Hands-On Experiential Summer Internships with Start-Up Founders
The Paid Student Internship at Start-ups Program provides a unique opportunity for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to get hands-on, in-the-trenches experience at an innovative start-up, working directly with the founder or co-founder!
Top Reasons to Participate:
Paid Student Internships at
Start-Ups Program
- In-the-trenches work experience (no gophers here!)
- You pick the start-ups you want to interview with
- One of the highest paid UNH internship opportunities!
Important Information for Students & Start-Ups
Summer Internships now listed on Handshake.
Important Dates
ECenter Sponsored companies will be in Handshake, they will be labeled "startup" and students will search for "startup" in the Employer tab of Handshake.
Application
- The interview and selection process will be managed between the student and the start-up staff. Students should submit resume and other requested application materials to the start-up company/companies they are applying to through UNH’s Handshake platform.
- See the types of available opportunities.
- Student applicants will be able to search the Handshake system for these sponsored internships by putting “Startup” in the Employer section and the Labels box (scroll toward the bottom of the Employer page) Watch this video to see where to go in the Handshake platform.
- For full consideration follow the posted requirements for the position carefully.
- Start-up companies will set up and complete interviews and communicate the selection status to applicants directly.
- The student is responsible for looking for and responding to outreach from the start-up through their indicated email or phone number.
- Students must have at least one semester left of undergrad in order to participate as an intern in this program.
Internship Process
- The internship will take place for 10 weeks between May 19, 2025 – August 8, 2025 (this is a 12-week period). The Start-up and the intern will come to a consensus about which weeks they will be working to complete the 10-week internship.
- Mid-point and final evaluations must be completed by both the student and start-up and will be provided by ECenter staff.
- Students are required to post to social media channels and tag the ECenter regarding the internship experience at least once during the course of the 10-week internship.
- Student interns will provide a summary presentation of their learning and experience working at the start-up during the first week of classes in the Fall of 2025.
- For questions about these requirements, please contact Belle Vukovich Kenoyer at belle.kenoyer@unh.edu
Important Dates
Submissions from Startup companies are due by January 13, 2025. Any received after this date will be considered on a rolling basis as there is space in the program.
* The application is now open for Summer 2025. *
Application
Internship Process
Application Process and Requirements
- Applications will be reviewed by the ECenter on a rolling basis. Please note, remote internships are not accepted.
- Start-ups must have legitimate, professional office space (could be the UNH co-working space).
- <$5mm revenue preferred.
- Preference given to UNH alumni.
Interview Process
- The interview and selection process will be managed between the student and the start-up staff. Students should submit their resume and other requested application materials to the start-up company they are applying to through UNH’s Handshake platform.
- Start-up companies will set up and complete interviews and communicate the selection status to applicants directly.
- The student is responsible for looking for and responding to outreach from the start-up through their indicated email or phone number.
- Start-ups will notify UNH’s ECenter no later than Friday, March 28 of the students they have selected for their internships.
Financial Paperwork
- If selected, the start-up is required to provide completed financial paperwork prior to April 4, 2025.
- Paperwork requirements will be emailed to the selected start-ups.
Internship Process
- The internship will take place for 10 weeks between May 19, 2025 – August 8, 2025 (this is a 12-week period). The Start-up and the intern will come to a consensus about which weeks they will be working to complete the 10-week internship.
- Mid-point and final evaluations must be completed by both the student and start-up and will be provided by ECenter staff.
- Start-ups are required to post to social media channels tagging the ECenter regarding the internship experience at least once during the course of the 10-week internship.
- Student interns will provide a summary presentation of their learning and experience working at the start-up the first week of classes in the Fall of 2025. Start-up staff are invited to attend, but not required.
For questions about these requirements, please contact Belle Vukovich Kenoyer at belle.kenoyer@unh.edu
Summer 2025 Internship Companies
About Our Sponsors
Thanks to the generosity of the ECenter's friends and sponsors, each summer up to ten UNH Durham students from any college or major can get hands-on experience working at a start-up company. Our sponsors are generous UNH alumni donors. Priority is given to UNH alumni start-ups. We recognize that not all students have the “a-ha" idea right away and/or they want to learn about and understand the inner workings of a start-up and help in the building process. Our internship program provides that experience. This opportunity is open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
What Our Students and Start-Ups Have to Say
" I can't express how much perspective, intellect, and understanding I have gained through this internship. I found so much value in understanding the growth process of a small business, and the hard work and passion it takes to make strides forward . . . the real-world context is much different than anything I have experienced in school. . . Where I also found immense value was in sharing our lives. . . (the co-founder) is a new father [who] gave me plenty of lessons and laughs about what it means to be an up-and-coming father in our age. . . Work was really fun and I owe it to the two guys I got to work with. - Dartagnan Birnie, '25, intern at Account Tree
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"Our intern's contributions to our company have been nothing short of exceptional. . . From meticulously crafting detailed technical specifications to demonstrating an uncany ability to grasp and implement complex design concepts . . . His contributions have significantly advanced our company's goals." - Kevin Rossi, '16, co-founder Account Tree
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Meet Our Interns
Other Internships Available Through UNH Career and Professional Success (CaPS)
Internships provide real world experience—a key factor employers look for when hiring. Internships encourage you to apply your class knowledge to solve problems and contribute to an organization, develop transferable skills that you can use to compete for entry-level jobs, and expand your professional network. There is no substitute for experience, so the more experience you seek out through informational interviews, job shadowing, and internships, the more prepared you will be to compete for the jobs you want after graduation.
Thank You to Our ECenter Corporate Sponsors
Premier Sponsors
Venture Plus Sponsors
Venture Sponsors
