Real client work
Projects for startups, small businesses and nonprofits with a real question to answer: which market to enter, how to price, how to grow, where the costs go, what customers want.
Now accepting interest
Project Fellows
Paid consulting projects for startups, small businesses and nonprofits, done by the strongest members of this site and led by an experienced consultant.
This page describes how the program is designed to work. The details of each project, including the hours, the dates and the stipend, are confirmed with you in writing before you say yes.
The program is just starting
We are gathering interest from members and talking with the first organizations now. There are no fixed dates yet. Tell us you are interested below, and we will be in touch when there is a project that fits you.
What it is
Led by an experienced consultant
Each project is designed to be led by someone with at least 3 years at a consulting firm, who scopes the work with the client, reviews the analysis and stands behind the final recommendation.
Remote-first, alongside your studies
A project is designed to run for 4 to 6 weeks at about 8 to 12 hours a week, so it fits alongside your studies. Work is remote-first, with a clear question at the start and a recommendation at the end.
A fixed stipend
Each project is designed to pay a fixed stipend, agreed with you in writing before the project starts, so you know it before you say yes.
What Fellows get
- A fixed stipend for each project, agreed with you in writing before it starts.
- Real project experience you can talk about in interviews and put on your resume.
- A reference from your project lead, based on the work you did.
- Introductions to companies that are hiring, if you want them.
Who can apply
Anyone can tell us they are interested. Invitations to the live case interview go to members who meet the Fellows bar, which is part of the candidate standards every member sees on their progress page:
- All five case skills (structuring, math, market sizing, exhibits, synthesis) at Top-firm ready or higher.
- Structuring and synthesis at Fellow-ready, the two skills client work leans on most.
- Communication at Top-firm ready or higher, from cases rated live by other people.
- Fit and story at Interview-ready or higher.
- A live case interview with the team, who confirm the evidence in person.
These are version 2 standards, set by expert judgment and to be recalibrated against the interview results members report. Meeting the bar makes you eligible to be considered; it is not a promise of a place or of a project.
How selection works
The same bar for everyone
The standards are published and worked out from practice evidence, not from where you studied, where you work, or who you know. The school, company and country on your profile are optional and never count toward the bar. If a project needs someone able to work in a particular country, we ask about that at the interview stage, never earlier.
Evidence, not claims
Your standing comes from graded practice in the last 90 days, full cases and cases rated live by other people, with minimums so one lucky run never counts.
Private until you opt in
Your standing is visible only to you. The team sees your practice results and the answers you type only if you switch on your interest below, and you can switch it off at any time.
A live case with the team
Members who meet the bar are invited to a live case interview, and Fellows are matched to projects by skills and availability.
Tell us you are interested
Telling us you are interested needs a free account, and accounts are not switched on for this site yet. Your standing is already worked out from your practice on this device, so keep practicing and check back.
Run a startup, a small business or a nonprofit? See how projects work for organizations.