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Carlson Analytics Lab

The Carlson Analytics Lab provides project-based data analytics consulting services to client companies and organizations. Project work is conducted by skilled graduate students from our top-ranked MS in Business Analytics program, under the supervision of Carlson School faculty experts.

Companies that partner with the Carlson Analytics Lab can expand their internal analytics capabilities, get quality work to advance business initiatives, and meet emerging data science talent.

 

Contact the Lab

 

 

Turn data into solutions that drive your business forward.

In the Carlson Analytics Lab, graduate student consultants use analytics, machine learning, AI, and data science to solve real business challenges for client companies.

 

Solutions that span the analytics spectrum.

Carlson Analytics Lab student consultants use an array of approaches — from exploratory analysis and predictive models to causal inference and optimization — to answer a variety of business questions for our client companies.

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DESCRIPTIVE
What happened?
 

exploratory analysis
visualization
dashboards

icon of bar graph and arrow indicating growth
PREDICTIVE
What's ahead?

 

data mining
machine learning
forecasting

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CAUSAL
Did x truly cause y?
 

a/b testing
experimentation
econometrics

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PRESCRIPTIVE
What should we do?
 

optimization
simulation
rules


 

Expand your internal analytics capabilities.

Every organization is unique. Some are just starting to tap into the power of data. Others have an established analytics practice. Wherever you are, the Carlson Analytics Lab can help your organization use data to solve business challenges. Various project-based engagement options allow you to add bench strength when you need it. 

 

Group collaboration in breakout room
Project Ideation Workshop

If you need to design a data-driven project from square one, consider attending an ideation workshop. You and your team will learn from Carlson School faculty experts as they help you define and scope an analytics project.

2 days | $5,000

MSBA Analytics Lab
Live Case Competition

During these focused, four-week engagements, multiple teams of graduate student devise different solutions to your business problem, giving you a range of perspectives from bright young minds.

4-5 weeks | $10,000 

MSBA student team
Experiential Learning Project

For in-depth analysis on a key business question, consider a semester-long engagement. We'll assign a team of 4-6 graduate student consultants to work on your analytics project at a fraction of the market rate for comparable work.

14 weeks | $30,000


Business value for every client.

Carlson Analytics Lab student consultants can help unlock the power and potential in your data. Since 2014, we've worked with dozens of organizations, from startups and nonprofits to midsize businesses and Fortune 100 companies. Our work spans industries and functional areas and is customized to meet the unique needs of each client.
 

130+

projects completed

70+

clients across industries

650+

student careers launched

agriculture • b2b • consulting • consumer packaged goods • entertainment • financial services • government • healthcare • hospitality • insurance • manufacturing • nonprofits • retail • social services • technology • transportation

Real Impact

Carlson Analytics Lab students uncovered $1.6 million in potential revenue for the Minnesota Wild. "It was absolutely stunning," says Katie Vannelli, director of revenue marketing for the Minnesota Wild.

Teddy Bekele

We've always had great success with the projects that the students have engaged in, and we always get great insights out of it. In a lot of cases actually, the students will end up working for our organization in the future, so that's also a great benefit of doing these initiatives. 

Teddy Bekele
Chief Technology Officer, Land O' Lakes
Veronika Torarp

Just to get an external perspective and engaging with the community is really valuable to us. Hearing from students what their questions are can help us think about a problem that we're used to, differently. 

Veronika Torarp
Partner, Strategy&, part of the PwC network
Demitri McGee

These are some really top-notch students. The quality of the work they’re doing—you’re not going to get that quality at that price elsewhere. More companies and nonprofits should definitely engage with this program.

Demitri McGee
financial coach & housing counselor, Build Wealth MN
Susan DeFranco

I would highly recommend working with the Carlson Analytics Lab. It's clear that the program does a great job training [students] in both analytics capabilities but also in terms of how to work with business partners and how to be impactful for a business. 

Susan DeFranco
Director of Consumer Insights, Sleep Number
Michael Warnken

Through this project, we gained interesting insights into our customers that we had suspected, but not had the time, tools, or resources to validate. The analytical skills these students brought to our project were tremendous.

Michael Warnken,
Senior Director of E-Commerce, Sun Country Airlines
Katie Vannelli

I would highly recommend working within a program like this, because not only are you getting students that are driven for their educational value, but you're getting a faculty team that supports them in providing professional results.

Katie Vannelli
Director of Revenue Marketing, MN Wild Hockey

Pushing Forward

Land O' Lakes Chief Technology Officer Teddy Bekele talks about his company's partnership with the Carlson Analytics Lab.

Carlson Analytics Lab