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.

Who Do We Partner With?

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.

Is My Organization the Right Size?

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.

What Makes a Good Project for FCCP?

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.

What’s Expected of You?

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.

Project Requirements

• 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.

Common FCCP Project Types

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.

Ready to Apply?

Learn more about each FCCP program and how to apply.