What if a career in consulting no longer depended on expensive coaching or a high priced MBA?
That is exactly the future Milad Mohammadi, co-founder of
Lowering the threshold to consulting
Consulting is a highly attractive career path, yet breaking into the field is challenging. Case interviews often form a major barrier, requiring candidates to analyze complex business problems under time pressure.
Many rely on professional coaching, but the costs can be high. PrepareConsult offers a more accessible alternative by combining AI tools with peer to peer practice.
“You don’t have to have an expensive MBA or private coach to become a good consultant,” Milad says.
Born from personal experience
The idea grew out of Milad’s own career transition. After a couple years in corporate law, he realized the field was not the right fit. Consulting appealed to him more, but affordable preparation options were limited.
While living in New York, he and other prospective candidates organized a free meeting where candidates practiced cases together. Many participants successfully landed consulting roles, yet the model proved difficult to sustain once people stopped returning after getting hired.
That realization led Milad and his co-founder Sahhas Nathella to identifying the potential for a startup.
From New York to Leiden
Milad later relocated to the Netherlands through his consulting role, where he helped establish a telecom practice from the ground up. He has now been living in Leiden for several years. “It truly feels like home.”
As PrepareConsult gained traction, he joined Startup Play and later Venture Academy to strengthen his entrepreneurial skills.
Learning to build and lead
Coming from a corporate background, entrepreneurship required a new mindset. The programs provided guidance on strategy, marketing, and legal structures.
One defining lesson centered on building his team, Milad learned how essential clear roles and expectations are.
“Multiple experiences helped us move forward much stronger.”
Rethinking the business model
At first, the team believed marketing was their biggest challenge. Despite strong efforts, converting users into paying customers remained difficult. Eventually, they realized the real issue was the business model.
Students tend to be highly cost conscious, making direct sales challenging. PrepareConsult is therefore shifting toward partnerships with universities and companies that provide platform access to their students.
“The coaches and fellow founders are always willing to support you and connect you with the right people. They push you in a positive way.”
A motivating environment
When Milad has to describe Venture Academy in one word, he doesn’t have to think long: motivational.
“The coaches and fellow founders are always willing to support you and connect you with the right people. They push you in a positive way.”
Although the team has not yet secured a permanent workspace due to cost considerations, joining an environment like PLNT remains a priority once the first contracts are signed.
“It brings energy and makes the entrepreneurial journey even more exciting.”
His advice to early stage founders is simple: if you are serious about building a startup, surround yourself with people who help you grow.
Opening consulting to more diverse talent
Milad is especially proud of his team’s persistence. Despite setbacks, they kept moving forward.
Looking ahead, PrepareConsult aims to make consulting accessible to people from a wider range of academic backgrounds and to professionals who may not have the financial resources for an MBA.
“Anyone with the motivation and potential should have the opportunity to succeed.”
His vision is clear: a future where talent matters more than privilege.