Summer Internship Program
Launch Tennessee provides connections.
Summer Internship Program
Launch Tennessee provides connections.
Applications are now closed for the 2023 Summer Internship Program.
Over 320 undergraduate and graduate students have participated to-date in Tennessee’s startup community via paid summer internships.
Our interns work at a high-growth startup, venture capital firm, or with one of our regional entrepreneur centers partners across Tennessee.
Student Details
Launch Tennessee Internship Program alumni consistently share that the diverse experiences and relationships they develop in the summer program are memorable, enjoyable, and highly relevant to anyone pursuing an innovative career path.
Tracks
The Launch Tennessee Internship Program offers three different tracks — Startup, Ecosystem Builder, and Venture Capital — to provide interns with hands-on experience in their chosen field.
Startup
Interns will have the opportunity to work with a Tennessee-based startup, learning on the job from successful entrepreneurs.
Ecosystem Builder
The Ecosystem Builder Track allows interns to work at Tennessee-based entrepreneur centers, which support founders in cities statewide.
The entrepreneur centers are:
Venture Capital
Venture capital firms offer interns the chance to work with a venture capital team that’s investing in startups.
Internship Details
- Compensation begins at $15 per hour
- Participate in the program from May to August 2023, with flexible start and end dates depending on student schedules and company preferences
- Report directly to a supervisor at the host company or entrepreneur center
- Have access to a mentor(s) or advisor(s) in addition to their assigned supervisor
- Participate in a Launch Tennessee onboarding event, join professional development events, and have the opportunity to participate in the Summer Summit
Eligibility
- Currently enrolled as a college student (including in doctoral or master’s programs) or recent graduate (no earlier than December 2022)
- Ability to relocate to Tennessee for the internship term OR work remotely
- Interested in entrepreneurship and working in a flexible, ever-changing environment
- Curious and adaptable
- A strong communicator
- Interested in entrepreneurship and innovation, startups, startup ecosystems, venture capital, and technology
Applications are now closed for the 2023 Summer Internship Program.
Host Companies
We invite Tennessee startup companies and entrepreneur centers to apply to host a summer intern. Launch Tennessee will facilitate intern recruitment, and onboarding support, and may share costs for the student stipend. For selected interns, we’ll offer networking and professional development opportunities throughout the summer.
Program Details
- Host companies may recruit their own student candidates and are not required to select from Launch Tennessee’s applicant pool
- Interns will be on a full-time schedule (40 hours/week) over a 12-14 week period (depending on students’ school schedules)
- Host companies are not guaranteed an intern.
- Successful placements require mutual interest from the company and the intern applicant, as well as adherence to the timeline and program requirements
- Host companies are responsible for intern payment throughout the duration of the internship period
- Host companies may apply for more than one intern on a single application. If so, please leave a description for each intern when prompted.
Benefits
- Program promotion to recruit student applicants
- Applicant screening Selected candidate information packets to host companies
- Intern management plans, as needed, in conjunction with host companies
- Student contracts
- Networking and learning events for interns
- Social media platforms and other opportunities for alumni and current participants to connect on
- Education for interns on resources in the startup community
- Exit surveys and program data
Requirements
- Define a specific project or general scope of work for the intern position and create a management plan
- Participate in the interview process
- Launch Tennessee conducts the initial review of applications
- Launch Tennessee matches candidates with companies and share student applications via airtable
- Host companies reach out to candidates and conduct interviews
- Host companies extend offers to selected candidate(s), once accepted notify Launch Tennessee
Assign a supervisor for the intern and ensure weekly check-ins - Identify a mentor for the intern (other than the supervisor)
- Provide a portion of the total $7,200 stipend (amount dependent on funding provided by Launch Tennessee)
Eligibility
- A Tennessee-based startup, entrepreneur center, and venture firm
- Majority-based in Tennessee and remain in the state through the summer 2023 internship term
- Clear and meaningful internship scope of work for potential intern
Applications are now closed for the 2023 Summer Internship Program.
Past Host Companies
