relied on data. I used Python and Google Colab to analyze simulation data, built models to optimize advertising spend, and conducted risk assessments in Google Sheets. Dashboards in Looker Studio helped me track performance across rounds.
This data-driven approach allowed me to forecast demand accurately, minimize waste, and maintain profitability—even under competitive pressure.
Turning Point
Early in the competition, I was in the middle of the pack due to high costs. But my investments began paying off.
I built the largest factory, trained an efficient workforce, minimized defects, and improved my products through R&D. With strong economies of scale, I was ready to shift strategies.
I lowered prices, increased advertising, and expanded across all segments—confident I could meet demand profitably. I also issued the highest dividends in the final rounds.
The results exceeded expectations: $190 million in retail sales and a shareholder value of $269.54 per share. I finished with zero lost sales and minimal inventory—proof that my operational strategy worked.
Key Lessons
This experience reshaped how I view business.
Success requires discipline, patience, and calculated risk-taking. Investing in operations and marketing often felt like gambling, but informed decisions can shift the odds in your favor.
I also learned the importance of accountability. I made mistakes—over-drafting and mismanaging inventory early on—but improving each round was key to success.
Above all, I learned that effective money management requires constant attention. Small mistakes can cost millions. By analyzing data, forecasting demand, and tracking profitability, I ensured every investment delivered value.
Looking Forward
Academically, this experience helped me apply concepts from business, IT, and data analytics in a real-world scenario. It gave me confidence in handling complex, high-stakes decisions.
Professionally, it confirmed my goal of becoming a Business Intelligence and Data professional. I plan to build on my skills by learning tools like Power BI and Tableau, deepening my knowledge of SQL, and advancing my expertise in predictive analytics.
My ultimate goal is to use data to drive strategic decisions that lead to sustainable growth.
Closing Reflections
Representing California State Polytechnic University Pomona was an honor. The school’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy was fully realized through this competition, where classroom concepts were tested in a high-stakes environment.
I’m grateful to the faculty who shaped my skills, my competitors who pushed me to improve, and my family for their constant support. This achievement reflects not just my effort, but the people and experiences that helped me grow.
Want to dive deeper into how Edward Torres became the 2025/26 MikesBikes World Champion? Check out his full story, packed with insights and lessons learned from his journey to the top.
Check out the MikesBikes World Champs Past Winners.