2026 BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon®
Two weekends: June 5-7 and June 12-14
Where Strategy Meets Boston Main Streets
This year’s Consult-a-thon partners with four districts from Boston Main Streets — each facing a distinct strategic challenge with real consequences for local communities
In 2026, all four case clients come from Boston Main Streets — a city-wide network of 20 neighborhood commercial districts striving to help local businesses thrive. Each district brings a distinct strategic challenge at the intersection of community development, economic equity, and urban innovation.
MEET OUR CASE CLIENTS
Hyde Park
Main Streets
Challenge: using AI to improve serving a local community of small businesses
JP Center/South
Main Streets
Сhallenge: the financial modeling behind shared ownership of local real estate by small businesses
Greater Grove Hall
Main Streets
Сhallenge: developing mutually beneficial relationships with a major sports facility
Eaglestone Square
Main Streets
Challenge: planning, beautification, and stakeholder engagement to support the implementation of new public spaces
How did the 2025 Consult-a-thon go?
READY TO CONSULT FOR REAL?
Join a cohort of graduate students making a measurable difference in Boston’s neighborhood economies — while sharpening the skills that will define your career
Date: June 5-7 and June 12-14
THE CONSULT-A-THON STRUCTURE
Over two intensive weekends, student consultants move from case briefing
to final strategic presentation — guided by expert mentors throughout
Timing
WEEKEND 1
Friday evening
5 June, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
CORE: Synchronization at the personal level of “what is here for me?” “Our Team.”
You choose the team to work on a challenge that is meaningful for you
Saturday morning
6 June, 9am – 5pm
TRUST: Social level of synchronization. “Our Company.”
You listen, learn, and connect to the company
Sunday morning
7 June, 9am-1pm
From TRUST to VALUE. Synchronization at the professional level. “Our Solution for Our Company”.
You will work in your teams with a case coach to create an actionable solution
WEEKEND 2
Friday evening
12 June, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
VALUE: Professional level of synchronization.
Consulting teams will get a hands-on training from industry experts in pitching a solution
Saturday morning
13 June, 9am – 3pm
VALUE: Professional level of synchronization. Synchronization at the “we did it” level of achievement. “Our Competitive EDGE.”
Teams pitch to industry experts and mentors
Sunday morning
14 June, 9am-1pm
EXCITEMENT: Exciting stakeholders.
Award ceremony. Meeting with mentors. Close of Consult-a-thon
The BE-EDGE “Impact” Consult-a-thon is an intensive, cohort-based consulting experience that places graduate students in the role of practicing strategy consultants — working directly with real community organizations that need rigorous, actionable solutions.
Unlike case competitions that simulate business problems, the Consult-a-thon works with actual case clients. Your strategic recommendations have real potential to shape neighborhoods, small businesses, and communities across Boston. The work is challenging, the stakes are genuine, and the impact is lasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon is a fun, fast-paced bootcamp style event spread over two weekends with a week in between, designed to help you master the craft of impact-driven consulting and enhance your employability in a boutique setting.
This specific BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon is open to master students interested in problem-solving and consulting. We welcome diverse backgrounds, including business, engineering, design, and more.
Following a four-step BE=E-D-G-E method, you serve as Case Consultants for a Case Client, a small US company facing a challenge you will help with. You will meet several case clients and select the one most relevant to your career aspirations. As a team of people who made the same choice, you will follow E-D-G-E steps of case consulting, constantly working against the clock. Each step has special meaning for your synchronization with the client reality and investment in your BE– Boutique [standout] Employability.
The event will take place on July 26-28 and August 2-4, 2024. This normally happens on 2 weekends. Timings will be posted on our website and communicated via email upon registration.
