Miami Tech Works and the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation have partnered together to launch EPIC (Employer Provided Innovation Challenges).

EPIC is designed to offer students high-quality work-based learning experiences that are authentic, employer-designed, problem-based, relevant and prepare students with job-ready skills.

With this opportunity, local businesses collaborate with students from Miami Dade College, with backgrounds in technology, business, data science, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. These students are equipped with practical skills in areas such as business analysis, marketing strategy, software development/engineering, user experience design, and research, and are eager to apply their knowledge to solve real business challenges.

Student + Employer Collaboration

Students and Employers will collaborate on challenges by exploring innovative approaches to problem solving, proposing solutions, and presenting final recommendations and deliverables upon conclusion of the project.

Resources needed

1. A clearly defined project challenge (preferably aligned with a current business objective)
2. Designated company mentor(s) to meet with student teams weekly or biweekly
3. A list of defined student roles and expectations for each project
4. Access to any relevant data, tools, or systems necessary to complete the project
5. Optional: participation in kick-off and final presentation sessions

Resources Provided

1. Support from Miami Tech Works in project scoping and student-team coordination
2. Templates for project planning, role definition, and milestone tracking
3. Midpoint check-in to ensure alignment and progress
4. Final presentation event facilitated by Miami Tech Works
5. Post-project feedback form and opportunity to engage in future rounds

Project Examples

Miami Tech Works is seeking real-world, innovation-driven projects that allow students to contribute meaningfully to your organization while developing professional skills. Projects should reflect challenges your business is currently facing—or opportunities you're exploring—and can be scoped to a 6–8 week timeline.

Ideal projects are:

• Cross-functional in nature (involving multiple skillsets)
• Research-based or solution-focused
• Scoped clearly with measurable objectives
• Open to creativity, collaboration, and fresh perspectives

Examples of Projects Students Can Complete

Market Analysis & Strategy:

• Identify new customer segments or opportunities for expansion using data-driven research and competitive analysis.

Product Design & User Experience:

• Conduct user interviews, develop user personas, and create wireframes or UX/UI prototypes for a new or existing product.

Social Media & Digital Marketing Strategy:

• Audit your digital presence, develop a content strategy, and propose a targeted social media campaign.

Data Analytics Dashboard:

• Build a dashboard using tools like Power BI or Tableau to visualize key metrics for internal reporting or customer insights.

Process Optimization:

• Analyze internal workflows and propose improvements using Lean or Agile frameworks to enhance team productivity.

AI/Automation Use Case Exploration:

• Identify an area of your business where AI or automation could be implemented, research potential tools, and present a pilot concept.

Customer Journey Mapping:

• Deep dive into customer feedback, map out user touchpoints, and recommend service design enhancements.

Additional employer criteria

Employers must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this opportunity:

Do you have experience working with students? If so, please elaborate  

How are you ensuring that this project is beneficial to the learner?  

I attest that this Challenge is designed as a specific project to support learners and is not filling missing headcount for my organization.

What technologies, tools, or platforms will students need to be familiar with for these projects?  

Who from your company will be mentoring the students?  

Are there any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements students will need to sign?  

Project Outcomes (Student Activities to earn a skills badge):

Participants will engage in a team-based, real-world innovation challenge directly aligned with a business problem or opportunity provided by the employer. Over the course of the project, students will:

• Conduct stakeholder and industry research
• Analyze company goals, constraints, and potential strategies
• Develop and evaluate potential solutions through cross-functional collaboration
• Utilize tools such as project management platforms, collaborative workspaces, and presentation software to simulate a professional work environment
• Participate in team meetings, milestone check-ins, and feedback sessions with employer mentors

These activities are designed to build workplace competencies in problem-solving, communication, collaboration, project management, and technical proficiency relevant to their field of study.

Project Deliverables (What Students Will Submit to the Employer):

Each student team will submit the following deliverables:

Project Charter (PDF or Word Document)

• Summary of the business challenge
• Defined goals, scope, success metrics, and student roles
• Timeline and major milestones

Research Report / Insights Brief (PDF)

• Industry research, stakeholder analysis, or market analysis
• Supporting data, user interviews, or benchmarking (as applicable)
• Problem framing and rationale behind proposed direction

Solution Proposal Deck (PowerPoint or Google Slides)

• Clear articulation of the team’s proposed solution
• Visuals, user flowcharts, diagrams, or mock-ups (if relevant)
• Explanation of potential business impact or ROI

Final Presentation (Live or Pre-recorded Video + Slide Deck)

• 10–15 minute presentation delivered to employer stakeholders
• Includes Q&A session or feedback opportunity

Reflection Summary (1-page individual student write-up in PDF)

• Each student reflects on their role, learning experience, and takeaways
• Helps validate individual contribution and learning outcomes