ProgramsESTEEM Graduate Program Capstone (June 2026-May 2027)

ESTEEM Graduate Program Capstone (June 2026-May 2027)

Program Overview
Program Title ESTEEM Graduate Program Capstone (June 2026-May 2027)
Organization University of Notre Dame
# of Students Enrolled
0
# of Projects Running
1 Project/s Added (of 50 Projects Expected)

Program Timeline

Project Duration

Start Date: 06/17/26      End Date: 05/07/27

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 #12th highest ranked graduate entrepreneurship program (2026) 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:   Bachelor Degree Graduate Degree Ph.D Degree

Student Time Commitment:   Full Time

Team Structure:   1 - 1

Program Goals
Students participating in the ESTEEM Capstone will: 

  1. Translate emerging technologies into viable business opportunities

  2. Perform customer discovery and stakeholder interviews to validate market assumptions

  3. Build and test a business model, including market sizing, competitive analysis, and pricing strategy

  4. Design a comprehensive go-to-market strategy or commercialization roadmap

  5. Develop a robust financial model tailored to real-world implementation

  6. Deliver strategic recommendations through presentations and written reports to both academic and professional stakeholders
Format Structure

Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Format Title Capstone
Format Description
Student project that connects academic curriculum to real-world business and societal challenges. Students follow a structured methodology under the guidance of a full time faculty member. 
Benefits For Industry Partners
Benefits for Participating Organizations: 

  • A dedicated innovation-trained professional master's degree consultant 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

  • Applications of AI to real world business problems

  • 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
Project Modality Fully Remote
Industry Partner Requirements to Participate
Project Topics Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Corporate Social Responsibility Customer Service & Account Management Data Management Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Information Technology (IT) Innovation Legal, Regulatory, Compliance 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 Strategic Planning Sustainability & ESG Technology Commercialization
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
Location Information & Preferences

Located Anywhere

Sponsorship

Sponsorship Requested (Mandatory):

Pre-Revenue Startup a contribution amount between $20000.0 to $50000.0

Growth Startup a contribution amount between $20000.0 to $50000.0

Small to Medium Business a contribution amount between $20000.0 to $50000.0

Large Enterprise a contribution amount between $20000.0 to $50000.0

Government Organization a contribution amount between $5000.0 to $25000.0

Non-Profit a contribution amount between $10000.0 to $25000.0

Compensation

No Compensation Required

Other Requirements
  • Sponsors must identify a primary point of contact who can engage with the student for 1–2 hours/month.
  • Sponsors are asked to complete an initial Statement of Work (SOW) during the summer onboarding phase.
  • Sponsors will participate in student midpoint and final presentations.
  • Travel expenses for students (if in-person visits are planned) should be covered by the sponsor.
  • Projects should focus on strategic innovation, commercialization, or business growth—not operational or internship-style tasks.
  • Organizations will receive a final written thesis and executive presentation in May 2027.
Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers 1 Hour per week
Key Program Dates Due Date
Project Proposal

The definition of each project is created by the project sponsor with the cooperation of a full time faculty member (to ensure compliance and to reference past projects and successes). Notre Dame has a template that can be used. Project descriptions should ideally be completed by May 1. 

 May 01 2026, 12:00.00 AM

Program Timeline

Touchpoints & Assignments Date Type

Projects

Filters
Project Organization Topics

Program Managers

Name Organization
Neil Kane University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Teams

Team Name  Project Name  Team Members 
No Teams Available