Summer Internship with North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center
Keke Genio, Daytime MBA 2026
What does it take to help a health-tech startup go from idea to impact? This summer, I had the chance to find out. I’m Keke Genio, Daytime MBA ’26, and I worked as a Technology Commercialization Consultant with the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). I supported early-stage ventures ranging from a sleep technology company pioneering Fabric-as-a-Sensor (FaaS) to a biotech startup developing cancer immunotherapy.
The role pushed me to combine depth of analysis with breadth of problem-solving. I applied Fuqua frameworks; like price waterfall analysis, customer sentiment research, and radar analysis, to help founders refine their go-to-market strategies and investor pitches. For one startup, I developed a competitive landscape to sharpen positioning; for another, I identified target segments and built a marketing plan grounded in data. Organizing my work weekly kept me focused and ensured I delivered insights that moved the needle.
Thanks to the support of Fuqua’s Summer Internship Fund, I was able to pursue this mission-driven role and see firsthand how business skills can accelerate impact. Beyond frameworks, I learned that effective advising is about asking the right questions, listening with empathy, and navigating uncertainty with confidence.
I hope my contributions will help these companies bring their solutions to scale, improving health outcomes for millions. Moving forward, I’m excited to carry these lessons into my career and my leadership at Fuqua, advancing innovation where business and impact meet.
This internship was supported by the Summer Internship Fund, which enables first-year Duke MBA students to learn about the rewards and challenges of using business to drive positive impact without making a significant financial sacrifice. The program enables organizations that otherwise could not afford to hire MBA student interns to benefit from students’ expertise. Funds are raised through student fundraising and from donors who believe in the mission of the program. If you would like to contribute, you can donate online using your credit card.