Summer Internship with North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center
Sidharth Dharmmireddy, Daytime MBA 2026
This summer, I interned with the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) as a Technology Commercialization Consultant. I worked with two early-stage ventures: a life sciences client developing a novel drug delivery mechanism and an industrials client improving the refining of a rare earth metal. My role centered on market analysis, customer discovery, and go-to-market strategy development to help these teams translate technical innovation into viable business models.
I drew on skills from my MBA coursework in strategy, finance, marketing, and operations to deliver tangible results. For the life sciences client, I built a market assessment that clarified the most attractive applications for the technology and designed process improvements that reduced R&D costs. For the industrials client, I mapped their value chain, identified where their refining technology could capture the greatest value, and developed a commercialization roadmap that prioritized high-potential feedstock pathways. In both cases, I helped the organizations clarify their strategic positioning and identify opportunities for external collaboration.
Beyond the deliverables, this internship taught me how to bridge two worlds: the technical expertise of scientists and engineers and the strategic perspective of business leaders. I plan to carry this forward in my career by continuing to help innovators bring complex technologies to market.