The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute (UEI) needed help developing an early-stage business plan for 6to16, an innovative readiness solution for historically underserved students. The program—a curriculum of online learning experiences that provides support to students through middle school, high school, and college—was in the pilot stage and in need of a multiyear funding stream when BCG came on board.
Working closely with UEI leadership, BCG made key design choices and conducted competitive analysis to identify potential markets for entry. The team also interviewed experts and potential customers to create a market and customer segmentation. BCG then modeled operational and financial needs across a range of possible growth scenarios and developed an initial pricing model.
UEI successfully completed all initial hiring and has continued to scale up within Chicago Public Schools. The organization formalized an important partnership with KIPP, a leading network of college-prep public schools, for further expansion and experimentation.
BCG also helped UEI apply for a large grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in order to expand its program.
The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute (UEI) is dedicated to producing reliably excellent urban schooling. UEI conducts applied research, prepares teachers, operates multiple campuses, and creates proven tools and solutions. BCG has worked closely with UEI for more than a decade, most recently partnering with the impact unit that brings UEI's research-based tools to scale.