8 Startup Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student looking for professional experience in a field of subject of your choice, there are multiple options you could consider.
You could volunteer at a local organization, help out a small business in your community, or do an internship! Internships are short-term, and contractual positions are organizations that allow you to work on real-world problems with a team.
If you’re interested in finance, an internship at a bank (such as the Bank of America Student Leaders Program) is a great option. If you’re interested in a research-focused internship, consider programs like this one, hosted by Johns Hopkins.
If you’re looking for a more generalist or versatile role that allows you to build a larger skillset, consider a startup internship!
What are startup internships? How are they different from other internships for high school students?
When we say startup internships, we mean internships hosted at startups for high school students.
Startups are usually smaller organizations with lots of space to grow and are usually focused on a single offering or product.
As an intern at a startup, you will be working across a bunch of different tasks, and interacting with various teams on a day-to-day basis.
Why should I do a startup internship as a high school student?
Startup internships for high school students offer a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
If you are looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship or innovative industries, these internships provide valuable insights into the inner workings of a startup.
Beyond enhancing resumes, such experiences allow you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios, sharpening your problem-solving and adaptability skills.
With that, here is a list of 9 startup internships for high school students!
Coded by: is a startup that focuses on preparing underrepresented people for leadership roles within the tech and startup space. Unlike traditional internships, this program immerses you in a collaborative summer experience where you’ll work in teams and receive guidance from mentors to build a startup from the ground up.
You’ll develop practical skills in product development, UI/UX design, or software engineering while connecting with local tech professionals and visiting industry partner sites. The hybrid format combines in-person sessions, virtual workdays, site visits, and workshops with industry experts and mentors. Throughout the program, you’ll gain the skills to ideate, validate, and pitch your startup, develop technical expertise, and build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
Location: Hybrid.
Cost / Stipend: Interns receive a stipend of $500 per week.
Dates: June 23 - August 15.
Application Deadline: Applications open in October and are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade high school students living in the Philadelphia area are eligible to apply.
2. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is an internship designed to empower high school juniors and seniors, involving hands-on experience at local nonprofit or charitable organizations. The program culminates in a week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., a full-funded summit. The program will match you with a non-profit company, including startups in the non-profit sector!
This opportunity is competitive, with an application process that includes a letter of recommendation from a school administrator or teacher. If you’re looking to work with non-profits and land a selective opportunity to mention in your college application/SOP, consider applying!
Location: Depends on the nonprofit organization assigned to you
Cost: Paid; compensation details provided upon acceptance.
Program Dates: National Leadership Summit and Internship Dates: summer of the cohort you participate in
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school students in their junior and senior years can apply
3. Future Founders Be Your Own Boss Internship
The Be Your Own Boss internship offers high school students the opportunity to connect with accomplished entrepreneurs and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds. Throughout the program, you will develop and pitch your own business ideas while building a strong professional network of like-minded individuals and experienced business leaders.
Led by seasoned entrepreneurs, the program emphasizes hands-on learning with a focus on STEM integration to foster innovative thinking. Working in teams, you will create a business idea, develop a functional app prototype, and present your concept at a virtual community showcase. The experience provides insights into entrepreneurship in Chicago and beyond.
Location: Virtual.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Interns receive a stipend.
Dates: January 14 - February 6.
Application Deadline: Interested students can join the waitlist here.
Eligibility: High school students in public and charter schools in the Chicago area are eligible to apply.
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alumni, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: $2490. Need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort.
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks are eligible to apply. Open to undergraduates and gap year students also!
This internship provides you with the chance to develop valuable research and analytical skills, enhancing your understanding of both scientific and business aspects of the energy sector. During the internship, you will research and analyze a specific company, technology, or market. This involves gathering and synthesizing information from multiple sources, engaging with industry professionals for insights, and drafting an analysis report. A dedicated mentor will guide and support you throughout the process.
In addition to producing a professional-grade report, you will gain practical skills such as conducting in-depth research, engaging professionally with industry leaders, analyzing complex information, and crafting polished written communications. Successful interns will receive a Letter of Accomplishment summarizing their contributions.
Location: Virtual.
Cost / Stipend: No cost or stipend.
Dates: Internships typically run for half-time and quarter-time duration. Half-time internships come in increments of 2 weeks, from 2 to 8 weeks of duration, whereas quarter-time internships come in increments of 1 month, from 1 to 9 months.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to apply.
6. Get Girls Going Entrepreneur Summer Program
Get Girls Going (GGG) empowers Black teen girls to become leaders and innovators by equipping them to create social enterprises that address societal challenges and dismantle racial and gender inequities. The program features a six-week summer incubator for Black high school girls passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, and change-making. You will work with dedicated GGG mentors and advisors to develop or expand your startup business ideas. Beyond the summer, ongoing support is provided throughout the academic year to help grow your ventures.
As a GGG entrepreneur, you’ll develop a social impact business idea that qualifies as a social enterprise, creating a product or service that addresses societal problems or adds value to people’s lives. You’ll participate in workshops on entrepreneurship, professional development, and wellness, complete weekly assignments, and collaborate actively with the GGG team. The program culminates in a pitch night where you’ll present your business idea to an audience.
Location: There is currently no information available.
Cost / Stipend: Fully-funded, no stipend offered.
Dates: July 9 - August 16.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Upcoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who identify as a Black teen girl are eligible to apply.
7. Harvard Ventures-TECH Summer Program
This internship provides hands-on experience with venture capital-backed startups, enabling students to work directly with founders, CEOs, and Harvard faculty. Over six weeks, you will gain real-world insights into business strategy and innovation.
You will be paired with leading startups, collaborating on impactful projects tailored to your interests. Daily seminars and workshops, led by successful entrepreneurs, investors, and Harvard professors, cover topics such as technology, innovation management, and problem-solving. By the program’s end, you will not only complete a real-world project with a startup but also acquire critical decision-making experience, which is a solid mention to have on your resume!
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $4750. Need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: Session I: June 9 - July 18 | Session II: July 7 - August 15.
Application Deadline: Early Admissions: February 28 | Regular Admissions: April 14.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
Want to build your own startup in high school? Check out Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more.
The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Vary according to cohort.
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!