IDEAcorps MBA Consulting Challenge, presented by Dr. Bobby and Lori Kent Savoie
The IDEAcorps MBA Consulting Challenge, presented by Dr. Bobby and Lori Kent Savoie, is an immersive event organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development at Loyola University New Orleans. IDEAcorps pairs MBA students from universities across the country with Gulf South-based startups and growing businesses to develop robust SCALE-UP strategies. Up to 12 MBA teams will work with companies representing a diverse population of founders in industries ranging from tech to retail.
Working remotely in early 2027, MBA teams will meet with their assigned companies to understand their businesses, explore ways to scale, and create customized SCALE-UP plans. During this time, MBA students will receive asynchronous instruction in best-in-class consulting techniques, understanding minority business challenges, and scaling best practices.
In March, MBA teams will travel to New Orleans to tour some of the city's innovation centers, engage with innovative employers at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, and present their proposed strategies to a panel of judges in the final pitch competition. Winning MBA teams and their assigned companies will receive cash prizes!
Three Ways to Participate:
Founders & Startups
Get six weeks of FREE MBA consulting for your business, plus a chance to win $20,000!
We're recruiting Gulf South founders and startups with early traction, ambitious growth goals, and real business challenges to tackle. Selected companies will work with MBA consulting teams to develop customized strategies for growth. At the end of the program, MBA teams pitch their proposed strategies to judges, and the winning teams' assigned companies receive cash prizes!
Cost to apply and participate: FREE!
APPLY AS A FOUNDER OR STARTUP!
External MBA Teams
Put your MBA skills to work solving real business challenges and compete for a $5,000 grand prize!
We're recruiting MBA teams from universities across the country to work directly with Gulf South startups. Gain hands-on consulting experience, develop a customized SCALE-UP strategy for your assigned company, and compete in the final pitch competition during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
Team participation fee: $2,000.
APPLY AS AN EXTERNAL MBA TEAM!
Loyola MBA Students
Represent Loyola University New Orleans in the 2027 IDEAcorps MBA Consulting Challenge!
We're recruiting Loyola MBA students to join our university's IDEAcorps team. Apply your classroom knowledge to real business challenges, gain hands-on consulting experience, and help a growing Gulf South company develop its SCALE-UP strategy.
APPLY TO JOIN THE LOYOLA MBA TEAM!
Priority Application Deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026
Learn more about team commitments, founder qualifications, and the program agenda below.
Program Dates:
- December 4, 2026: Priority Application Deadline
- January 21, 2027: Virtual program kickoff
- January 21 - March 4, 2027: Remote Consulting
- March 7-9, 2027: New Orleans Innovation Experience and Pitch Competition @ New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
IDEAcorps Prizes:
GRAND PRIZE:
- $20,000 awarded to the company client paired with the winning MBA team
- $5,000 awarded to the winning MBA team
TWO RUNNER-UP AWARDS:
- $2,000 awarded to each runner-up company client
- $1,500 awarded to each runner-up MBA team
Founders & Startups:
Grow your business with FREE MBA consulting!
IDEAcorps gives small to midsize Gulf South-based startups the opportunity to work with a team of MBA students from a top university on a customized SCALE-UP strategy for their business.
Over six weeks, your MBA consulting team will get to know your business, explore growth opportunities, and develop a plan to help you tackle challenges like customer acquisition, pricing, fundraising strategy, operations, or expanding into new markets.
At the end of the consulting period, your MBA team will pitch its proposed scale-up strategy to a panel of judges during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. If your MBA team wins, your company receives the $20,000 grand prize! Two runner-up companies will each receive $2,000.
There is no cost to apply or participate as a company client for IDEAcorps 2027.
Company Qualifications:
IDEAcorps is designed to support high-potential startups at various stages. Our qualifications are intentionally flexible to include more early-stage founders.
Companies should demonstrate:
- Early traction, such as paying customers, active users, completed pilots, or a growing waitlist.
- A credible plan to grow revenue, customers, or partnerships by 25-50% within 18 months.
- A committed founder or leadership team ready to work closely with MBA consultants.
- A well-defined challenge where MBA expertise can meaningfully accelerate growth (e.g., go-to-market strategy, pricing, fundraising strategy, operations, or customer acquisition).
Companies may qualify through revenue, traction, capital raised, or equivalent indicators of momentum.
Company Client Commitment:
Approximately 1 hour per week for 6 weeks, plus participation in the program kickoff and New Orleans finale.
- January 21, 2027: Attend the virtual program kickoff and meet your assigned MBA consulting team.
- January 21 - March 4, 2027: Meet remotely with your MBA team for approximately one hour per week. Share current business details, explore ways to scale your business, and collaborate on a unique SCALE-UP plan.
- March 7, 2027: Attend the IDEAcorps New Orleans Experience kickoff dinner.
- March 9, 2027: Participate in the Final Pitch Competition during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, where your MBA team will present its proposed scale-up strategy to judges.
Ready to grow your business? Apply to participate as a company client!
Priority Application Deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026
MBA Teams:
- Total number of teams: 12
- No more than 5 members per team. Team members must be enrolled in a full time, part-time, or executive MBA program at a participating university.
- Fee per external MBA team: $2,000 - APPLY NOW!
- Team fee includes meals and travel to and from events during the in-person portion of the event in New Orleans. Fee does not include team lodging, but a hotel block will be made available.
Working remotely in early 2027, your team will meet with your assigned company to understand their current business, explore ways to scale it, and create a unique SCALE-UP plan. During this time, you will be given asynchronous instruction in best-in-class consulting techniques, understanding minority business challenges, and scaling best practices.
In March, you will travel to New Orleans to enjoy a tour of some of the city's innovation centers, engage with innovative employers at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, and culminate in a pitch competition to win: GRAND PRIZE of $5,000. Two runners up will be awarded $1,500 each.
APPLY NOW TO SAVE YOUR MBA TEAM'S SPOT!
Loyola MBA Students:
Loyola MBA students interested in representing Loyola University New Orleans in IDEAcorps should complete the Loyola-specific application to be considered for our university's team.
APPLY TO JOIN THE LOYOLA MBA TEAM!
Why IDEAcorps?
- Work with a real company, not a hypothetical one
- Fully engage in an immersive experiential learning opportunity
- Attend exciting startup events as part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week and connect with ecosystem partners
- Learn consulting skills that can be used in scale-up development, corporate innovation initiatives, and consulting projects
- Past tours have included: New Orleans' Innovation Centers, including the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, the Port of New Orleans, the BioInnovation Center, and more
- Network with employers from New Orleans and the Gulf South
- Enjoy New Orleans' incredible culture during the best time of year!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sam McCabe, gsmccabe@loyno.edu
Director
Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development
