Capstone – Project

Community Centers for Entrepreneurs

A Collaboration Between

Project Synopsis

Building off our activation with a brilliant crew of Notre Dame MBA candidates in the Fall of 2019, we look forward to continuing the work with a new group of MBA candidates. As Next Gen looks to acquire, develop, and operate physical Community Centers, we are looking to build our business framework, including the following items:
  • Franchise Model. Developing an interest-aligned investor model where Next Gen licenses its brand and provides operating support for a private investor to own a Community Center. Reference organizations: Hyatt, ING, Chik-Fil-A.
  • Operating Model. Creating an interest-aligned management model where Next Gen operates a space - including leasing, tenant management, and maintenance - in a risk-limited manner. There has been tremendous disruption in the Operating space within the last 10 years. Reference organizations: Convene, Common, Tribe.
  • Management Technology. Building a suite of management tools that will aid in providing an elevated management experience for both tenants and investors. Reference startup: Latch.
  • Corporate Development. Assessing the potential for joint-ventures or acquisitions within our target category that support our corporate Real Estate goals.
These four buckets will, together, contribute to our vision of developing and operating a residential/commercial community center for entrepreneurs.

HOST VENUE ADDRESS

  • Convene (9th Floor), 530 5th Avenue (b/w 44th and 45th Streets), New York, NY 10016

REQUIRED PREREQUISITES

  • No mandatory prerequisites.
  • A general knowledge of real estate financing, development, and operation would be helpful.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Students will play an integral role in the formation of new, category-defining business line through the creation of entrepreneurial community centers.
  • Students will learn the ins-and-outs of the real estate market, familiarizing themselves with industry leaders and comparable organizations.
  • Students will walk away feeling knowledgable about the property development and operation processes, aware of how companies like WeWork grow/operate.

Project Topics

Growth Strategy

Marketing

Mergers & Acquisitions

Operations

Research & Development

Sales & Business Development

Company Information

CompanyNext Gen HQ
HQNew York
RevenueUnlisted
Employees25-50
StageEstablished Startup
Hiring PotentialFollow-on Projects, Formal Internship, Entry Level Full-Time, Upper Level Full-Time
Websitehttps://www.nextgenhq.com/

Company Overview

Next Gen HQ is on a mission to help the Next Generation “win” at work and life. We have created a Leadership Development Platform called Momentum that includes the Community, Education, Resources, and Mentorship these young leaders need to achieve the success they desire. Membership is available to students and young professionals. Growing up, Dylan and Justin, our CEOs, felt a desire to live life on their own terms. Looking for direction, they started asking questions and seeking out peers equally excited about chasing their dreams. In 2014, they started Next Gen HQ to help those just like you and us - young people looking to design the lives they want to live. Nearly a decade later, we serve a community of over 600K students, young professionals, and founders. ‍ The journey wasn’t always pretty, but nothing worth doing comes easily. Pursuing your purpose is flat out hard. Though we - like you - believe the journey to be worth it.

Experiential Learning Program Details

SchoolUniversity of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business
Engagement FormatCapstone - Small Team Consulting Project - Students work in consulting teams of 3-5 directly with faculty and client liaisons on developing real solutions to real-world challenges.
Course
LevelN/A
Students EnrolledN/A
Meeting Day & TimeN/A
Student Time Commitment1-3 Hours Per Week
Company Time Commitment3-5 Hours
Duration0.43 Weeks

Program Timeline

Touchpoints & Assignments Due Date Type

Key Project Milestones

  • March 2, 2020 - Understand Next Gen's Vision

    Work with Next Gen’s Founders/Executive Team to understand Next Gen’s unique story, vision, and plans.Overview of the project, reviewing various components to ensure full understanding of goals.


    Suggested Deliverable:

    Leave ready for the project!

  • March 5, 2020 - Focus: Operating Model

    Operating Model. Creating an interest-aligned management model where Next Gen operates a space – including leasing, tenant management, and maintenance – in a risk-limited manner. There has been tremendous disruption in the Operating space within the last 10 years. Reference organizations: Convene, Common, Tribe.

    • Overview of Operating Models — what is it, examples, other comps., etc.
      • Review mentioned companies and their respective models
      • Begin to craft financial deliverable of Next Gen’s model.

    Suggested Deliverable:

    The final deliverable come week’s end will be a financial operating model for Next Gen’s proposed community center.

  • March 5, 2020 - Focus 2: Franchise Model

    Franchise Model. Developing an interest-aligned investor model where Next Gen licenses its brand and provides operating support for a private investor to own a Community Center. Reference organizations: Hyatt, ING, Chik-Fil-A.

    • Once the operating model’s construction is underway, dive into the potential for franchising Next Gen’s brand across multiple community centers

    Suggested Deliverable:

    Financial mock-up of  a potential franchise model.

  • March 5, 2020 - Focus 3: Management Tech

    Management Technology. Building a suite of management tools that will aid in providing an elevated management experience for both tenants and investors. Reference startup: Latch.

    • Research space to identify largest opportunities for management innovation.
    • Find leading tools, softwares, etc. that comparable companies utilize

    Suggested Deliverable:

    List/proposal of management technologies.

  • March 5, 2020 - Focus 4: Corp. Development

    Corporate Development. Assessing the potential for joint-ventures or acquisitions within our target category that support our corporate Real Estate goals.


    Suggested Deliverable:

    List of potential startups/partner companies.

Project Resources

There are no resources currently available

Industry Mentors

Company Admin

Dylan Gambardella

[email protected]

Academic Mentors

Instructor

Alice Obermiller

[email protected]

Instructor

 

[email protected]

Assigned Students

There are currently no students assigned.