Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum

Client FAQs & Common Projects

Whether you’re a multinational corporation, an innovative startup, or a mission-driven nonprofit, we welcome applications from a wide range of organizations across all industries. Our student teams are ready to dive into meaningful, strategic projects in fields from healthcare to technology and beyond. To ensure a successful partnership, there are a few key criteria to consider.

Our student teams have partnered with a wide variety of organizations, including multinational corporations, startups, and nonprofits, both in the US and internationally. FCCP clients come from diverse industries such as healthcare, energy, technology, social impact, sports, media, and entertainment, to name a few. Our partners align with Fuqua’s Centers (CASE, EDGE, HSM, I&E) reflecting our students’ interests.

Ideal partners for the FCCP program are typically organizations that have been in operation for at least three years, have 25 or more full-time employees, and have a revenue or operating budget of at least $1 million USD. Clients must be able to support a team of students dedicating over 400 hours to the project, be available for weekly meetings, and not be in such an early stage that frequent changes in business needs could alter project priorities.

Note: Companies that are pre-revenue or need a business plan are generally not suitable for this program. However, we can be flexible with size requirements for VC-backed startups if they have a dedicated client team. For smaller organizations, we offer the Mentored Study program, where one MBA student works on a smaller project with an organization over a semester.

A good FCCP project should address a real and significant business challenge for which no solution currently exists. Projects are often centered around a business challenge that is strategic or operational in nature. The business challenge should be important, but not urgent. Projects should include time for student teams to collaboratively define the project scope, conduct research or analysis, and present their findings and recommendations at the midpoint and final presentations.

A Mentorship Mindset
We seek client partners who understand that this is a learning experience for students, as well as a consulting project. The best experiences and results come from clients who are supportive, responsive, and available to regularly meet with students, communicate actively, and provide access to internal resources.

Dedicated and Engaged Project Leads and an Executive Project Sponsor
Your organization should assign three individuals to the following roles:

  • Executive Project Sponsor: Ensures the project is consequential to the organization, communicates with key stakeholders (such as board members, investors, other business unit leaders) impacted by the project or who influence its implementation success. The Project Sponsor attends several key milestone meetings.
  • Two Project Leads: Project Leads and the main point of contact with the students. They provide regular guidance, review project materials, and attend regularly scheduled checkpoint meetings to ensure challenges are addressed. They also would assist the student team with gaining access to necessary internal data.
  • Access to Data and Personnel: FCCP projects typically involve a combination of primary and secondary research. As such, it may be necessary for the student team to interview stakeholders within your organization, analyze some internal data, or engage with current or prospective customers. Exposure to your organization’s internal business environment is crucial for the program’s learning objectives.
  • FCCP Program Agreement: To participate in FCCP and support FCCP Students, you’ll need to sign our Program Agreement, which includes confidentiality terms. We ask that you sign this before Sept 5, before your project is presented to students and the project work begins. Information on these agreements is linked here: How to Apply
  • Client Partner Investment: Our goal is to create long-term partnerships where clients benefit from working with talented Fuqua students while contributing meaningfully to their educational experience. The primary investment we ask of our client partners is their time and openness—specifically, a willingness to share information, provide guidance, meet regularly with the student team, and attend key presentations. This engagement ensures a productive collaboration that delivers value to both the client and the students.

As you and your team ideate on a business problem to bring to FCCP, here are examples of common projects FCCP teams have tackled over the years.

  • NRG: Developed a GTM strategy for a subscription-based holistic ‘energy as a service’ model.
  • Orbillion Bio: Supported the company’s go-to-market strategy for a cell-cultured meat product.
  • Dell Technologies: Refined Dell’s GTM strategy in Security.

  • Sanofi: Developed a US launch strategy for a new childhood vaccination.
  • CVS Health: Provided a comprehensive assessment of market attractiveness for a bundled post-discharge care product.
  • Labcorp: Identified new growth opportunities.
  • Poplar Labs, Inc: Created a national expansion strategy for platform accessibility.

  • Checkerspot, Inc.: Identified and quantified non-obvious value propositions.
  • CVS Health: Provided recommendations to improve market adaptability and expand product offerings.
  • Highland Ventures: Evaluated strategic options for an operating subsidiary, Highland Pure Water & Ice.
  • Sanofi: Assessed the opportunity to bring a COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine to market.

  • Tesla, Inc.: Developed product recommendations for the energy storage market.
  • Particle: Conducted a market analysis for condition monitoring for IoT applications.
  • Duke Clinical Research Institute: Made recommendations for improving the clinical trial process.

  • Locus Biosciences, Inc.: Developed a financial model and commercial dossier.
  • Storworks Power: Built a project finance model for energy storage.
  • Glenfarne Group: Analyzed project finance opportunities for hydrogen bridge-fuel projects.
  • Sealed: Analyzed market entry opportunities for low- and moderate-income markets.

  • DEI Directive: Developed a robust go-to-market strategy for a SaaS business.
  • Research Square Company: Developed a content and social media marketing and brand strategy.
  • Sojern: Researched tourism boards and developed a revenue-based tiering system.

  • Cheetah: Explored customer sentiment and identified competition and product gaps.
  • GE Vernova: Helped develop a business strategy for the Next Generation Digital Substation Portfolio.
  • Oracle Corporation: Researched the metaverse landscape for business opportunities.
  • Yolele: Assessed optimal growth sequence across different product lines and channels.

  • WWF International: Enhanced consumer messaging and engagement using behavioral nudge methodologies, validated through primary user research and testing.
  • Healthy Pets Mobile Vet: Provided recommendations on digital marketing efforts, leadership, organizational structure, pricing, and operational procedures.
  • The Underbelly: Developed a strategy to increase subscribers and merchandise revenue while optimizing the email marketing strategy.

  • Shell: Developed recommendations for farmers adopting regenerative practices.
  • Siemens Energy: Developed a decarbonization roadmap for industrial emissions.
  • ADM: Developed a business case for biochar production and its impact on sustainability goals.
  • Investable Oceans: Assessed business models of Blue Economy innovation organizations.

  • Sunbelt Rentals: Developed digital platform growth strategies.
  • Lenovo: Supported Lenovo’s effort to grow a community of gamers online.
  • M&F Bank: Made recommendations for entering the digital banking space.

Ready to Apply?

Learn more about each FCCP program and how to apply.