Turning Insight Into Action: Inside the Impact Studio x BCG Partnership

by Navya Singh

At the University of Michigan’s Impact Studio, student founders are doing more than testing ideas — they’re building real companies. Through its partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Detroit, these early-stage ventures gain access to high-level strategic guidance that helps transform concepts into scalable businesses. Consistent one-on-one mentorship over the semester as well as a BCG Detroit office visit with an opportunity to present to real consultants gives founders both structure and perspective, helping them refine not just their startup, but their approach to building.

When he first entered the Impact Studio, Alexander Arda Cetinel’s idea for Helping Hand AI–a mobile app aiming to give medical caregivers more independence–was expansive but unfocused. A major driver of his transition from a broad idea to a concrete business that he could build was his experience working with a BCG consultant mentor through the Impact Studio.

“I started with this AI-powered camera that could do everything,” he said. Since then, the concept has evolved into an AI-powered mobile application that connects to cameras to alert caregivers in real time during emergencies while also tracking daily health metrics. “Now it’s something that does a few things very well,” Cetinel explained. That focus has allowed him to move quickly into execution. He is now building his minimum viable product and actively recruiting interns, with plans for beta testing over the summer and a pilot program in senior independent living communities.

“Last semester, building wasn’t even on the horizon,” Cetinel reflected. “Now I’m actually hiring and building.” Meeting regularly throughout the semester with his BCG consultant–matched to him by the Impact Studio and the BCG office–provided the clarity and guidance needed to develop like that so fast. Every conversation followed a simple rhythm — reviewing progress, discussing challenges, and outlining next steps — but over time, that structure created real momentum.

“[Ben, my BCG consultant mentor,] helped me go from validating ideas to actually building,” Cetinel said. More importantly, the mentorship introduced a different perspective. While many early-stage conversations focus on ideation, his mentor brought a lens shaped by experience with mature companies. “What he really brought was an understanding of what a successful company looks like at scale,” Cetinel explained, “and the steps to get there.”

For BCG Detroit, creating these moments for founders is part of a broader mission. As Brian Tobelmann–Principal at the Detroit office–explained, the office is committed to supporting Michigan’s economic and educational development by investing in the people and ideas emerging from institutions like the University of Michigan.

“There is so much talent being developed here,” Tobelmann said. “We want to help ensure that talent stays and succeeds in the state.” The partnership with Impact Studio extends that mission into the earliest stages of company building, allowing BCG to support ventures before they reach the scale of traditional clients. “Small businesses are the backbone of the economy,” Tobelmann added. “This is about helping them from the very beginning.”

Through this collaboration, BCG consultants bring a set of tools and perspectives that are often inaccessible to early-stage founders. According to Tobelmann, their support typically centers on three areas: understanding market dynamics, structuring problems and solutions clearly, and developing go-to-market strategies. These are foundational decisions that shape how a startup grows, but can be the hardest to define early on. By helping founders break them down, consultants enable teams to focus on the highest-impact work. The Detroit office also brings particular strength in digital and AI innovation through BCG X, allowing consultants to guide ventures in technical spaces.

The relationship is mutually beneficial for both BCG and the Impact Studio. For BCG consultants, working with the Impact Studio offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with founders and influence high-level decisions earlier in their careers. “This has been a growth opportunity for our team,” Tobelmann said. “It allows them to develop the skills needed to guide businesses at the highest levels.” Combined with a shared interest in supporting Michigan’s startup ecosystem, that dynamic makes the partnership both professionally and personally meaningful.

Ultimately, the collaboration between Impact Studio and BCG Detroit is defined by its ability to turn direction into action. For Cetinel, it meant moving from an idea that could do everything to a product that does the right things well — and from thinking about a company to actively building one. “In just a few months, I went from having an idea to actually building something,” he said. That kind of progress reflects not only the ambition of student founders, but the strength of the ecosystem supporting them — one that continues to turn early ideas into real impact. As this entrepreneurial partnership grows, it’ll be exciting to see how this relationship continues to transform and facilitate even more positive impact than ever.