The ability to deconstruct and forecast the growth and quality of a business is foundational to a career in finance and investing. In this Build Project, you will mimic the work of a financial analyst and create a financial model that forecasts the trajectory of an early-stage software startup.

Alongside your project leader, you will build a 3-statement financial model that showcases future financial performance based on present and past business assumptions. You will familiarize yourself with software-specific accounting concepts like deferred revenue and accumulated deficit as well as spreadsheet modeling standards and techniques — all of which are skills used and valued by real finance teams.

Develop a Synthetic Monitoring Platform

software-development, saas, devops, information-technology

Sonu Gupta

and 1 more

Use Python to build a Synthetic Monitoring Platform for real-time insights and proactive monitoring of network performance.

Software Development Fellow

The global synthetic monitoring market is growing rapidly, with a projected CAGR of 15.3% from 2023 to 2028. This growth underscores the importance and relevance of synthetic monitoring in the DevOps and Software Development industries, making it a valuable skill for entry-level jobs. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Software Developer and build a synthetic monitoring platform. Under an experienced Build Fellow's guidance, you'll create an application that executes the ping command at regular intervals and stores the results in the Time-Series Database. You'll then use Grafana to visualize these metrics in real-time. You'll become familiar with industry tools like Wireshark software and Grafana, as well as methodologies like observability and synthetic monitoring – which represent key skills in the DevOps and Software Development fields. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real software development team.

Develop a Web App for Lobby System

web-development, rest-apis, full-stack-development, react

Ruicheng Wu

and 1 more

From scratch to build a full stack web app: create a lobby system for hosting various types of virtual events.

Computer Science Fellow

Are you looking for entry-level software development experience with a wholistic vision? In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of Full-stack Software Developer and analyze the user needs, prepare necessary programming knowledges, plan stepwise approach for UI, API implementations and conduct the software development from scratch to support users playing tic-tac-toe using virtual web lobby to join or create the event. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you'll develop a full-stack web app using React, REST API using Node JS and Express framework and version control your code in a repository. You'll become familiar with full-stack software development like React, HTML, CSS, Node JS by following the Object-Oriented Principles. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real software development team.

Build a Pipeline to Segment Single-Cell Immunofluorescent Images 

biotechnology, biomedical-engineering, molecular-biology, high-throughput-pipeline, single-cell-segmentation

Ali Al Abdullatif

and 1 more

Design a high-throughput image analysis pipeline using Cell Profiler and ImageJ software.  

Biomedical Engineering Fellow

Immunofluorescence is a widely used tool in the visualization of protein and biomolecules within fixed cultured cells (immunocytochemistry) or preserved and sectioned patient or animal tissue (immunohistochemistry). Fluorescent immunostaining is a reliable confirmation technique used across scientific disciplines both in academia and industry. However, without extremely expensive and proprietary software, analysis and interpretation of this data can be complicated and time-consuming. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a scientist or engineer and build a pipeline capable of delivering high-throughput single cell data from immunofluorescent images. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll design a segmentation workflow and analyze data. You'll become familiar with industry tools like Cell Profiler and ImageJ. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real biotech team.

Design an Enclosure for an Electrical Vehicle Battery

mechanical-engineering, materials-engineering, structural-engineering, cad, automotive-engineering

Luca Entremont

and 1 more

Use CAD to design a frame intended to provide safety for an Electrical Vehicle (EV) battery and provide structural support for the vehicle.

Mechanical Engineering Fellow

Electric Vehicle design has become incredibly widespread in the industry of mechanical engineering, due to new developments that make this technology more attractive than ever. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of an Electric Vehicle Mechanical Engineer and design an Electric Vehicle battery enclosure. Our goal is to make sure the function of the frame is fulfilled in a lightweight way, while still having structural integrity to ensure safety. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll learn how to use common formulas to evaluate the performance of the designed battery enclosure. You'll become familiar with useful and widespread tools like Google Sheets, FEA and CAD software. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real engineering design team.

Develop a Decentralized Lottery System Smart Contract

blockchain, software-development

Mauro Delazeri

and 1 more

Create a decentralized, transparent, and fair lottery system leveraging blockchain technology for secure and tamper-proof draws.

Software Engineering Fellow

In this Build Project, you'll be asked to develop a smart contract that simulates a decentralized lottery system. Such a system requires transparency, security, and verifiability to ensure trust among participants. A smart contract is essentially a “black box” that executes predefined rules, but understanding its internal mechanics and ensuring its fairness can be complex. Therefore, comprehensive testing and evaluation are crucial to confirm the smart contract's reliability and performance. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll develop a fully functional smart contract that will be deployed in the Ethereum Sepolia Testnet. You'll also use various metrics and test simulations to identify potential vulnerabilities or failure modes.

Learn to Create an Investment Memo for a Gaming Startup

investing, finance, gaming

Kevin Eun

and 1 more

Perform financial, market, industry, and operational due diligence to analyze a gaming investment opportunity

Finance Fellow

Any young career specialists who want to work in Venture Capital find it hard to understand how to break into this industry. One of the things that help a lot is having a prior VC experience. In this Build Project, you will wear the hat of a Venture Capital Analyst and prepare an investment memo for a potential gaming startup to perform financial, operational, and market due diligence. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you will learn how a potential gaming startup investment opportunity will be analyzed and discussed to ultimately decide whether or not to invest. You will become familiar with financial modeling, operational modeling and various research methodologies that will aid you in your conclusion. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real investment committee in a venture capital firm.

How to Use QuickBooks Online

quickbooks-online, microsoft-excel, google-sheets, kinnser

Bud Khurelbaatar

and 1 more

Get hands-on experience in QuickBooks, focusing on essential accounting practices, financial management, and real-world applications to enhance your practical skills and career readiness.

Accounting Fellow

QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software that helps businesses manage their finances by tracking income and expenses, invoicing customers, paying bills, and generating financial reports. It's crucial for modern accountants to understand QuickBooks Online because it streamlines financial management, offers real-time data access, and enhances bookkeeping accuracy and efficiency. Approximately 80% of small businesses use QuickBooks, making it the most popular accounting software in the U.S., with over 26.5 million businesses utilizing it.

In my QuickBooks Online project, you will develop essential accounting skills through hands-on experience with the software, learning to navigate its features and manage accounts effectively. You will gain proficiency in generating and interpreting financial reports, including profit and loss statements and balance sheets. Additionally, you will build strong bookkeeping skills by understanding and performing fundamental tasks such as accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), and bank reconciliations. By applying core accounting principles to real-world scenarios, you will enhance your practical knowledge and prepare for successful careers in the accounting industry.

Application of Markowitz Portfolio Theory to Build Your Own Portfolio

python, portfolio-management, optimization

Zhenan Li

and 1 more

Implement and apply the Markowitz Portfolio Theory to construct diversified portfolios that strike an optimal balance between risk and return.

Finance Fellow

In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, constructing and managing portfolios that optimize returns while minimizing risk is a fundamental challenge for investors. The Markowitz Portfolio Theory, introduced by Nobel laureate Harry Markowitz, offers a pioneering framework for portfolio optimization. This project aims to leverage Markowitz's model to build and back-test portfolios, providing valuable insights into the construction of efficient investment strategies.

The primary objective of this project is to implement and apply the Markowitz Portfolio Theory to construct diversified portfolios that strike an optimal balance between risk and return. By utilizing historical financial data, we will back-test these portfolios to evaluate their performance under different market conditions.

Build a Full-Stack Software Application

software-development, web-development, full-stack-development

Karan Kwatra

and 1 more

Learn how to use PostgreSQL, Typescript, React and Vue to create a software app.

Software Development Fellow

The deliverables for this project are focused on building artifacts that you can use to showcase your work in a job application. By the end of the project, you will have built a full-stack software application that follows multi-tier architecture. You will learn about databases, back-end systems, and front-end systems. You will learn how to build an application that is extensible and complete. The application can do what you wish but must have all the relevant components. At the end of the project, you will deploy your application for anyone on the internet to view. This way, you’ll have something tangible to show recruiters for future job prospects.

Analyze a Dataset from a Critical Gender Perspective

data-science, gender-data

Belise Bwiza

and 1 more

Learn gender data best practices and audit a dataset of your choice and create an improved version of the dataset analysis.

Data Science Fellow

In the field of data science, the issue of data equity is an ongoing movement that aims to promote responsible data work. The current problem with major data practices is not that the data we have is insufficient, but that it doesn’t not accurately reflect the realities of women and non-binary people. For example, the gender binary (male/female) classification system in data collection will result in omission errors that make certain people’s experiences invisible. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Data Analyst and audit data cycle practices with a gender lens. Based on it, you'll produce a data visualization project that incorporates standard visualization frameworks and gender data best practices. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll uncover the flaws in current research methodologies that have led to inaccurate and incomplete data on the status of women and non-binary persons. You'll explore marginal changes that can be made to the way that we collect, analyze, and visualize gender data. You’ll become familiar with data visualization frameworks such as Tufte’s rules, Junk Chart’s trifecta, and Schwabish’s core principles, as well as such ubiquitous industry tools as Excel, R, or Tableau.  

Design an Educational Platform for Remote Learning 

user-experience-design, product-design, web-accessibility-standards, prototyping-and-usability-testing

Abiola Folaranmi

and 1 more

Design an easy-to-use and visually appealing online learning platform that works well on all devices and is accessible to everyone.

Design Fellow

Since the 2020 pandemic, many industries, including education, have had to embrace digital solutions more than ever. In this project, you'll take on the role of a UX Designer to create an engaging and user-friendly e-learning platform that meets today's educational needs. Guided by an experienced Build Fellow, you'll conduct user research, design visually appealing interfaces, and implement web accessibility standards to ensure everyone can use the platform. You'll work with industry tools like Figma for prototyping and usability testing. This project will give you hands-on experience and insights into the real-world challenges of designing effective digital education solutions.

Hydrogen Engineering Project and Supply Chain Mastery

operations, project-management, climate-tech

Johannes Lamprecht

and 1 more

Develop and implement optimization models and project plans for hydrogen engineering projects, supply chains and operational processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in the deployment of hydrogen fuel systems for Class 8 trucks.

Operations Research Fellow

In this Build Project, you will take on the role of an Operations Research Analyst and Technical Project Manager, focusing on optimizing the supply chain and operational processes for hydrogen fuel systems and ensuring that your team of engineers is functioning at its highest level. This project is crucial for the deployment of clean fuel solutions in Class 8 trucks, aiming to reduce global emissions.

You will work on real-world challenges such as supply chain dynamics, supplier collaboration, and operational efficiency. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you will develop mathematical models, perform risk assessments, and utilize data analytics to support decision-making. This project provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a cutting-edge field that is pivotal for achieving a zero-emission future.

Develop a Digital Marketing Strategy for a Business of Your Choice

digital-marketing, content-marketing, artificial-intelligence, marketing-automation

Teena Minhas

and 1 more

Propose how a business of your choice can use multiple digital marketing channels to grow their audience.

Market Research Fellow

In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Digital Marketing Expert and design a digital marketing strategy for a business of your choice. Under the supervision of an experienced Project Leader, you'll identify target audiences, choose appropriate marketing channels, and prepare a report with your recommendations on the promotional strategy. You’ll gain solid understanding of the Kahn Retailing Success Strategy and omni-channel marketing (including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and email marketing). All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real marketing team.

Build a Virtual Office Feature for Remote Teams

software-development, software-engineering, computer-science

Xinyi Chen

and 1 more

Use JavaScript to develop a full-stack web application that allows remote teams to communicate via video calls. 

Computer Science Fellow

Web Development occupies a huge part of the total Software Engineer job market. For example, at Facebook, at least 30-40% of engineers are working on various Web Development projects. In this Build Project, you’ll wear the hat of a Software Engineer and develop a video call feature that can be used by remote teams. This task will allow you to develop skills across both front-end and back-end. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you’ll become familiar with web development frontend framework/libraries such as ReactJS and Redux and web development backend framework/libraries such as NodeJS. You’ll also get hands-on experience in using basic network concepts such as WebRTC and web socket, as well as using a real-time database. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real software engineer team. 

Make Scientific Research Results Accessible Using Interactive Design

science-communication, scientific-writing, science-journalism, scientific-illustration, molecular-biology, web-design

Alice Tirard

and 1 more

Help a peer-reviewed molecular biology study reach a non-expert audience by writing an interactive web article explaining the study's methods and findings.

Molecular Biology Fellow

From grant writing to conference talks, clear scientific communication can make or break the impact of a scientific discovery. This vital but underemphasized skill allows researchers of any level to demonstrate their understanding of complex scientific topics and bring their work to a broader audience. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Science Journalist, creating an article that uses scientific illustration and interactive design elements to explain a recent discovery in the field of molecular biology. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll select a recent paper from a prominent scientific journal and write a dense 1–2-page explainer that allows non-expert audiences to understand the findings, scientific context, and cultural relevance of the study. You'll become familiar with the writing conventions of scientific papers and have the opportunity to use data visualization and scientific illustration methods using tools like JavaScript D3 and Inkscape. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real team in biotechnology research.

Analyze the Market Potential of a Biotech Startup

biotechnology, startups, finance, due-diligence

Anjanei Dhayalan

and 1 more

Evaluate a biotech startup and learn to think like a Shark from Shark Tank.

Natural Sciences Fellow

In this Build Project, you’ll act as a Biotech Analyst, creating an Investment Research Thesis for a biotech company. Guided by an experienced Build Fellow, you'll conduct research, perform due diligence, and develop analytical models to assess the competitive landscape, regulatory environment, and market trends. You'll gain hands-on experience with industry tools, clinical trial data, and financial modeling. This practical experience offers essential skills for understanding biotech startups and navigating their risks and opportunities.

Fine-Tune a Job Title Embedding Model using Synthetic Training Data

natural-language-processing, transformers, fine-tuning, large-language-models-llms

James Alner

and 1 more

Generate synthetic training data using an LLM API to fine-tune a SBERT-based embedding model to cluster similar job titles, evaluating the improvement in the embedding’s performance for retrieval.

Data Science Fellow

Sentence embedding models have a wide variety of use cases in the Natural Language Processing (NLP) landscape, such as to facilitate vector search of unstructured text for semantically similar entries, or within a larger model to enable tasks such as regression or classification on free-text.

During this project, you will devise a prompt to generate a synthetic dataset to fine-tune a pretrained sentence embedding model to address deficiencies in the domain-specific use-case of embedding job titles. You will then use this dataset to fine-tune your pretrained model and evaluate the improvement in performance for the vector search task. Finally, you will deploy your fine-tuned model within a Streamlit web app, allowing you to easily show your model to anyone.

This project will help build your familiarity with basic prompting techniques, querying LLMs and parsing their outputs through an API, as well as popular Machine Learning and NLP frameworks (such as Hugging Face and Sentence-Transformers) and provide a compact end-to end experience from initial prototyping to dataset gathering, to training and evaluation, and finally deployment, covering the core parts of common workflows for a Data Scientist or ML Engineer.

Drone Mounted with 3D Surface Scanner for Aircraft Structural Inspections

aircraft-maintenance, drones, unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav, structural-inspections, cad

Teja Swaroop Reddy Seelam

and 1 more

Integrate a 3D Surface Scanner along with a high-definition camera on a drone to aid in Aircraft structural inspections to improve accuracy, accessibility, safety and aircraft maintenance turnover.

Aerospace Engineering Fellow

For an airline, aircraft structural inspections play a pivotal role in ensuring structural integrity and aerodynamic smoothness, making it critical for its daily operations to be run in a highly safe and efficient manner. Some of these structural inspections include but are not limited to, detailed inspection of aircraft skin waviness for aerodynamic smoothness, dents, lightning & bird strike inspections, corrosion & sealing inspections, loose/damaged fastener inspections along with damage classification and repair limits.

In this build project you will wear the hat of an airline maintenance engineer to explore use cases of integrating a 3D surface scanner to perform aircraft structural inspections. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you’ll start by identifying gaps in traditional structural inspections, develop a solution and carry-out feasibility studies. You’ll become familiar with an airline maintenance program, manuals, 3D CAD modeling software, and FAA’s regulations. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real airline maintenance engineering team.

Integrating Large Language Model (LLM) Service Using Python

python, software-development, apis, large-language-models

Yuan Sun

and 1 more

In this project we will write Python code that integrates with third-party Large Language Model (LLM) to solve real-life problems, for example automatic email replying.

Computer Science Fellow

With the rapid rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the tech industry, mastering the ability to integrate these models into software solutions has become a key skill for developers. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Software Developer and build an automated email reply system using Python and third-party LLMs. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you'll write code to integrate LLMs with email systems, enabling the generation of contextually accurate responses in real time. You'll become familiar with API integration, natural language processing, and automation tools. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real AI-driven development team, giving you valuable experience in a growing field.

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Uncovering Hidden Trends in Open Source

Develop a Tool to Store & Share Password Securely

Local-First Web Applications: Real-time, Offline and Collaborative

Build a Python Chatbot for EdTech Support

Develop a Secure SafeAPI Web Application

Prepare a Malware Analysis Report

Analyze Solar Projects Development to Inform Business Expansion

Develop an Interactive Web-Based 3D Visualization Tool

Develop a Synthetic Monitoring Platform

Develop a Decentralized Lottery System Smart Contract

Application of Markowitz Portfolio Theory to Build Your Own Portfolio

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Ruicheng Wu

Uncovering Hidden Trends in Open Source

Develop a Tool to Store & Share Password Securely

Local-First Web Applications: Real-time, Offline and Collaborative

Build a Python Chatbot for EdTech Support

Develop a Secure SafeAPI Web Application

Prepare a Malware Analysis Report

Analyze Solar Projects Development to Inform Business Expansion

Develop an Interactive Web-Based 3D Visualization Tool

Develop a Synthetic Monitoring Platform

Develop a Decentralized Lottery System Smart Contract

Application of Markowitz Portfolio Theory to Build Your Own Portfolio

Build a Full-Stack Software Application