Project Title: Whitestone Analytics: The Future of M&A Advisory Services
Whitestone Associates
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| Project Title | Whitestone Analytics: The Future of M&A Advisory Services |
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| Project Synopsis: Challenge/Opportunity |
Whitestone Associates/Analytics is a boutique investment banking firm specializing in the buying and selling of industrial companies in the fluid power, motion control, and automation markets. This project will focus on identifying structured and unstructured databases and scraping relevant data that will provide the M&A practitioner some insight as to whether a closely held enterprise would be predisposed to entertain an offer to acquire their company. Many other potential insights could be realized. However, we will start with identifying sellers in a narrow industrial market niche: the fluid power, motion control, and automation markets.
The corporate partner is Frank Gallucci who brings over 25 years of global business proficiency, financial transactions on five continents, and successful transactions with international Fortune 500 companies to his role as Whitestone’s Senior Managing Director. His expertise in acquisitions, divestitures, and capital funding for small to mid-sized clients benefit the domestic and international niche markets in which Whitestone caters. |
| Project Synopsis: Activities/Actions Required | Whitestone Associates is a boutique investment banking firm specializing in the buying and selling of industrial companies in the fluid power, motion control, and automation markets. Frank Gallucci, this project’s advocate, is its founder. The ability to analyze data is critical to Whitestone’s success. However, much of the analysis is currently done in an unsystematic way. To the best of our knowledge, there are few firms that use algorithms to determine if a company has a predisposition to sell to a qualified buyer. Whitestone has made a focused effort over the last few years to assemble a definitive database of enterprises that participate within Whitestone’s Market Sector. Utilizing and supplementing Whitestone’s database, it is Whitestone’s strategic intent to develop predictive algorithms that will provide leading indicators of a company’s predisposition to entertain an acquisition offer. Our Capstone project will complement and supplement Whitestone’s interest in this project. Key activities for this project will include, but are not limited to: • Develop a database procurement strategy within Whitestone’s targeted markets. • Help Whitestone secure that data (a make, buy decision). •Clean the obtained data (scraped or purchased) to be useful for further analysis. •Create an algorithm to automate the prior procedures Preferred qualifications of student team members: •Entrepreneurial mind-set •Data procurement and analytical skills •Project management skills •Insight into behavioral economic and macroeconomic drivers •Programming ability Preferred Majors, but open to all students within the School of Business. |
| Project Synopsis: Expected Results |
Project Timeline
Whitestone Associates - Whitestone Analytics: The Future of M&A Advisory Services
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Due Date
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Deliverables
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Wed, 08/27/25
5:00 PM
EST (UTC-05:00)
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Getting Started: Complete Your Student Onboarding Form
To help your Faculty Advisor and schedule your weekly team meetings (starting in September), please take a few minutes to complete the form linked below. You’ll be asked to provide your availability, preferred meeting times, and a few key details to help them support your experience this semester.
Please submit your responses by August 27th at 5:00 PM EST. This is a required first step to get your project team up and running smoothly: https://forms.office.com/r/USS7WcBcEw |
No Deliverables
No deliverables are required for this action item.
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Guiding Questions:
To help your Faculty Advisor and schedule your weekly team meetings (starting in September), please take a few minutes to complete the form linked below. You’ll be asked to provide your availability, preferred meeting times, and a few key details to help them support your experience this semester.
Please submit your responses by August 27th at 5:00 PM EST. This is a required first step to get your project team up and running smoothly: https://forms.office.com/r/USS7WcBcEw |
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Tue, 09/02/25
12:00 AM
UTC
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Welcome to the Fall 2025 Industry Capstone Program!
We’re excited to kick off another semester of real-world learning, collaboration, and innovation! This is your opportunity to work closely with industry partners, apply your academic skills to solve real business challenges, and gain meaningful professional experience. Be sure to check this dashboard regularly for project updates, important dates, and announcements. Let’s make this a semester to remember, welcome aboard!
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No Deliverables
No deliverables are required for this action item.
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Guiding Questions:
We’re excited to kick off another semester of real-world learning, collaboration, and innovation! This is your opportunity to work closely with industry partners, apply your academic skills to solve real business challenges, and gain meaningful professional experience. Be sure to check this dashboard regularly for project updates, important dates, and announcements. Let’s make this a semester to remember, welcome aboard!
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Tue, 09/02/25
12:00 AM
UTC
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Academic Calendar
We’ve linked the Academic Calendar for this semester below to help you stay on track. It includes key dates such as university holidays, class schedules, deadlines, and other important academic milestones. Be sure to review it carefully so you’re aware of when your team meets, when assignments are due, and how your Capstone work fits into the broader semester. Staying organized starts here!
https://www.stevens.edu/office-of-the-registrar/academic-calendar |
No Deliverables
No deliverables are required for this action item.
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Guiding Questions:
We’ve linked the Academic Calendar for this semester below to help you stay on track. It includes key dates such as university holidays, class schedules, deadlines, and other important academic milestones. Be sure to review it carefully so you’re aware of when your team meets, when assignments are due, and how your Capstone work fits into the broader semester. Staying organized starts here!
https://www.stevens.edu/office-of-the-registrar/academic-calendar |
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Fri, 11/07/25
11:59 PM
EST (UTC-05:00)
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Fall 2025 Midterm Presentation
Required Deliverable
The Midterm Presentation is a key milestone in your Capstone experience. It gives your team the opportunity to showcase your progress, clarify your project goals, and gather valuable feedback from your faculty advisor and School of Business staff. This is your chance to demonstrate your understanding of the challenge, the approach you’re taking, and any early insights you've uncovered. Clear communication and thoughtful analysis at this stage will help ensure a strong finish to your project in the second half of the semester. Treat it as both a checkpoint and a strategic opportunity to refine your work moving forward! Christina Alwell will coordinate with team leads in early October to schedule the midterm presentations. These will take place in mid-October and early November.
Team Leads: Please upload a copy of your team’s Midterm Presentation here. This submission helps us keep track of progress and ensure faculty and industry partners have access to your work.
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Required Deliverable
Deliverable submission is required.
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Guiding Questions:
The Midterm Presentation is a key milestone in your Capstone experience. It gives your team the opportunity to showcase your progress, clarify your project goals, and gather valuable feedback from your faculty advisor and School of Business staff. This is your chance to demonstrate your understanding of the challenge, the approach you’re taking, and any early insights you've uncovered. Clear communication and thoughtful analysis at this stage will help ensure a strong finish to your project in the second half of the semester. Treat it as both a checkpoint and a strategic opportunity to refine your work moving forward! Christina Alwell will coordinate with team leads in early October to schedule the midterm presentations. These will take place in mid-October and early November.
Team Leads: Please upload a copy of your team’s Midterm Presentation here. This submission helps us keep track of progress and ensure faculty and industry partners have access to your work.
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Fri, 11/07/25
11:59 PM
EST (UTC-05:00)
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Fall 2025 Midterm Student Self Reflection
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Required Evaluation
Evaluation submission is required.
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Fri, 12/19/25
11:59 PM
EST (UTC-05:00)
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Fall 2025 Final Self Reflection
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Required Evaluation
Evaluation submission is required.
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Fri, 12/19/25
11:59 PM
EST (UTC-05:00)
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Fall 2025 Final Presentation
Required Deliverable
The Final Presentation is the culmination of your semester-long work and a chance to demonstrate the impact of your project. This is where your team presents your findings, recommendations, and overall contributions to your industry sponsor and faculty advisor. It’s not just about what you accomplished—it’s about how you approached the problem, collaborated as a team, and applied your skills to deliver meaningful outcomes. Think of it as your professional showcase: a polished, confident presentation that reflects your effort, growth, and real-world readiness. Take pride in what you've built and finish strong! Christina Alwell will coordinate with team leads in late November/early December to schedule the final presentations. These will take place in mid-December (last week of classes and/or final exam period).
Team Leads: Please upload a copy of your team’s Final Presentation here. This submission helps us keep track of progress and ensure faculty and industry partners have access to your work.
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Required Deliverable
Deliverable submission is required.
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Guiding Questions:
The Final Presentation is the culmination of your semester-long work and a chance to demonstrate the impact of your project. This is where your team presents your findings, recommendations, and overall contributions to your industry sponsor and faculty advisor. It’s not just about what you accomplished—it’s about how you approached the problem, collaborated as a team, and applied your skills to deliver meaningful outcomes. Think of it as your professional showcase: a polished, confident presentation that reflects your effort, growth, and real-world readiness. Take pride in what you've built and finish strong! Christina Alwell will coordinate with team leads in late November/early December to schedule the final presentations. These will take place in mid-December (last week of classes and/or final exam period).
Team Leads: Please upload a copy of your team’s Final Presentation here. This submission helps us keep track of progress and ensure faculty and industry partners have access to your work.
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Program Managers
| Name | Organization |
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Teams
| Team Name | Project Name | Team Members |
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| Whitestone Analytics: Fall 2025 Team | Whitestone Analytics: The Future of M&A Advisory Services |