Consulting vs. Startup Internship

This is a fantastic decision point, and you're in a highly enviable spot. If your non-negotiable goal is to break into T2 or MBB, the choice here is between safety and leverage. Another T3 internship is the safe option; it confirms your competence but keeps you squarely positioned within that tier on paper. Recruiters reviewing thousands of applications look for differentiators, not confirmations.

The Series A startup role, especially as a Founder's Associate under ex-MBB leadership, provides the necessary leverage and differentiation. Consulting firms are increasingly impressed by candidates who demonstrate immediate ownership, comfort with P&L consequences, and high-velocity decision-making—skills that typically take years to cultivate in a junior consulting track. The fact that the founders are MBB alumni is a crucial signal; you will be working on problems that they know are strategically relevant and that mimic the complexity of real case interviews.

This means that instead of having a resume full of similar project descriptions, you will have a story of designing and executing a GTM strategy, raising capital, or implementing an operational efficiency improvement with measurable financial impact. When you convert that experience into interview narratives, your stories will be exponentially stronger and more unique than those of peers who spent their time doing slide formatting or desk research on a typical consulting internship.

Take the startup role. Treat it as an extremely intense, hyper-focused case study environment. Focus fiercely on quantifiable results and strategic initiatives you owned completely. Use that experience to pivot directly to T2/MBB full-time recruiting efforts next year.

All the best!

Depends on what is missing from your profile right now.

If you already have consulting on your resume, another T3 internship adds less. You have proven you can do the work. A startup role shows range and entrepreneurial thinking. MBB likes candidates who have seen different environments. Founder's Associate type roles can give you great stories for interviews, ownership, ambiguity, direct impact.

If you do not have much consulting experience yet, ADL plus the Simon-Kucher offer gives you a clearer path. Two recognizable names. Easy story to tell. Less explaining to do.

Here is the real question: what do you want to talk about in interviews? The best behavioral answers come from work you actually found interesting. If the startup excites you more, that will come through.

One practical note. If you take the startup, make sure you can point to something concrete you did. "I worked closely with the founders" sounds fluffy. "I built the sales pipeline from zero to X" or "I led diligence on two acquisition targets" gives interviewers something to grab onto.

Both paths can get you to MBB. Pick the one where you will do the most interesting work.

Hi there,

If your goal is T2 or MBB, another consulting internship at ADL is the more direct and lower-risk path, especially with a Simon-Kucher offer already lined up. It reinforces your consulting profile, builds relevant skills, and keeps your story consistent for recruiting.

A Series A startup role can still be valuable, particularly if the work is strategic and you have close exposure to former MBB founders, but it’s less predictable in how recruiters will view it. You’d need to clearly translate the experience into problem-solving, ownership, and impact.

If you want the safest signal for T2/MBB, choose consulting. If you already have solid consulting credentials and want differentiation, the startup can work, but it requires stronger storytelling.

Best,
Evelina

Hi there, 

I am not sure T3 experience will help you that much with T2 or (especially) MBB. 

If you can get to know more ex-MBB people in the start up and get them to be happy to invest / help you, that might be a good way to get connected to more current MBB folks who might become potential referral down the road...

Just my 2 cents.

Emily

Hello!

Sounds like some great options to choose from. 
Not go to be too the point. But if your goal is to be in consulting (T2 or MBB) then the experience at ADL or SK will be quite relevant to getting into a T2 or MBB. 

However, this doesn't mean that doing a start up won't also get you there, but experience at a consulting firm will be quite advantageous when you're looking to switch firms.

Hope that helps!

hey there :)

Both options can work, but given your clear goal of T2 or MBB, the ADL internship is the safer and more direct signal, especially with a Simon Kucher offer already lined up, as it shows consistency and commitment to consulting. The startup role can be a great story if you take real ownership and drive impact, but it is more of a bet and needs to be framed very clearly in interviews. If you want to maximize odds short term, consulting wins, if you want a differentiated angle and are comfortable with some risk, the startup can pay off. Happy to chat more if helpful.

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there,

Both options are different but equally with potential for you to move into MBB. Think in this case, it's more in the details - what type of projects you'd eventually do at Simon-Kucher vs. type of responsibilities you'd have at the start-up and how big the start-up can scale to be.

Honestly, impossible to estimate which one gives you a better outcome. 

You seem already well-positioned for an MBB transition even without this additional internship. 

So try to think which internship attracts you more and why. That's likely where the opportunity is. 

Best,
Cristian