Pitch Perfect: The Impact Studio at Boston Consulting Group

By ***Katie Moore (BA ’25), [Erica Yang](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericasyang/) and [Glenn Bugala](https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennbugala/)*.

Impact Studio Founders, Fellows and Coaches at Boston Consulting Group’s Detroit office

This November, Founders, Fellows, and Coaches from the Impact Studio participated in a highly-anticipated event with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Detroit. Impact Studio Founders and Applebaum Impact Design Fellows traveled to the BCG offices for a half day that included plenty of networking opportunities over lunch and a non-alcoholic happy hour hosted by BCG, as well as presenting their venture ideas to top-level consultants who advised them on strategic next steps. For many in the Studio, this was the crowning event of the semester, and energy was running high as these ventures were introduced to the outside world, some for the first time.

For nearly everyone involved, the feedback they received from BCG consultants was the most valuable part of the day and will inform their next steps as they build and scale their ventures. “The BCG visit was the culmination point of having an idea and thinking about what they want to do next, or to see partnerships and collaborations we can create to take advantage of,” said Amidat Sonekan (MBA ‘26), a Fellow at the Studio. “It was really great to see all these Founders take their ideas from early stages to maturity and have those ideas come to life through the pitch experience.”

Felipe Sahb Furtado (MBA ’26) expanded on the new perspectives BCG brought to the ventures. “For Collective Z, feedback was favorable,” he noted. “It kind of validated our initial assumptions, having their professional opinion. Now we’re working on the legal and operational framework of building our venture.”

“I thought it was super cool,” added Molly Townsend Cho (MBA ‘27), Founder of Collective Z. “It was energizing to brainstorm with consultants and get a powerful way to gain insight on my venture.”

Felipe (Fellow) and Molly (Founder) discussing Molly’s venture, Collective Z, with BCG consultants

From the Coaches’ perspective, too, the BCG collaboration allowed for important conversations. “I think it’s great to have something to point toward and not just have a few people come in and listen to pitches but to have a really focused event,” observed David Tarver, one of the coaches at the Studio. “These people are accustomed to hearing ideas from Founders and responding to those, so I think it’s a really good milestone for all of the teams to shoot for.”

In particular, this feedback and structure was useful for the Founders, who’ve been devoting countless hours to building their venture. “It was a warm welcome into the professional environment for the Founders, many of whom are undergrads, so it’s their first intro to a professional setting,” noted Sahb Furtado. “It provided a safe space, but with some accountability.”

Consultants giving feedback and insight on students’ ventures

The Founders weren’t the only ones who benefitted from the BCG visit; Fellows also strengthened their networking skills and learned about the consulting world while working with BCG. “I did a lot of work in undergrad talking about how to build an ecosystem for startups, so hearing their ideas was really interesting because it drew a lot on the framework I built in my undergrad experience,” said Adrienne Lincoln (MAcc ‘25).

“[BCG] helped me practice presentation skills and relationship-building,” added Sahb Furtado. “It also gave me as a student access to the office and people there.”

Indeed, the impact of presenting at the BCG offices, in the heart of downtown Detroit, cannot be overstated. Participants were able to explore the luxurious offices and take advantage of free snacks and drinks, a game room, and much more. Before the venture presentations, BCG consultants also gave an overview of what they do day-to-day, and explained their significant impacts on the Michigan business community and startup environment, giving Founders and Fellows a look into the real world of startup businesses. “It was really cool getting to know BCG,” said Lincoln. “I really enjoyed getting to know how they’re reforming the startup ecosystem in Michigan.”

Sahb Furtado reflected similar sentiments. “I think it’s great to feel inserted into the innovation ecosystem in Michigan, both as part of the university and a company in the greater Detroit area.”

Founders and Fellows networking with consultants

Interwoven through all of this — presentations and luncheons alike — was the opportunity to network with BCG consultants, a particularly sought-after opportunity. As one of the best consulting firms in the world, BCG is a highly-regarded team, and many Studio participants want to learn more about their lives and how they got their start in such a competitive field. Impact Studio Founders and Fellows took full advantage of this opportunity, connecting on LinkedIn, forming connections, and asking questions.

“I thought it was an amazing time,” said Steven Lohan (BBA ‘26), a Founder in the Studio working on a venture aimed at helping families preserve precious memories. “I really enjoyed not only getting the opportunity to present and get ready with the Fellow that I’m working with but also seeing the super valuable feedback and networking with the consultants.”

Steven pitching his venture, Roots, to BCG consultants

“[The visit] gave students a view into what that consulting life is like — it’s not bad!” added Tarver. “I think a lot of people got to feel good about consulting but it’s nice to see what a successful venture looks like. I think a lot of these students would like to have a successful venture.”

The event included more than networking, though; it was a testament to the power of connecting with others. The BCG and Impact Studio collaboration began as a few words exchanged with Noam Kimelman, a U-M alum and consultant at BCG who has built relationships with various people at the Impact Studio over the years. “I’ve known Noam for ten years,” recalled Tarver with a smile. “He also guest-taught my course for me one semester, and I sat on his board at the Detroit Food Academy. I’ve known him through his journey, and to see him at BCG was a real coming-of-age moment, and to have him engage with the students from the Impact Studio was really great. I got to see that development on his part and on the part of the program here.”

On all sides, the Boston Consulting Group and Impact Studio event was a great success, representing growth from both institutions. Coming back to the U-M campus, the Founders and Fellows felt more energized than ever and ready to get back to work, armed with new ideas and inspiration.

SEE THE PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE EVENT HERE ON FLICKR.