As part of the Hurt Hub’s growing consulting practice, The Consulting Collective, we connect startups and small businesses with talented Davidson College students for short-term project-based consulting work. Our team of vetted student consultants is selected through a competitive application process and brings a diverse range of skills to help solve business challenges.
The next round of projects will be accepted for the summer 2025 team of consultants. Work will begin in early June.
Davidson students bring a dynamic and fresh approach to projects due in part to their liberal arts education. A liberal arts education encourages students to see connections that result in new ideas for your projects.
Instead of pairing businesses with a single student for an extended period, we now operate as a consulting agency—streamlining the process for you. This approach ensures faster support, minimizes delays, and gives you access to a cross-functional team equipped to complete your project efficiently and with excellence.
Below are some example projects. Select an option to read more.
Even in the digital age, the written word is still a primary way of communicating ideas. Projects may include writing for marketing materials, magazine articles, blog posts, website content or editing.
Sample Projects:
Small businesses and entrepreneurs rely on data to understand their customers, streamline operations, and make informed decisions. Student Consultants can help collect, analyze, and interpret key business insights to support growth and efficiency.
Sample Projects:
Customer discovery and market analysis are essential to the success of any business, and one of the first steps in the process of starting a new business. A general researcher may be asked to determine market size for a product or service, broken down by demographic or geographic categories, or current market share for competitors.
Sample Projects:
Effective marketing combines clear communication, eye-catching design, and strategic outreach to engage the right audience. Student Consultants can help craft compelling visuals and content to strengthen your brand and expand your reach.
Sample Projects:
Early-stage startups often need support across multiple areas, from strategy and marketing to operations and research. Our team can assist with a variety of high-priority tasks to help businesses stay agile and focused on growth.
Sample Gigs:
Expanding into new markets or serving diverse customers often requires clear and accurate communication in multiple languages. Student Consultants can help translate business materials to improve customer experience and outreach.
Sample Projects:
High-quality visuals help businesses tell their story, showcase their products, and connect with customers and investors. Our team can capture and create engaging photo and video content to bring your brand to life.
Sample Projects:
A strong online presence is essential for businesses looking to attract customers and streamline operations. Our team can help design, build, and enhance websites.
Sample Projects:
Even in the digital age, the written word is still a primary way of communicating ideas. Projects may include writing for marketing materials, magazine articles, blog posts, website content or editing.
Sample Projects:
Small businesses and entrepreneurs rely on data to understand their customers, streamline operations, and make informed decisions. Student Consultants can help collect, analyze, and interpret key business insights to support growth and efficiency.
Sample Projects:
Customer discovery and market analysis are essential to the success of any business, and one of the first steps in the process of starting a new business. A general researcher may be asked to determine market size for a product or service, broken down by demographic or geographic categories, or current market share for competitors.
Sample Projects:
Effective marketing combines clear communication, eye-catching design, and strategic outreach to engage the right audience. Student Consultants can help craft compelling visuals and content to strengthen your brand and expand your reach.
Sample Projects:
Early-stage startups often need support across multiple areas, from strategy and marketing to operations and research. Our team can assist with a variety of high-priority tasks to help businesses stay agile and focused on growth.
Sample Gigs:
Expanding into new markets or serving diverse customers often requires clear and accurate communication in multiple languages. Student Consultants can help translate business materials to improve customer experience and outreach.
Sample Projects:
High-quality visuals help businesses tell their story, showcase their products, and connect with customers and investors. Our team can capture and create engaging photo and video content to bring your brand to life.
Sample Projects:
A strong online presence is essential for businesses looking to attract customers and streamline operations. Our team can help design, build, and enhance websites.
Sample Projects:
Student consultants are hired as employees of Davidson College, so the college takes care of the paperwork and taxes. You’ll receive a monthly invoice based on the actual hours worked by students on your project. This will be calculated using a standard hourly rate of $18 per hour.
Truist Charitable Fund
The Hurt Hub has offered women and minority-owned businesses over 2,600 hours of pro bono student consulting. Through generous support from a Truist Charitable Fund grant, we can offer up to 30 hours of pro bono work per company for those that identify as an underrepresented founder / business owner.
Are You a Nonprofit?
If you are a non-profit or public-sector organization seeking to collaborate with Davidson on projects, you are eligible for pro bono assistance through the college’s Center for Civic Engagement. To learn more about their offerings and services, contact the CCE or submit your project request here.
The program runs in two cycles:
Academic Year: September-April
Summer: June-July
Project turnaround times will vary based on scope and season.
During the academic year, students typically dedicate around 5 hours per week to their assigned projects. In the summer, they can work up to 40 hours per week, allowing for significantly faster project completion.
Projects should be able to be completed remotely, or using a hybrid model of some in-person meetings at the Hurt Hub combined with tasks to be completed remotely.
We’re no longer accepting projects for spring but are beginning to review opportunities for our summer consulting team.
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