In June, we kicked off our summer internship program. Partnering with the City University of New York (CUNY), Blackstone LaunchPad, New York City Economic Development Corporation, and Civ:Lab, we placed 80 CUNY students at tech companies within our broader network. Workforce development has always been a central part of our mission and we believe that building a diverse tech workforce enhances New York City’s innovation ecosystem.

On July 31st, we hosted an internship showcase where students presented what they worked on over the summer and shared their next steps in their career journeys. The goal of the internship program is both to provide startups with exceptional talent and to provide the students with a pathway towards a successful technology career. During the eight week program students also joined networking events, professional development classes, and courses focused on industry-specific segments like how Venture Capital works.

This year’s presenters worked in a myriad of roles including program operations, business development, marketing, and software development. 11 students will be continuing with their host company for full time or part time roles for the remainder of the summer and/or into the fall. 

As always, the best part of the showcase is hearing direct from the participants about their experience –

  • "The best part of my summer experience was being able to contribute to a project with real implications at an established startup and seeing the results of my projects living past my internship."

  • "Navigating the corporate/professional arena was a new and useful experience, from which I gained a lot of insight. I think familiarizing myself with these spaces will certainly be helpful and equip me with knowledge that will help in future career exploration paths."

  • "I loved almost every part of it but if I had to choose it would definitely be the connections I was able to make-- my workplace was super supportive and not only did I feel supported, I was able to learn so much because I never was afraid to ask ‘stupid’ questions knowing that they'd always take the time to help me.”

  • “Beyond where I specifically worked, the connections I made at Company Ventures’ events were also amazing because I was able to learn so much about other industries and fields outside my career while growing my network and building lasting connections" 

Paid summer internship programs with established companies are foundational to providing access and opportunities for the next generation of tech talent. This commitment to workforce development is essential for building a pipeline of new and innovative solutions and bolstering a resilient tech ecosystem in the city.

For more information please contact our Director of Impact Programs, Mia Manantan.