10 Startup Internships for High School Students
- Estelle Reardon
- Nov 17
- 7 min read
Topics We Cover:
If you dream of becoming the next Melanie Perkins, Yvon Chouinard, or Ben Silbermann, a startup internship for high schoolers can be just the thing, offering first-hand experience in everything from ideation to execution.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Before exploring our list of startup internships for high school students, it’s important to understand the value of these opportunities. A high school startup internship, and internships in general, provide a considerable increase to a student’s admission odds at a highly ranked college or university. According to the consultancy PRISM, almost three in four students at U.S. News Top 50 universities completed at least one internship in high school.
Engaging in a high school internship demonstrates to colleges that a student has pursued their interests outside of the classroom and built real-world experience in their field of interest. Furthermore, they’ve gained firsthand insight into potential careers and work environments.
Completing a high school internship also increases a student’s chances of earning a college internship, and makes it easier to recruit into college clubs and organizations like entrepreneurship clubs, innovation labs, pitch competitions, and startup challenges.
How to Find Startup Internships for High School Students
Online search tools and lists are a proven way to discover startup internships for high schoolers. StandOutSearch is especially valuable for high schoolers aiming to secure an internship, as it is the largest free online database of opportunities for students. StandOutSearch is easily searched using a number of filters, including:
Location
Field of interest
Format (in-person, online, hybrid)
Compensation (paid or unpaid)
Another useful resource is a list of summer programs and internships collected by MIT Admissions.
Official internships are competitively easy to find, but they’re also competitive. In general, there are more high school students interested in internships than open positions. Because of this, students determined to land an internship will want to form a cold outreach strategy—a plan for contacting potential internship providers to secure a position. Many students find cold outreach intimidating, but the template and tips included below should help ease their anxiety.
10 Startup Internships for High School Students
The majority of the internships below are extremely competitive and have acceptance rates under 20%. Because of this, we recommend applying to at least five programs. If an opportunity catches your eye, take a second to mark it on your calendar so you don’t miss out!
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect helps top high school students make a real impact in the professional world. Through training led by alumni from leading universities, students learn how to recruit for and excel in internships across fields like the arts, business, law, and STEM. After training, each student is matched with a two-month remote internship at a company founded by a top-university alumnus.
Backed by StandOutSearch—the largest free database of high school internships—and supported by the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center, StandOut Connect has been featured in Forbes. Students leave the program having led a meaningful project, with many earning the chance to continue their internship beyond the program.
Ages: 14-18
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Students develop the skills and knowledge needed to make a difference in the world during this three-week intensive entrepreneurial boot camp. Participants work in teams to start a new venture—like a startup business, nonprofit, or advocacy campaign—that disrupts the traditional order. Students take classes on a host of entrepreneur-focused topics, including:
Product ideation and development
Customer research
Branding
Marketing
Startup finances
Throughout the program, participants develop valuable soft skills, such as teamwork and communication.
Ages: Rising Juniors or Seniors
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
This startup-focused, ten-week summer internship is an excellent opportunity for high schoolers interested in launching a career in venture capital. Interns assist with tasks like:
Investment analysis
Portfolio monitoring
Deal sourcing
Market research
Administrative support
Ultimately, interns gain hands-on experience working with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. It also provides students with an exceptional opportunity to grow their networks within the industry.
Ages: Rising Juniors
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 31
This six-day summer program provided by the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business explores the intersection of technology and business. During this intensive program, participants learn about fields like:
Business analytics
Coding
Computer technology
Entrepreneurship
Personal branding
Supply chain management
Students also develop valuable soft skills like teamwork and leadership, grow their network, and build college readiness through ACT prep sessions and seminars focused on how to apply to college and college life.
Ages: 14-19
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Year-round
Deadline: TBD
Through this paid internship program, students dive into the startup ecosystem, connect with seasoned entrepreneurs, and build community with peers from diverse backgrounds—all while developing and pitching their own business ideas.
Led by experienced founders, the program helps participants expand their professional network, collaborate with fellow startup-minded students, and explore the wide range of career paths available to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ages: Rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Timeline: Year-round
Deadline: TBD
Get Girls Going (GGG) empowers Black and Brown teen girls to make a difference in other people’s lives and solve problems by working with others. During this paid program, teen entrepreneurs are supported by like-minded peers as they develop their idea—ultimately pitching it at GGG’s Demo Day.
Ages: Rising Juniors
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 31
The Accounting and Information Management (AIM) Academy is a six-day summer program introducing high school students to the fields of accounting and information management and covering topics including:
Accounting
Entreprenuership
Finance
Additionally, students engage in college-readiness activities—prepping for the ACT, gaining insight into the admissions process, and exploring campus life. They also take part in a financial literacy workshop, building a strong understanding of the importance of financial security.
Ages: 14-16
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: April 14
This free five-week summer program at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering explores the intersection of infrastructure, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Participants work in small teams to design prototypes for smart city solutions—gaining hands-on experience with ideation, prototyping, and presentation, while also developing teamwork, entrepreneurial thinking, and design skills.
The program culminates with participants presenting their prototypes to friends, family, and industry professionals.
9. Hk Maker Lab
Ages: Rising Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: December 5
The HK Maker Lab is a six-week summer program blending biotechnology and business—students learn design fundamentals by creating a biomedical device to solve a real health problem. Participants prototype, test, and build a business plan for their invention, then pitch it to leaders in the biomedical industry.
Students who complete the program can enroll in NY Bioforce—a program that includes a paid summer internship—the following year.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: Nationwide
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
While not strictly startup-centered, this prestigious eight-week program helps participants develop the skills needed to build their own businesses. Participants get hands-on experience serving their communities and working with local nonprofits while gaining work experience and building skills.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If none of the options above align with what you’re looking for, consider turning to cold outreach to uncover startup internship opportunities. It might seem daunting, but the steps outlined below make the process straightforward.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
Social networking platforms like LinkedIn are a great place to discover potential internship providers. Startups always need an extra set of hands. Look for startups where your specific skills are best applied—whether it’s helping with basic coding, managing social media accounts, or writing content.
When reaching out to startups about internship opportunities, try to connect personally with the person you’re contacting—whether it’s through a shared hobby, a passion for a particular sports team, or attending the same high school. One final note: use caution when contacting professionals you haven’t met before—it’s always safest to interview or meet virtually.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
Online university staff directories can be a useful way to find professors to approach for research opportunities. However, remote positions for high school students are often scarce. In most cases, high school interns assist with basic lab duties—like cleaning equipment or providing administrative assistance—which usually don’t demand specialized skills.
One exception is a computational research internship, which often requires basic knowledge of Python or R to analyze datasets. Fortunately, you can learn these skills independently and for free in a few months using resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody and R Programming.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
Set a goal of sending at least 50 inquiries to potential internship providers. When emailing, include a Google Drive link to your resume—links are preferred over PDFs or Docs, which can sometimes affect deliverability. Make sure the share settings allow anyone with the link to view it, and highlight relevant work experience, such as a website you built, a flyer you designed, or blogs you’ve written.
Email Template for Finding a High School InternshipÂ
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.Â
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].Â
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,Â
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].Â
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!Â
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Landing a high school internship or research position—whether through formal programs or cold outreach—requires determination. It can take time and effort to secure the right opportunity, but the skills and experience you gain will give you a valuable head start in your career. If this article was helpful, feel free to bookmark it or pass it along to a friend.
Good luck with your search!