Presented by NYCEDC, Blackstone LaunchPad, Company Ventures, Tech:NYC, and The City University of New York (CUNY)
Tech in NYC
New York City’s Tech sector has grown significantly since 2013, adding more than 5,000 new businesses and 92,000 new jobs to the city’s economy through 2023.
However, these opportunities—which typically offer higher wages and greater economic mobility than those of other sectors—have remained out of reach for many New Yorkers, particularly those from groups already underrepresented within tech occupations.
The NYC Startup Internship Program builds a diverse talent pipeline of NYC students, with a focus on CUNY students, directly into New York City’s booming tech sector and supports New York City’s tech startups with the operational and financial capacity to host and develop interns while growing their businesses.
By the Numbers
By The Numbers
$200B+
VC funding to NYC startups since 2011
By The Numbers
5K+
New Tech businesses in NYC (2013-2023)
By The Numbers
$213K
Average NYC Tech wages (2023)
By The Numbers
92K+
Tech jobs created in NYC (2013-2023)
By The Numbers
50K+
Degrees awarded by CUNY each year
By The Numbers
<$30K
Household income for 50% of CUNY students
By The Numbers
$200B+
VC funding to NYC startups since 2011
By The Numbers
92K+
Tech jobs created in NYC (2013-2023)
By The Numbers
5K+
New Tech businesses in NYC (2013-2023)
By The Numbers
50K+
Degrees awarded by CUNY each year
By The Numbers
$213K
Average NYC Tech wages (2023)
By The Numbers
<$30K
Household income for 50% of CUNY students
Program Overview
Through the NYC Startup Internship Program, CUNY and other NYC students receive paid work opportunities that are relevant to their fields of study and career goals, such as within software engineering, sales and business development, research and marketing, project management, and customer support. Students also receive professional development, mentorship, and networking experiences throughout this program.
Participating NYC startups host students for ten (10) weeks and can extend the internship or hire students for contract, part-time, or full-time work at the conclusion of the program. Startups are often venture-backed and represent a variety of industries and fields, such as enterprise software, health tech, education and training, sustainability, and fintech. Beginning in 2025, more than half of host startups are expected to be solving real-world challenges either with Artificial Intelligence and/or within the Green Economy.
Internship wages for the full ten (10) weeks of the Startup Internship Program, along with candidate sourcing, payroll management, mentorship, and professional development, are provided by program operators and partners to alleviate participation barriers for NYC students and startups.
At A Glance: 2022-2024
By The Numbers
166
NYC students received paid internships
By The Numbers
84
NYC startups hosted paid CUNY interns
By The Numbers
36%
Students continuing work w/ host startup beyond conclusion of program
By The Numbers
54%
Interns identifying as women or non-binary
By The Numbers
32%
Interns identifying as Hispanic/Latinx or Black/African
By The Numbers
166
NYC students received paid internships
By The Numbers
54%
Interns identifying as women or non-binary
By The Numbers
36%
Students continuing work w/ host startup beyond conclusion of program
By The Numbers
84
NYC startups hosted paid CUNY interns
By The Numbers
32%
Interns identifying as Hispanic/Latinx or Black/African
Testimonials
Fantastic program for founders looking to hire and gain access outside of traditional startup networks. It was also a great basis for us to refine and redevelop our company structure and management process as we enter the growth phase of our business.
Outstanding summer – we could not have grown our program the way we did without our interns and Company Ventures’ support!
Amazing opportunity for founders to both get work done and also mentor the next generation. So grateful for the opportunity!
I was able to get my mentee job offers in their desired career field that they never interviewed in before.
Whether you want to host interns, provide mentorship, or offer professional development, there are plenty of ways get involved.