15 Business Internships for High School Students in Silicon Valley
If you're in high school and eager to learn about the different aspects of running a business, a business internship provides the opportunity to learn about the field while gaining hands-on experience.
What do business internships in Silicon Valley involve?
These internships allow you to explore the roles of various business professionals, seek mentorship, and explore possible career pathways across tech, healthcare administration, public sector work, and finance. Silicon Valley is home to leading startups, companies, and organizations that offer business internships to high school students, giving you access to a high-energy ecosystem of founders and professionals.
Why pursue a business internship in Silicon Valley?
You'll get to be part of an ecosystem where you meet startup founders, network with professionals, and exchange ideas in a setting that's difficult to replicate anywhere else. Many of these programs are also paid or stipended, meaning you gain professional experience and income at the same time.
We've narrowed down a list of the top 15 business internships for high school students in Silicon Valley. For related opportunities, consider our guides to startup internships for high school students and business internships for high school students in California.
Quick Look
9 paid or stipended programs: Meta Summer Academy, Genesys Works, Stanford Health Care, San Jose Works, Kaiser Permanente, County of Santa Clara, SLAC National Accelerator, Norman Mineta Academy, and CliftonLarsonAllen
3 fully virtual or remote programs: Young Founders Lab (100% virtual, financial aid available), Ladder Internship (remote, multiple cohorts year-round), and iStart Valley (virtual, 5-month flexible schedule)
6 programs restricted to specific Bay Area cities or counties: Meta Summer Academy (East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, Redwood City), San Jose Works (San José residents), County of Santa Clara (Santa Clara County), Norman Mineta Academy (Bay Area residents), and Genesys Works and Kaiser Permanente (regional placement requirements)
2 programs open to rising 8th graders or current sophomores: TiE Young Entrepreneurs (rising 8th graders and up) and Meta Summer Academy (current sophomores only)
Most expensive program: Silicon Valley Startup Academy ($15K, includes a 3-week Silicon Valley tour plus a 3-week startup fellowship)
Earliest deadlines: Meta Summer Academy (February 14), CliftonLarsonAllen (early January), and iStart Valley (April 30)
15 Business Internships for High School Students in Silicon Valley
1. Silicon Valley Startup Academy
Location: Fellowship at various startups in Silicon Valley, CA
Cost/Stipend: $15K
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer (3 weeks Silicon Valley tour + 3 weeks startup fellowship)
Application Deadline: Typically in July
Eligibility: High school students ages 13 and up; English proficiency required; open to US and international students
The Silicon Valley Startup Academy offers a fellowship opportunity for high school students to gain practical experience in Silicon Valley-based startups. The experience starts with a tour that takes you to the offices of companies such as Google and Meta, as well as the campuses of Berkeley and Stanford. You will interact with professionals, learn about different career pathways, and explore roles in areas of interest. Your fellowship at a Silicon Valley startup will last three weeks, where you will work with business professionals and see how things work in a fast-paced startup environment. Additionally, the academy includes lectures by business professionals and guidance on the college application process.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies according to program. There is need-based financial aid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: There are 3 application deadlines that you can choose from; more details in the brochure!
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up bootcamp 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, whether as a for-profit company or a non-profit. 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 participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals, business ideation, and venture development. The program also features workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions to help you strengthen your entrepreneurial toolkit while learning how successful founders turn ideas into viable startups. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta headquarters campus, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided (amount varies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15–July 24; 30 hours per week, full 6-week commitment required
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores only; full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City, CA; minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
Middle Summer Academy offers high school students the opportunity to be a part of the world's leading social media company and understand how tech companies function. During the program, you will explore the various domains within meta, such as technology, business, and administration, exploring the roles of professionals and the possible pathways in the areas of your interest. The program includes projects, learning sessions, and workshops where you will engage in hands-on projects while working on your soft skills, such as communication, leadership, and teamwork. You would receive mentorship through the program in the form of coffee chats, advice sessions, and 1-1 support.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%; 70-100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for high school students interested in gaining experience with fast-growing start-ups. The start-ups offering internships span various fields, including finance, tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies backed by leading accelerators such as Y Combinator and have raised an average of over $1 million in funding. These programs are often led by founders who bring experience from major organizations such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Beyond project work, the program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, as well as group learning sessions with other interns.
5. Genesys Works Bay Area Workforce Development
Location: Internship placements at partner companies throughout the Bay Area; organizational HQ in Oakland, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; interns earn a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8-week summer training between junior and senior year; internship runs throughout senior year (20 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Students apply during the fall/winter of junior year through their school (exact dates not specified)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; must be on track to graduate; authorized to work in the US
Genesys Works offers a professional development program where high school students can explore various business pathways and learn what it takes to be a business professional. The programme begins with eight weeks of training where you learn about business technology and gain skills in areas of information technology, professional development, and business operations. After your training, you will be matched to intern at a company site. Previous interns have been placed at companies such as Cloudflare, Accenture, PG and E in roles ranging from marketing to cybersecurity.
6. Stanford Health Care Administrative Internship
Location: Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8-12 weeks in summer (Exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school student; minimum age 16 or able to obtain a work permit
The Stanford Healthcare Administrative internship offers practical experience in administration and business operations to high school students within a healthcare context. During the internship, you will be matched to different departments where a mentor will guide you through day-to-day work. You will assist your department with special projects, typically related to strategic plans, operational support, and improvements. The internship includes professional development through networking events, seminars, guest lecture sessions, and career exploration workshops.
7. San Jose Works Internship Program
Location: Placements across different organizations in San José, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; paid work experience
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Summer (varies based on placement)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 18 must reside in San José; supportive services, including transportation, are provided
San Jose Works offers an internship program to provide high school students with job readiness training and placement into a paid work experience program. During your training, you will explore various career paths, discuss your interests with a mentor, and undergo financial literacy and leadership development programs. You will then be placed at a business or organization within the city in the areas of finance, manufacturing, information technology, construction, and healthcare, where you can work in the areas of your interest and explore various pathways.
8. Kaiser Permanente Summer Youth Employment Program
Location: Various Kaiser Permanente medical centers across Southern California, in San Jose and Santa Clara, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; placements based on site availability and program needs
Dates: 6–8 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Age 16 or older; priority given to 11th and 12th graders; must reside near the applying medical center; must be eligible to work in the US; work permit required if under 18; must be available 20 hours/week for the full program duration
The Kaiser Permanente Summer Youth Employment Program offers internship opportunities for high school students to gain work experience within the healthcare field. During your internship experience, you will gain exposure to various clerical, administrative, and business operations roles. Your daily tasks will include supporting the administrative team in their daily tasks. Additionally, you’ll get to explore what it takes to run a healthcare organization while exploring the roles of various business and healthcare professionals. The experience includes educational sessions, career exploration workshops, and career readiness seminars.
9. County of Santa Clara Student Internship Program
Location: Various County of Santa Clara departments and offices, Santa Clara County, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid;
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rolling; placements vary by department and yeaR
Dates: Summer placements typically run 8–10 weeks between May and August
Application Deadline: Rolling; internship roles are typically posted in February; deadline varies by department and posting
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in regular, alternative vocational, or equivalency programs (Level I); minimum 2.5 GPA; work permit required if under 18
The county of Santa Clara offers an internship program for high school students interested in exploring pathways and gaining work experience in the area of their choice. In the internship, you have the chance to be placed at a county department and learn how the city administration works. Students interested in pursuing business pathways can enter the departments of public education, public relations, or outreach support. During your work experience, you will understand the rules of various professions and assist them in their daily tasks. Your tasks will vary depending on the agency or department to which you are assigned.
10. iStart Valley High School Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 20–October 31 (5 months); 2–4 hours per week; flexible schedule with assignment deadlines
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students; no geographic restriction; no minimum GPA stated; no prior experience required
The iStart Valley offers an immersive internship experience to high school students interested in learning about the business, entrepreneurship, and technology space, while exploring career paths at this intersection. The program takes place over five months, where you will be trained in fundamental business concepts, explore essential frameworks, and learn the work processes of business professionals. Some topics covered include artificial intelligence, blockchain, design thinking, clean startup methodology, and agile business models. During the program, we'll also get to interact with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and business industry professionals, and explore the roles of different business professionals.
11. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Summer Internship Program
Location: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; varies by position and department
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May through September, up to 12 weeks; specific dates vary by department and school schedule
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply through the SLAC careers site
Eligibility: High school students must be age 18 or older; must be authorized to work in the US; must pass a background check; resume required
The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory offers an internship program for high school students to gain administrative experience over the summer. During the program, you will be placed in various administrative and business operation departments where you will get to meet professionals, understand their roles, and learn what their daily tasks look like. You will gain insight into the inner workings of a federal laboratory and what administration looks like within the STEM context. If you are also interested in pursuing a STEM-aligned business pathway, some of the high-level tasks that you can choose to do would require specific scientific and engineering coursework.
12. Norman Mineta High School Summer Academy
Location: Virtual (weekly online sessions); optional in-person capstone session at Bay Area Metro Center, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend upon completion of the full program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Weekly virtual sessions in July; optional in-person capstone
Application Deadline: Not yet published; applications typically open in spring
Eligibility: Must live in the Bay Area and attend a local high school; must be at least 15 years old and have completed 9th grade by the start of the Academy; must be able to attend online seminars and present a capstone topic; parent or guardian permission required if under 18
The Norman Mineta Summer Academy is a program that introduces high school students to pathways in the public sector. During the program, you will explore career possibilities in policy work and local administration in areas such as transportation planning, housing, air quality management, and environmental justice, and gain experience in agencies such as the Transportation Commission, the Development Commission, and the Air District. Your day-to-day would include attending online seminars and learning how agencies deal with their area of work. You will also get to explore various tools within these agencies, meet professionals, and understand where your interests lie.
13. CliftonLarsonAllen High School Internship Program
Location: CLA offices across the U.S., including in San Jose, CA
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 60–70 students
Dates: 6–8 weeks typically, mid-June – August
Application Deadline: Typically, early January
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are between the ages of 16 and 18 and authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for an employment visa
The Clifton Larson Allen offers a high school internship for students to gain experience in the area of accounting and professional services. During the internship, you will gain hands-on experience by working on real client projects, engaging in case studies, and serving clients across different industries. You will get to shadow professionals in different areas and levels, understand their job roles, and learn how they serve clients. You'll also get to bond and network with peers on team projects and activities over the summer.
14. The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Application
Location: Placements at EBF partner companies nationwide, including within the Silicon Valley Area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free to apply; paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Generally start in May or June; minimum 8 continuous weeks; full-time, 35–40 hours/week
Application Deadline: Applications are processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school senior graduating in Spring or later; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA; interest in media, entertainment, or tech; must be at least 18 years old before internship starts; must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship
The Emma Bowen Foundation offers internship experience to high school students across pathways in media, entertainment, and technology. During the internship, you will explore the roles of professionals such as business executives, PR agents, sales representatives, and many more. The internships take place over eight weeks, where you will be matched with a business or organization and work in the area of your interest. You will work alongside professionals, understand their job roles, and explore the various pathways during the experience. Past participants have voted at companies such as Bloomberg, Fox, NPR, Paramount, the New York Times, and Warner Bros Discovery.
15. TiE Young Entrepreneurs
Location: TiE Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, CA
Cost/Stipend: $599 for TiE members; $699–$799 for non-members (varies by cohort format);
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration until filled
Dates: July 14–18, global pitch competition in June next year for the winning team
Application Deadline: Open registration
Eligibility: High school students and rising 8th graders; no GPA minimum stated; no prior entrepreneurship experience required
The TiE entrepreneur Summer is a week-long program designed for high school students interested in learning about business and entrepreneurship. Although not an internship, the program provides an experiential learning experience where you will work on practical projects, where you will explore different challenges within businesses and entrepreneurship. During the program, you will be taught essential concepts through university professors and gain mentorship support for career exploration. Some of the topics you will explore during the program include design thinking, business models, financial modeling, equity basics, capital needs, fundraising, customer value proposition, and investor pitching.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free or paid business internships for high school students in Silicon Valley?
Yes, 9 programs on this list are paid or provide a stipend, including Meta Summer Academy, Stanford Health Care, Kaiser Permanente, and CliftonLarsonAllen. Genesys Works and San Jose Works are both free to join and provide paid work experience once placed. The Emma Bowen Foundation is also free to apply to and leads to a paid internship. Young Founders Lab and Ladder Internship both offer need-based financial aid for students who want a flexible, lower-cost option instead.
2. Which Silicon Valley business internships are available remotely?
3 programs on this list are fully virtual. Young Founders Lab is a 100% virtual startup bootcamp where you build a real venture with mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, and X, with multiple cohorts throughout the year. Ladder Internship places you remotely with a high-growth startup across fields like tech, finance, and marketing. iStart Valley runs over five months with a flexible 2-4 hour weekly commitment and no geographic restriction, making it accessible to students outside the Bay Area entirely.
3. Which programs are open to younger students, like rising 8th or 9th graders?
TiE Young Entrepreneurs is the most accessible by age, open to rising 8th graders and up with no GPA minimum or prior experience required. Meta Summer Academy is restricted to current high school sophomores only, making it a strong option once you've started high school. Most other programs on this list, including Stanford Health Care, SLAC, and CliftonLarsonAllen, require students to be at least 16 or in 11th-12th grade, so TiE and Meta Summer Academy are the best starting points for younger students.