Resources for Businesses

Hire CU Denver students, collaborate with the Institute for International Business, and discover funding for business professionals to increase competitiveness.

Hire CU Denver students and Alumni

International Business Consulting Courses

An integral part of the International Business Consulting class offered by the Institute for International Business is inviting practicing international businesses to present projects to students, who then use consulting skills learned in the class to directly engage with and present strategies to company executives.

To have your business featured in an International Business Consulting course, contact Professor Merrily Kautt.

Previous International Business Consulting Cases

2019, 2018, 2016

Mikron Corporation Denver: Colorado USA

The company, specializing in scalable and customized assembly systems, develops, produces, and markets highly precise, productive, and adaptable automation solutions, machining systems, and cutting tools for global customers .

Projects: Blue Ocean projects – all three are classified

Reported to General Manager

Outcomes: Implementable strategic plans adopted locally and presented to Swiss-based headquarters for dissemination to global subsidiaries.

2018 and 2015

Solix Technologies, Inc: Santa Clara, California, USA

A leading global big data application provider that empowers data-driven enterprises with optimized infrastructure: data security and advanced analytics by achieving Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) goals.

Projects: Analyze competitive market positions for new product development and assess General Data Protection Rule (GDPR) impacts on company's operations; assist with market development planning for Japan and China expansions

Reported to CEO and Founder

Outcomes: Company adopted strategic recommendations; ongoing; company hired one graduate student. Company adopted and implemented market adaption plans for Japan and China; company hired three graduate students full time

2018 and 2016

Grease Monkey International: Denver, Colorado, USA

The Grease Monkey brand currently operates more than 300 centers internationally with operations in Mexico, China, Colombia and Saudi Arabia It is the nation’s largest independent franchisor of automotive oil change centers serving more than 2 million customers each year.

Projects: Determine feasibility of Colombian market for expansion; Identify optimal Canadian metropolitan opportunities for unique franchise entries, assess competitor positions and provide national and provincial employee standards

Reported to CEO and Vice President of International Business

Outcomes: Opened Colombian franchises and hired one full-time intern; Canada entry opportunity under board of directors consideration

2017

TranS1 Spine, USA

A pioneer in spine technology innovation; designed, developed, and commercialized transformational approaches to the spine used by thousands of surgeons to minimize the damage associated with traditional surgical approaches.

Project: Identify and develop global medical tourism business opportunities

Reported to CEO

Outcomes: Implementable strategic entry plan for Dubai and Grand Bahamas; hired one graduate student for professional marketing position

The company has since been acquired.

2015 - on

City and County of Denver: Colorado USA

 Since 2015, the Denver Mayor's Office of Economic Development (OED) has referred small-medium sized companies to our International Business Consulting graduate-level course for global expansion project assistance. OED has also provided funding for one intern per company project to further implement the project internally upon course completion. A sampling of Denver-based companies receiving consulting and full-time intern services includes: Denver Beer Company – Japan; Aspen Distribution Company – foreign trade zone development (twice; Arthroventions – Japan

AppIt Ventures: advise on cultural implications of Indian corporate acquisition
Arthroventions LLC: Japan
Aspen Distribution, Inc.: Foreign Trade Zone development for US and global companies
Car Wash Express – 2 projects: Poland and China
Clayton-Stratmor Co: Saudi Arabia commercial real estate
Codi Manufacturing: Latin America and China
CQG, Inc.: stock exchange software for China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia
Denver Beer Company: craft beer exports to Japan
Grease Monkey International – 2 projects: franchises in Canada and Colombia, Peru
Kaman Precision Products – Instrumentation Systems: China
Mikron Corporation Denver – 3 projects: Blue Ocean strategies for future global technology development; alternative 3D manufacturing processes; future water, agriculture technologies
Molson Coors International: Beer exports into Dubai
Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resorts (aka Morgan-Reed Corp.): tourism marketing, investments in China and Middle East
NOKERO: solar lamps India, Mexico, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia
Propelair, UK corporation for no-flush toilet US market assessment
Solix Technologies, Inc: GDPR exposure; blockchain vulnerabilities; Artificial IntelligenceI – 2 projects: Japan and China, UK
TranS1 –determine L6, L7 spinal surgical implant device market opportunities for medical tourism clinics in Central America, India and United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
Zoll Medical: assess emergency equipment urban market opportunities for South Korea, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore

Additional Resources

European Union Visitors Program - 5 to 8 days of meetings with EU officials at EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg and/or Luxembourg for US government officials (local, state and federal), journalists, trade unionists, educators, officials of non-profit and non-governmental organizations and other professionals in their mid-20s to mid-40s with career-related interests in the European Union, co-sponsored by the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Colorado International Trade Office Export Development Grants - awards for small Colorado companies to develop new export sales by offsetting a portion of the cost for them to travel to an international market and meet with potential buyers, distributors, and/or sales agents.

Exporting from Colorado - for Colorado manufacturers or professional service providers looking to start or expand international trade efforts, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to create and retain jobs by helping Colorado companies expand and diversify their markets, as well as build the state’s identity as an international business center. The international staff assists companies in obtaining the information, skills, resources and contacts they need to successfully export goods and services worldwide.

Chamber of the Americas - an organization to facilitate commerce and understanding between the businesses and governments of the Western Hemisphere.

Colorado European Union Center of Excellence - a center at the University of Colorado Boulder to promote the understanding of the European Union and transatlantic (EU-US) relations.

Institute of International Education - a large global international education and training organization, founded in 1919. While this organization is not specific to business, it is an excellent organization to network and learn more about international issues.

Opportunities Without Borders - an online network connecting university students and faculty, small and medium-sized businesses, and global market resources.

TiE Rockies - an organization for students, faculty and business members to learn from the successes and failures of globally recognized entrepreneurs.

Women in International Trade - a national organization with a Denver chapter that focuses on professional development in international trade-related careers through seminars, conferences, dinners and mentorships.

World Trade Center Denver - an organization that provides a wide variety of international business services to business and government agencies. The organization is a member of the World Trade Centers Association, a global association of nearly 300 World Trade Centers.

Institute for International Business

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