MBET Venture Partnerships

Amplify your product launch or market expansion plans. Become an MBET Venture Partner.

Two MBET students

Are you a founder or a team member of a venture that is looking to launch or scale? Are you curious about market opportunities that you haven’t yet had the resources to investigate? Want valuable insights into your venture’s potential in your current market or in a new vertical? You should become an MBET Venture Partner!

Validating the business model is an essential part of bringing a company to life. Every startup or scale-up company is based on a series of hypotheses regarding its value proposition, marketing and pricing strategy, customer segments, financial plan and more.

In this master’s-level project, select companies work with a small team of Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) students to do research and in-market analysis to test the most urgent of the company’s hypotheses. Students undertake primary (in-market) and secondary research to test the key hypothesis elements with your team. 

Our master’s students will deliver a written report and presentation to your founders or team with their recommendations. They’ll provide an objective approach to the opportunities and challenges faced by your company and produce high-potential business models to facilitate the launch of knowledge-based commercial or social ventures.

There is no cost for participation in this project. 

Who are we looking for?

The preferred candidates would be startups or scale-up ventures focused on establishing, refining or redefining their business model.

Ideally, companies will be out of the ideation phase, in the pre-seed or seed round. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the commitment for Venture Partners?

You'll commit:

  • 8 - 16 hours over 3 months 
  • Regular meetings with students, virtually or in-person

You'll receive:

  • A written report and presentation from MBET students based on their research, free of charge!

What is the scope of the project?

The quest is business model validation. The approach is data-driven.

Focusing on a promising market opportunity for your venture’s launch or expansion, your MBET team will identify the key hypotheses underlying your venture’s success in that market. They will conduct a thorough industry and competitor analysis, and conduct 30+ interviews with relevant stakeholders to test the critical hypotheses. 

The following activities are in-scope: 

  • Primary research – interviews

  • Secondary research – websites and databases

  • Data analysis and interpretation

  • Final assessment and reporting (document)

What is the timeline for the MBET Venture Partner project?

  • Step 1: Apply to be a Venture Partner by emailing your interest and a brief description of your company to Cristen Brown.

  • Step 2: Meet with the instructor leading this course to confirm that this project is valuable and appropriate for your organization. You will receive an email in 1-2 weeks after step 1 to set this up.

  • Step 3: If you are selected to be a Venture Partner, you will be matched with the student team in mid-September. You will be expected to be available to your team while they conduct research.

  • Step 4: Receive an interim industry report and final report that delivers valuable insights about your market opportunity in January!

What is the deadline and process to apply to be a Venture Partner?

The application deadline is August 31, 2023.

To apply, please email Cristen Brown, manager of outreach and international programs, to indicate your interest in becoming a Venture Partner and a brief introduction or description of your company.