ENTP 3501: Business Essentials & Virtual Micro-Internship
Timeline
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June 16, 2025Program start
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June 17, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
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June 24, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
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June 28, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
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July 1, 2025Client Follow Up Questions Due
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July 9, 2025Subject Matter Expert Interview Notes Due
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July 25, 2025Program end
Timeline
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June 16, 2025Program start
-
June 17, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
Students will receive a detailed project case overview, including relevant background information, available data, and key objectives for the competitive and target market analysis.
-
June 24, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
Students will submit well-researched and thoughtful questions to guide the discovery call with the project partner. These questions should clarify project goals, existing data, market assumptions, and the overall strategic vision for the GTM plan.
-
June 28, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
Students will meet with the company and key stakeholders to gain deeper insights into the current market positioning and desired outcomes for the GTM strategy.
-
July 1, 2025Client Follow Up Questions Due
Students will submit any follow-up questions to clarify information gathered during the discovery call and address gaps in understanding for the competitive analysis and market research phases.
-
July 9, 2025Subject Matter Expert Interview Notes Due
Students will conduct interviews with one or more subject matter experts (SMEs) in the relevant industry. Notes from these interviews will be compiled and analyzed to gain valuable insights into market trends, competitor dynamics, and potential challenges for market entry.
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July 15, 2025Presentation Design Draft Due
Students will submit a draft presentation outlining the key findings and recommendations from their competitive analysis, target market research, and GTM strategy. The draft should include key visuals, slides structure, and storytelling elements, which will also be presented to the educator.
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July 22, 2025Capstone Presentations with Client
Students will deliver a polished final presentation, sharing their comprehensive project findings and strategic recommendations. This capstone event will provide a platform for valuable feedback and discussion.
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July 25, 2025Program end
Program scope
Categories
Market research Competitive analysis Market expansionSkills
growth strategies business analysis schema markup marketing revenue growthPartner with students from ENTP 3501: Business Essentials & Virtual Micro-Internship summer program to tackle real-world business challenges. This 8-week, 3-credit course combines internship reflection with hands-on learning in Excel, marketing, and business analysis. Over approximately six weeks, teams of four to five students collaborate with companies to explore market entry, expansion, and revenue growth strategies. Employers gain fresh insights and actionable solutions while guiding students through a structured, data-driven approach.
Organizations must meet the following criteria to participate:
- Provide a project that fits the time requirements (June 30th - August 8th)
- Agree to 2 meetings/week with student teams to ensure project progress
- Consist of a staff of at least three members (start-up founders are encouraged to apply if all other criteria can be met)
- Appoint a supervisor to support the project and fulfill experience requirements
- Develop a learning plan and set deliverables before the start of the project
- Adhere to guidelines and requirements as dictated by the Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act
- Attend the initial kick-off call before the project
- Be available to attend the final capstone presentation (Thursday, August 7th; 10:00am-12:30pm)
- Complete a short rubric required for the project assessment
If your project meets the minimum requirements, a Riipen UVA Admin team member will be in touch to schedule a 30-minute screening call. Once your project is screened, you will be invited to meet with a member of the UVA team before being matched to a student team.
Participants
Outcomes for the course include:
- Market insights and growth strategies tailored to the company’s needs.
- Data-driven recommendations based on real company data.
- Regular engagement, including a discovery call, touchpoints throughout the project, and a live capstone presentation.
Exact deliverables are flexible and negotiable based on the type of the project; we will seek to align the needs of the learners and the organization. However, at the end of the project, partners can expect to receive:
- A comprehensive capstone presentation with actionable insights.
Employers must be willing to engage with students throughout the process, providing necessary data and participating in key discussions.
Project timeline
-
June 16, 2025Program start
-
June 17, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
-
June 24, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
-
June 28, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
-
July 1, 2025Client Follow Up Questions Due
-
July 9, 2025Subject Matter Expert Interview Notes Due
-
July 25, 2025Program end
Timeline
-
June 16, 2025Program start
-
June 17, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
Students will receive a detailed project case overview, including relevant background information, available data, and key objectives for the competitive and target market analysis.
-
June 24, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
Students will submit well-researched and thoughtful questions to guide the discovery call with the project partner. These questions should clarify project goals, existing data, market assumptions, and the overall strategic vision for the GTM plan.
-
June 28, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
Students will meet with the company and key stakeholders to gain deeper insights into the current market positioning and desired outcomes for the GTM strategy.
-
July 1, 2025Client Follow Up Questions Due
Students will submit any follow-up questions to clarify information gathered during the discovery call and address gaps in understanding for the competitive analysis and market research phases.
-
July 9, 2025Subject Matter Expert Interview Notes Due
Students will conduct interviews with one or more subject matter experts (SMEs) in the relevant industry. Notes from these interviews will be compiled and analyzed to gain valuable insights into market trends, competitor dynamics, and potential challenges for market entry.
-
July 15, 2025Presentation Design Draft Due
Students will submit a draft presentation outlining the key findings and recommendations from their competitive analysis, target market research, and GTM strategy. The draft should include key visuals, slides structure, and storytelling elements, which will also be presented to the educator.
-
July 22, 2025Capstone Presentations with Client
Students will deliver a polished final presentation, sharing their comprehensive project findings and strategic recommendations. This capstone event will provide a platform for valuable feedback and discussion.
-
July 25, 2025Program end
Project Examples
Requirements
We are interested in projects that allow our learners to apply their skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems. Learners in groups of 4-5 will work with your company to identify your needs and provide actionable recommendations based on their in-depth research and analysis.
Learners in this program are capable of completing a wide range of projects, including but not limited to:
- Market Entry Strategy for a Subscription-Based Startup – Analyzing consumer behavior, pricing models, and digital marketing strategies to convert interest into paid subscriptions.
- Expansion Plan for a Regional Retail Brand – Assessing new geographic markets, competitor positioning, and go-to-market strategies.
- Customer Segmentation and Revenue Growth for a Tech Firm – Using data analytics to identify high-value customer segments and optimize marketing efforts.
Additional organization criteria
Organizations must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this program:
Additional organization criteria
Organizations must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this program:
Timeline
-
June 16, 2025Program start
-
June 17, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
-
June 24, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
-
June 28, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
-
July 1, 2025Client Follow Up Questions Due
-
July 9, 2025Subject Matter Expert Interview Notes Due
-
July 25, 2025Program end
Timeline
-
June 16, 2025Program start
-
June 17, 2025Case Overview Provided to Students
Students will receive a detailed project case overview, including relevant background information, available data, and key objectives for the competitive and target market analysis.
-
June 24, 2025Client Discovery Call Questions Due
Students will submit well-researched and thoughtful questions to guide the discovery call with the project partner. These questions should clarify project goals, existing data, market assumptions, and the overall strategic vision for the GTM plan.
-
June 28, 2025Conduct Client Discovery Call
Students will meet with the company and key stakeholders to gain deeper insights into the current market positioning and desired outcomes for the GTM strategy.
-
July 1, 2025Client Follow Up Questions Due
Students will submit any follow-up questions to clarify information gathered during the discovery call and address gaps in understanding for the competitive analysis and market research phases.
-
July 9, 2025Subject Matter Expert Interview Notes Due
Students will conduct interviews with one or more subject matter experts (SMEs) in the relevant industry. Notes from these interviews will be compiled and analyzed to gain valuable insights into market trends, competitor dynamics, and potential challenges for market entry.
-
July 15, 2025Presentation Design Draft Due
Students will submit a draft presentation outlining the key findings and recommendations from their competitive analysis, target market research, and GTM strategy. The draft should include key visuals, slides structure, and storytelling elements, which will also be presented to the educator.
-
July 22, 2025Capstone Presentations with Client
Students will deliver a polished final presentation, sharing their comprehensive project findings and strategic recommendations. This capstone event will provide a platform for valuable feedback and discussion.
-
July 25, 2025Program end