BFM Stratégie Challenge – Summer 2026
(Becoming the leader in long-distance land transport)
Following the success of previous years’ challenges offered by BFM Business and Strathena since 2018, the Strathena team has once again partnered with the BFM Stratégie show to bring you a brand new challenge throughout this summer.
This challenge was presented during today’s BFM Stratégie broadcast, Saturday, July 4:
The best players will be invited to the studio this autumn to present their winning strategies!
Please note, the game is free for the first 100 players and will then be included in the subscriber mode (€10 / month).
Presentation of the Summer Challenge
Your Mission
This summer, we have chosen to test your skills in the field of long-distance land transport, a market undergoing massive disruption following the recent opening of coach and rail transport to competition.
We have designed a strategic segmentation for you, where eight competitors engage in dynamic competition across eight market segments:
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4 segments simulating the high-speed train market across 4 countries (France, Germany, Spain, Italy).
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3 segments simulating the Intercity (IC) train market, which covers long-distance, non-high-speed trains.
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1 segment simulating the long-distance coach market.
Reality is obviously more complex, and this is purely an educational game, but the chessboard allows you to reflect on the disruptions currently reshaping this market.
Each of the eight segments was founded by a historical incumbent, who remains the leader in their market. The competitive landscape shifts the balance of power, allowing newcomers to make a powerful entry, provided they are sufficiently funded.
Proper resource allocation is, as always, a critical decision: choosing segments that are too small limits your ultimate scale. Conversely, spreading yourself too thin can lead to losing everything—getting the balance right is more key than ever.
Games last 15 years, as building a stronghold in the transport sector takes a very long time. For simplicity and to keep the game fast-paced, we have not factored in the delivery time for new trainsets, though in real life, this delay is obviously a critical factor that slows down the execution of strategic decisions.
The number of games is unlimited.
The leaderboard featuring the top scores will be updated in real time starting July 10. The winners will be those who create the most shareholder value.
This year, an additional strategic tool is available: in addition to the ability to issue and buy back your shares, we have introduced the option to expand through external growth, giving each company the ability to:
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put one or more of its divisions up for sale
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buy divisions put up for sale by its competitors.
Game 1 – European Rail from a Challenger’s Perspective
In this first game, you play as one of the challengers. You are one of the European leaders in long-distance coaches and have decided to enter the newly opening high-speed train market by purchasing a few dozen trainsets.
Board of Directors for Game 1
(Fictional companies and data)
The positive side is that the market is growing; customers will favor this type of transport, which is the most eco-friendly for the planet.
The difficulty lies in the fact that there are well-established companies with extensive experience already in place. Your resources are limited compared to theirs. You will have to choose where to focus your assets: a single country? A specific mode of transport? A combination of both?
You must also choose the right financial strategy: debt, share issuance, or acquiring a competitor?
The intensity of the competition means that at a certain point in the game, competitors will begin selling off divisions that are no longer profitable. There will be numerous acquisition opportunities; your strategy in this area must be sharp, as it could make all the difference.
Game 2 – European Rail from a Leader’s Perspective
In this second game, which will be revealed during July, you will step into the shoes of one of the historical incumbents of the European rail market.
The deregulation of the rail market is an opportunity for you because you have a solid foundation, but it is also a challenge because newcomers will be encroaching on your territory. Only one thing is certain: competition is going to intensify.
Some of them are smaller than you but have already proven their worth in other markets close to yours. They will likely deploy aggressive financial strategies.
Other historical operators are also trying to take advantage of this opening to expand their territory beyond their national base.
For each of the next 15 years ahead, you will face many difficult choices, but it is clear that if you make the right decisions, you will have the joy and pride of having built one of the finest European companies!
One more thing: a real-time BCG Matrix
You may have already noticed: a new feature was recently added to the Strathena game, allowing you to visualize your competitive positions on a chart inspired by the famous BCG Matrix (available on Desktop and Android, coming soon to iOS).
On this matrix, which updates every virtual year, each of your divisions is positioned based on its relative market share and the growth rate of its segment.
It is also possible to visualize your competitors’ positions to compare them with your own.
A valuable tool to consult for making the right decisions!
BCG Matrix for Game 2
(Fictional companies and data)
Now it’s your turn to play. Have a great summer, everyone, and see you soon!
Xavier Fontanet
Good luck to everyone!
To start a new game:
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On a computer:
Click here -
On a smartphone or tablet, download the “Strathena” mobile app from Google Play or the App Store.
