NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS

The Entrepreneurial Internship Program (EIP) is unlike traditional college internships in a number of ways. Students participating in the EIP are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship. Interns are placed with small, entrepreneurial companies, most with less than 20 employees. Companies will have the ability to select the most qualified student from the pool of student applicants provided by the four participating universities (CMU, MSU, SVSU, and UM-Flint). 

Once placed, interns will spend significant time with top company officials and come away with a full understanding of what it's like to be an entrepreneur. Unlike traditional internships, for example, if an engineering student participates in the EIP, he/she will learn about finance, marketing, sales, operations, customer service, in addition to engineering, documenting the various experiences throughout the internship.

The goals of the EIP are to provide students with very real entrepreneurial experiences, giving them exposure to multiple aspects of working at a start-up or small family business. The EIP experience will lead to employment opportunities for students with the companies they interned for, but also could provide the student with the insights and confidence needed to start his/her own business here in Michigan. The EIP will help retain bright and promising students and develop the next Entrepreneurial Generation for the region and state.

There are 32 internship positions available for this one year pilot program, which will begin January 2009. At the conclusion of the internship, usually ranging from 300 to 600 hours, participating companies are eligible to receive a stipend for 50% of the student's compensation - up to $1,500. Companies with 20 or fewer employees located within an incubator have top preference to participate in the pilot EIP. 

Interested to Learn More or Get Started?

• Read the Overview of the EIP Process
• Read the Criteria for Businesses to Participate
• Read the Criteria for Students to Receive an Internship
• Businesses: Submit a Request for an Intern
• Businesses: Sample Internship Opportunity Description
• Students: Submit Your Resume
• EIP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Businesses and Students

Go to the intern portal (username and password required).