ESTEEM Graduate Program Capstone (June 2025-May 2026)
University of Notre Dame
ESTEEM Graduate Program Capstone (June 2025-May 2026)
06/18/2025 to 05/08/2026
Neil KaneCollaboration Overview
About Students
Students in the Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master's Program (ESTEEM) at the University of Notre Dame, the #14th highest ranked graduate entrepreneurship program (2025) according to the Princeton Review, are part of an intensive eleven month long Master of Science program. They possess strong technical backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and are dedicated to bridging the gap between technical expertise and entrepreneurial acumen. These students are trained to translate innovative technologies into viable business ventures, equipping them with the skills to become entrepreneurs, innovators within established companies, and leaders of dynamic, innovative teams.
About Program Goals
Students participating in the ESTEEM Capstone will:
-
Translate emerging technologies into viable business opportunities
-
Perform customer discovery and stakeholder interviews to validate market assumptions
-
Build and test a business model, including market sizing, competitive analysis, and pricing strategy
-
Design a comprehensive go-to-market strategy or commercialization roadmap
-
Develop a robust financial model tailored to real-world implementation
- Deliver strategic recommendations through presentations and written reports to both academic and professional stakeholders
About the Collaboration Format
The ESTEEM Capstone is a 10-month entrepreneurial consulting engagement in which a single graduate student works directly with your organization to tackle a real business, innovation, or commercialization challenge.
Each student spends approximately 15 hours per week from June through the following May, conducting in-depth research, stakeholder interviews, and strategy development under faculty guidance. Final deliverables often include a business model, go-to-market plan, customer insights, and financial analysis—tailored to your organization’s goals.
Benefits for Participating Organizations:
- A dedicated innovation-trained graduate student in a professional master's program for 10 months
-
Market research and validation through 50+ interviews and industry benchmarking
-
Strategic, data-driven deliverables like business models, investor decks, or commercialization plans
-
Low-cost, high-impact engagement, with strong ROI and minimal internal bandwidth required
-
Faculty supervision ensures rigor, structure, and milestone accountability
- Opportunities to hire entrepreneurial talent and expand academic-industry partnerships
Benefits for Industry Partners
Program Details
Students Include: Graduate Degree
Students Enrolled: Students Enrolled
Program Duration: 46 weeks
Program Launch Date: 06/18/25
Program End Date: 05/08/26
Student Commitment: 8-13 Hours hrs/week
Course Format: Capstone, Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Modality: Fully Remote
# of Projects: 50
View All Program DetailsProject Requirements
| Industry Partner Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Project Topics | Corporate Social Responsibility Customer Service & Account Management Data Management Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Information Technology (IT) Innovation Inventory Management Legal, Regulatory, Compliance Market Research Marketing Mergers & Acquisitions Operations Organizational Culture Product Design & Development Purchasing, Logistics, Supply Chain Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research & Development Sales & Business Development Software Design & Development Technology Commercialization Training & Development |
| Location Preferences |
Local (within 30 miles) |
| Compensation |
|
| Sponsorship |
Sponsorship Requested (Mandatory):Non-Profit a contribution amount between $0.0 to $15000.0 Large Enterprise a contribution amount between $35000.0 to $50000.0 Pre-Revenue Startup a contribution amount between $0.0 to $10000.0 Growth Startup a contribution amount between $10000.0 to $15000.0 Small to Medium Business a contribution amount between $20000.0 to $30000.0 Government Organization a contribution amount between $5000.0 to $35000.0 |
| Other Requirements |
|
| Project Management Time Commitment | 1 Hour per week |
| Interested Industries | Aerospace & Defense Agriculture & Farming Arts & Recreation Biotech & Pharmaceuticals Computers & Hardware Construction, Repair & Maitenance Consumer Services Education Energy & Utilities Fashion & Apparel Finance Food & Beverage Government Health Care Insurance Manufacturing Media Natural Resources Non-Profit Professional Services Public Works Real Estate Restaurants, Bars & Food Services Retail Semiconductor Software & IT Sports & Entertainment Telecommunications Transportation & Logistics Travel & Tourism |
Skills & Expertise
Business Model Canvas Competitive Analysis CRM Platforms Customer Discovery Design Thinking Financial Modeling Go-To-Market Strategy Innovation Management IP Landscape Research Lean Startup Market Sizing Pitch Deck Design Pricing Strategy Product Validation Prototyping Python R&D Strategy Rapid Prototyping Regulatory Research Software Development SQL Strategic Roadmapping Survey Tools TAM SAM SOM Analysis Technical Communication Technology Scouting| Key Program Dates | Due Date |
|---|---|
|
Request for Proposal published
Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.
|
Feb 18 2025, 01:28.02 AM |
|
Interview
Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.
|
Feb 28 2025, 01:28.02 AM |
|
Proposal Application Deadline
Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.
|
Jun 16 2025, 01:28.00 AM |
|
Finalize Project Charter
Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.
|
Jun 18 2025, 01:28.00 AM |
|
Official Program Launch
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.
|
Jul 10 2025, 12:00.00 AM |
|
Official Program End
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.
|
May 08 2026, 12:00.00 AM |
* We’ve got some inspirational project ideas below! These are related project topics that you can mix and match the components for the best cross-functional project experience possible.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Customer Service & Account Management
Data Management
Digital Marketing
Entrepreneurship
Growth Strategy
Information Technology (IT)
Innovation
Inventory Management
Legal, Regulatory, Compliance
Market Research
Marketing
Mergers & Acquisitions
Operations
Organizational Culture
Product Design & Development
Purchasing, Logistics, Supply Chain
Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis
Research & Development
Sales & Business Development
Software Design & Development
Technology Commercialization
Training & Development
| Program Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Program Title | ESTEEM Graduate Program Capstone (June 2025-May 2026) | |
| Organization | University of Notre Dame | |
| Student Application Link | https://nd.capsource.app/program/esteem-graduate-program-capstone-june-2025-may-2026/rfp | |
| # of Students Enrolled |
0
|
|
| # of Projects Running |
4 Project/s Added (of 50 Projects Expected)
|
|
|
Program Timeline Project Duration |
Start Date: 06/18/25 End Date: 05/08/26 11 months |
|
| Collaboration Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| About Students |
Students in the Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master's Program (ESTEEM) at the University of Notre Dame, the #14th highest ranked graduate entrepreneurship program (2025) according to the Princeton Review, are part of an intensive eleven month long Master of Science program. They possess strong technical backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and are dedicated to bridging the gap between technical expertise and entrepreneurial acumen. These students are trained to translate innovative technologies into viable business ventures, equipping them with the skills to become entrepreneurs, innovators within established companies, and leaders of dynamic, innovative teams.
Student Level: Graduate Degree Student Time Commitment: Full Time Team Structure: 1 - 1 |
|
| Program Goals | Students participating in the ESTEEM Capstone will:
|
|
| Format Structure |
Multiple Projects Multiple Teams |
|
| Format Title | Capstone | |
| Format Description | The ESTEEM Capstone is a 10-month entrepreneurial consulting engagement in which a single graduate student works directly with your organization to tackle a real business, innovation, or commercialization challenge. Each student spends approximately 15 hours per week from June through the following May, conducting in-depth research, stakeholder interviews, and strategy development under faculty guidance. Final deliverables often include a business model, go-to-market plan, customer insights, and financial analysis—tailored to your organization’s goals.
Benefits for Participating Organizations:
|
|
| Benefits For Industry Partners | ||
| Project Modality | Fully Remote | |
| Industry Partner Requirements to Participate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Project Topics | Corporate Social Responsibility Customer Service & Account Management Data Management Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Information Technology (IT) Innovation Inventory Management Legal, Regulatory, Compliance Market Research Marketing Mergers & Acquisitions Operations Organizational Culture Product Design & Development Purchasing, Logistics, Supply Chain Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research & Development Sales & Business Development Software Design & Development Technology Commercialization Training & Development | |
| Target Industries | Aerospace & Defense Agriculture & Farming Arts & Recreation Biotech & Pharmaceuticals Computers & Hardware Construction, Repair & Maitenance Consumer Services Education Energy & Utilities Fashion & Apparel Finance Food & Beverage Government Health Care Insurance Manufacturing Media Natural Resources Non-Profit Professional Services Public Works Real Estate Restaurants, Bars & Food Services Retail Semiconductor Software & IT Sports & Entertainment Telecommunications Transportation & Logistics Travel & Tourism | |
| Skills & Expertise | Business Model Canvas Competitive Analysis CRM Platforms Customer Discovery Design Thinking Financial Modeling Go-To-Market Strategy Innovation Management IP Landscape Research Lean Startup Market Sizing Pitch Deck Design Pricing Strategy Product Validation Prototyping Python R&D Strategy Rapid Prototyping Regulatory Research Software Development SQL Strategic Roadmapping Survey Tools TAM SAM SOM Analysis Technical Communication Technology Scouting | |
| Location Information & Preferences |
Local (within 30 miles) Remote collaboration is standard; students are highly independent and trained in remote research, interviewing, and stakeholder engagement.
In-person interactions (e.g., site visits, conferences, customer interviews) are welcomed when available and beneficial to the project. Sponsors are expected to cover travel costs for any in-person activities, including project kickoffs, visits to company HQ, or trade shows.
|
|
| Sponsorship |
Sponsorship Requested (Mandatory):Non-Profit a contribution amount between $0.0 to $15000.0 Large Enterprise a contribution amount between $35000.0 to $50000.0 Pre-Revenue Startup a contribution amount between $0.0 to $10000.0 Growth Startup a contribution amount between $10000.0 to $15000.0 Small to Medium Business a contribution amount between $20000.0 to $30000.0 Government Organization a contribution amount between $5000.0 to $35000.0 |
|
| Compensation |
|
|
| Other Requirements |
|
|
| Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers | 1 Hour per week | |
| Key Program Dates | Due Date |
|---|---|
|
Request for Proposal published
Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.
|
Feb 18 2025, 01:28.02 AM |
|
Interview
Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.
|
Feb 28 2025, 01:28.02 AM |
|
Proposal Application Deadline
Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.
|
Jun 16 2025, 01:28.00 AM |
|
Finalize Project Charter
Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.
|
Jun 18 2025, 01:28.00 AM |
|
Official Program Launch
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.
|
Jul 10 2025, 12:00.00 AM |
|
Official Program End
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.
|
May 08 2026, 12:00.00 AM |
Neil Kane
View ProfileUniversity of Chicago
Asst. Teaching Professor and Director of ESTEEM Capstone Projects @ University Of Notre Dame for 5 year(s)
German Estrada
View ProfileUniversity of Notre Dame
Ellen Dutton
View ProfileUniversity of Notre Dame
Admin @ Caterpillar
View ProfileCaterpillar Inc
Jordan Levy
View ProfileTallo
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