Sponsored Projects

The FARM Institute is a teaching farm that educates and engages children and adults in sustainable agriculture through the diverse operations of a working farm.

Project: The objective of this project was to develop a long-term (3-5 year) growth strategy for The FARM Institute centered around the organization’s mission of education about sustainable agriculture.

The Terra Beata Cranberry Farm is a grower and processor of cranberry products.

Project: This project focused on a strategic growth plan for the company to focus operations and expand revenue.

Beginning in 1886 as a parquet flooring company, SC Johnson has a reputation for consumer-driven innovation. The company produces a host of well-known consumer brands, including Shout, Windex, Ziploc, Glade, Vanish, Raid, OFF!, and Pledge sold in more than 70 countries. SCJ is one of the largest privately held companies in the world, doing more than $9 billion in sales.

Project: In 2005, a team established a business partnership between SC Johnson’s Kenya subsidiary and Kiberan youth groups to pilot test a new business model for delivering insect control, cleaning, and air care services to Kibera’s residents in Nairobi, Kenya. The SGE Immersion team evaluated the Kibera pilot business to capture key learnings of the pilot phase, and to provide recommendations for scaling-up and replicating the business within Kenya and in other countries.

Pfizer is committed to being a global leader in health care by providing access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and related health care services to the people who need them.

Project: This project focused on a market entry for a Pfizer OTC product to be launched in India. Students analyzed the India consumer market and offered recommendations related to brand positioning, pricing, distribution, marketing, and competitive assessment.

A leading global brand specializing in sports equipment and apparel marketing and manufacturing.

Project: The SGE Immersion team assessed the needs and potential sports apparel market for Muslim Women. The team segmented key markets for Muslim women worldwide (including the US, European, and Gulf regions), including consumer profiling, product interests, and market size and growth potential.

Founded in 1956, the International Finance Corporation is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. IFC’s mission is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives. Since its founding, IFC has committed more than $56 billion of its own funds and has arranged $25 billion in syndications for 3,531 companies in 140 developing countries. IFC’s worldwide committed portfolio as of FY06 was $21.6 billion for its own account and $5.1 billion held for participants in loan syndications. IFC provides loans, equity, structured finance and risk management products, and advisory services to build the private sector in developing countries.

Project: This project focused on identifying examples of private sector “micro”-housing finance enterprises globally, with emphasis on South America (and in particular Brazil). Students analyzed existing business models and financial viability of these enterprises, assessed business opportunities and risks, socioeconomic impacts on the squatter communities/customers and other affected stakeholders, and compared their performance to public sector housing programs.

IBM is a manufacturer of computer hardware, middleware and software, and offers hosting and consulting services.

Project: IBM was in the process of creating a ‘Virtual Incubator’ to create an IBM-hosted enabler for the global business community facing challenges transforming innovative ideas into viable businesses. The SGE Immersion team evaluated the business idea with particular consideration given to partnerships, critical market needs, functionality, competition, and complexity of implementation.

Genesi designs, develops and produces CHRP/IEEE 1275 based computing products that bring Power Architecture™ technology, flexibility, and efficiency to the desktop, home entertainment, netcom, low-end server and pervasive market segments at an affordable price.

Project: This project focused on the development of an engagement framework for identification of business opportunities in Morocco based on the BoP Protocol.

GE is a global manufacturer of a wide range of products for the home and business, including Appliances, Consumer Electronics, Home Comfort and Safety, Lighting, Automotive, Aviation, Commercial, Energy, Healthcare, Retail, Security, and Transportation.

Project: This project focused on evaluating whether there was an opportunity to develop small-scale, distributed clean water systems for customers in developing countries.

Emerging Markets Group (acquired by Cardno) was an international development consulting firm that served donor agencies and sovereign governments.

Project: The Business Linkages Challenge Fund (BLCF) was designed by the Department for International Development (DFID) to engage with the private sector to accelerate growth and poverty reduction in developing countries. The BLCF recognized the role of the private sector to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and supported partnerships (“business linkages”) that were of commercial interest to the companies involved and contributed to DFID’s poverty reduction objectives. The SGE Immersion team evaluated a subset of the 60 BLCF funded projects to understand how the companies were benefiting poor people and impacting business, as well as to help EMG understand which projects were commercially viable and which were not.