Daytime MBA students who are interested in working in startups during the summer between their first year and second year are eligible to apply for financial support to make this a viable option for the summer. Taxable cash grants of up to $4,000 are available from CEI to support students who are founders or early employees in a startup. Amounts will vary based on the number of applicants and the availability of funding. Priority will be given to students who have actively participated in CEI courses and activities, particularly students who have taken one or more of the New Venture courses.
Recipients of the CEI Summer Entrepreneurial Internship (“E-ternship”) Grant will be expected to be ambassadors for CEI. Responsibilities will include blogging about your summer experience, preparing a profile for the CEI website, and committing to being a CEI Fellow during the following academic year. The grant will be allocated in two payments, one at the beginning of the summer term and the second mid-way through the summer assuming satisfactory completion of milestones. After being awarded the grant, the recipient is expected to meet with CEI to refine objectives and milestones. The recipient should meet with CEI 4-5 weeks into the summer to provide a progress update on milestones and to adjust milestones for the second half of the term.
Applications are open now and due on March 17. Award announcements will be made on March 21.
Prepare to provide:
- Proof of intention to work on a startup as a founder or early employee. This could include a copy of marketing or investment documentation which lists the applicant’s role, or an offer letter
- 1-2 paragraph statement outlining the work to be done at the startup, highlighting key milestones and/or KPIs
- Description of engagement with CEI or Duke I&E during the current academic year
Applications will be evaluated in part by the likelihood that the recipient will deliver a meaningful contribution to the startup.
NEW for 2022. E-ternship awards may be considered for students interning at a startup. Evaluation criteria for this category of awards include:
- Internship must be with a for-profit startup or investment-related organization, such as an angel network or an accelerator.
- Students working multiple paid internships will not be eligible
- Expected gross earnings for the summer must not exceed $10,000, which includes the CEI e-ternship earnings. Verification will be required.
- Students must have a defined project of strategic importance to the startup or investment-related organization. For example, creating a go-to-market plan for a product launch; conducting diligence on a set of prospective portfolio companies; or developing a capital expenditure strategy.
- Applicants will be required to prepare and submit a written statement describing how the internship opportunity will uniquely position the applicant to achieve their career aspirations.