2023 senior projects
Designing the future
MS&E undergraduates presented their senior projects in March 2023. Across a wide breadth of industries and techniques, each project aimed to shape the future.
Students drew on their course work—including mathematical modeling, systems analysis, organization theory, optimization, probability, statistics, ethics, computer science, and economics—to inform their work on the projects. Teams of three to four students acted as consultants to their sponsor organizations, tackling real-world problems in real-time over 10 weeks.
Projects for 2023 shaped the future of business, for example by creating a toolkit to help venture capitalists choose the most promising investments, as well as the future of society, such as helping an organization mentor and empower youth to become changemakers. Sponsor organizations ranged from startups like Lumina, to established firms like Asana, to non-profits like Strong Girls United that serve to impact the community at large. While the students wrapped their findings into a final presentation, their work will continue to be utilized into the future. Some groups also stayed on as consultants after the course was over to tackle longer-term problems.
MS&E faculty members acted as mentors to the student teams throughout the quarter. Teams met regularly with faculty to refine their work leading up to their final presentations. This year's faculty mentors included professors Riitta Katila, Irene Lo, Elisabeth Paté-Cornell, Markus Pelger, and James Sweeney.
Videos are included for teams whose sponsor organizations gave permission to share the final presentations. Each project also has a written summary. Please note: Not all teams gave permission to share their information, and thus not all students are represented below.
Automation for efficiency: Data-driven solutions for Costanoa Ventures
When betting on a horse race, do you bet on the jockey or the horse? Venture capitalists face a similar choice when funding startups—do they bet on the product or service (the horse) or the track record of the founders (the jockey)? The team built an automated system to synthesize the best of both worlds for Costanoa.
Read and watch moreSeeking alpha: Portfolio optimization in the small-cap value space
The team utilized several techniques, including one invented by MS&E's own Prof. Markus Pelger, to help The Horton Fund choose which investments to make.
Read and watch moreData analytics platform for rental property investors
The team built data-driven models to help property owners and Lumina partners optimize their rental property investments.
Read and watch moreStrong Girls United outreach
The team helped SGU enhance its outreach capacity and exposure in order to drive strategic organic growth for the organization.
Read moreThe future of work: COO playbook
The team utilized surveys and data analysis to expand on the Work Innovation Lab’s playbook for Chief Operating Officers and offer go-to-market strategies for the organization.
Read and watch more