International Business Consulting Programs
The international business consulting projects are collaborative initiatives between MBA and MSGBD students at San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business and small, medium, and large-sized companies and startups from around the world. The program pairs participating companies with small student teams to explore specific business opportunities in the U.S. market. As part of their coursework, the students conduct comprehensive research to provide actionable recommendations and assessments on the viability of entering the U.S. market.
Global Reach
To date, the program has collaborated with nearly 100 companies and startups from diverse countries, including New Zealand, Slovakia, Germany, Chile, Rwanda, Mexico, India, Jordan, Italy, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, and South Africa.
Benefits for Prospective Clients
Get Started
For more information or to participate in the program, please contact Martina Musteen at [email protected] or complete the new client application.
Previous Clients
FAQs
International Business Opportunity Development (IBOD)
- Format: Entirely virtual collaboration
- Cost: Nominal fee of $100 per project
- Workload: Project is part of a class, with each student contributing approximately 80-100 hours, totaling around 500 hours of student work.
- Client Eligibility: Startups are welcome as clients.
International Business Development Practicum (IBDP)
- Format: In-person and virtual, including travel for a week-long visit
- Cost: Clients are required to offset some expenses in their home country, such as lodging and in-country transportation.
- Workload: Dedicated work over two months, with each student contributing around 200 hours, working in groups of 3-4, totaling approximately 3000 hours.
- Client Eligibility: Larger, more mature companies are preferred as clients.
The IBOD program runs annually from February to May. Interested companies must apply by November to be considered for the program.
The IBDP program launches in May with the student team traveling to your country. The final report is delivered in August. Interested companies must apply by November and the project scope must be finalized by the faculty lead in January.
The projects require regular bi-weekly interaction between the students and a company representative.
Client Testimonials
"The study was performed on a market that was one of our priorities. The study provided us with in-depth information on consumer preferences and also other stakeholders of our business. The project exceeded our expectations. Having the final report and study, we may consider our entry into the United States. I highly recommend such collaboration."
Josef Laska, Regional DirectorLa Lorraine Bakery Group, Belgium
"The idea behind this project was to understand how we can manage to enter the Colombian market and expand in Mexico. The students came to Costa Rica and they saw what we do and what is behind DICOMA. We visited some of our projects and discussed our vision. They were able to absorb all this information in order to develop strategy holistically. The result was amazing, a huge benefit for DICOMA, for the company, for our partners, and, of course, also for the students."
Juan Carlos Aguero, CFO and Co-FounderDICOMA Corporacion, Costa Rica
“One of the most valuable aspects of the IBOD project was the opportunity to gather comprehensive information and cultivate resourcefulness regarding companies operating within the bioenergy sector. Additionally, it provided a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the US market within this domain.”
Dr. Kheira Benaissa, Founder & CEO
GreenAl Energy Biogas, Algeria
“The team was incredibly collaborative and committed, strongly believing in our cause. They helped us uncover the market, understand our competition, and identify various incubators and programs that could support our implementation in the U.S., fostering our growth. In addition, we looked at the journey of disabled people in acquiring wheelchairs. We also explored potential cities that could be conducive to a disability-focused healthcare technology startup.”
Souleima Ben Temime, Business Development Director
GeWinner, Tunisia
