NYC Startup Internship Program

Presented by NYCEDC, Company Ventures, City University of New York (CUNY), and Blackstone Charitable Foundation

STEM in NYC

New York City’s STEM sectors (science, technology, engineering, and math) have grown significantly since 2011, adding more than 7,000 new businesses and 130,000 new jobs to the city’s economy through 2022.

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 STEM occupations.

The NYC Startup Internship Program builds a diverse talent pipeline of CUNY students directly into New York City’s booming tech sector and supports New York City’s STEM startups with the operational and financial capacity to host and develop interns while growing their businesses.

Program Overview

Through the NYC Startup Internship Program, CUNY 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. CUNY students also receive professional development, mentorship, and networking experiences throughout this program.

Participating startups host students for approximately eight (8) 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.

Internship wages for the initial eight (8) weeks, along with candidate sourcing, payroll management, mentorship, and professional development are provided by program partners to alleviate participation barriers for startups.

Testimonials