NOTE: The course begins August 31st, 2026, however, project work will begin between September 14th -18th 2026. Students are expected to schedule a kickoff call with their employer during the week of September 14th, however they have until September 25th to have completed the kickoff meeting.

This Riipen experience gives senior-level business students the opportunity to work on real-world projects spanning marketing, sales strategy, human resources, finance, project management, and business plan development. Students will apply their classroom learning to practical business challenges while providing employers with actionable insights and recommendations that support strategic and operational decision-making.

Students begin the course August 31st, 2026 with time spent on preparatory case studies to build foundational skills to apply to your project. Riipen projects launch the week of September 14th and run for six weeks, during which employers provide guidance, feedback, and resources to ensure students can deliver actionable business insights.

About the Learners

Learners are senior undergraduate business students in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.35. Students work individually, allowing employers to gain multiple unique perspectives on their project challenge. Each employer can host up to three individual students.

Students bring knowledge and skills in areas including, but not limited to:

1. Marketing and customer research
2. Sales strategy and business development
3. Business planning and market analysis
4. Training and development needs analysis
5. Compensation analysis
6. Financial analysis, budgeting, and basic accounting principles
7. Professional communication and problem-solving
8. Data analysis and business fundamentals

Project Details

1. Projects will run from September 14th - October 23rd
2. Intermediate-level business projects
3. Approximately 20–30 hours per learner over the four-week project period.
4. Students work individually.
5. Employers can host up to three students, each completing their own project individually (students are not working in teams). Group kickoff calls are welcome for planning purposes.
6. Projects are structured to provide tangible, actionable outcomes for employers while supporting students’ professional development and career readiness.
7. Employers will gain insights and deliverables that can directly inform business strategy or operations.

Employer Role

1. Participate in a synchronous kickoff meeting and synchronous midpoint check-in. Both of these meetings can be conducted as a group, though students will be working independently.
2. Employers are expected to be responsive and available asynchronously for questions and guidance throughout the project.
3. Provide feedback on learners deliverables and performance through the Riipen platform

Students will provide the following employer-ready outputs:

• Written report: 5–10 pages summarizing research, analysis, and recommendations.
• Presentation: 8–10 slides highlighting key findings and actionable insights.