14 High School Internships at Venture Capital Firms
What will I do as a high school intern at a venture capital firm?
As a high school intern, you will get first-hand knowledge of how investment decisions are made and how firms assess the potential of startups.You will have a chance to apply what you’ve learned in economics, business, or math classes to practical situations. You will also gain insight into how teams communicate, analyze data, and manage risk.
Why should I pursue high school internships at venture capital firms?
Interning at a venture capital can help you determine if the field aligns with your interests and goals. Working alongside professionals can also help you understand the industry's expectations and challenges. As a result, you may be better prepared to make future decisions about your education and career path.
If you’re interested in economics internships, this might be a good place to start. For finance internship opportunities, please check here.
Let’s look at 14 internships at venture capital firms for high school students!
14 Internships at Venture Capital Firms for High School Students
1. 1435 Capital Management — Venture Analyst Internship
Location: 1435 Capital Management, Princeton, NJ
Stipend: Paid internship (amount not disclosed)
Application Deadline: April 5
Dates: Summer (10 weeks, May – August, tentatively)
Eligibility: High school students, age 16–18
You work on real venture capital projects, including startup research, due diligence, product testing, and networking with founders and investors. The internship is hybrid , expect some time on-site at the Princeton HQ. You’ll get insights into the decision-making process at a VC firm, learn investment evaluation skills, and may later join Homeroom Fund, a student-led VC organization. Exposure to venture analysis and interaction with industry professionals is a core part of your role.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote. You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies based on program. Financial aid available
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Here is the application form
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships is a program where you can gain experience by working with a startup as a high school intern. The companies you might work with operate in a range of fields, including technology, artificial intelligence, health, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Many of these startups are in early growth stages and have secured funding. Some are led by founders with backgrounds at organizations like Y Combinator, Microsoft, Google, or Facebook.
During the program, you’ll be assigned real projects and collaborate with both a company supervisor and a Ladder coach. You’ll also receive individual guidance on skills such as communication and time management, and take part in group sessions with other interns. The internship is remote and typically lasts around eight weeks.
3. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Virtual, with finals at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Stipend: Free. No stipend
Application Deadline: September 12
Dates: September – April annually
Eligibility: Open to high school student teams (usually teacher-sponsored) worldwide
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is an online simulation where you and your team take on the role of investment analysts, managing a virtual portfolio of $500,000. While it’s not an internship, the competition can still be useful if you’re interested in venture capital, as it helps you develop skills in financial analysis, strategic thinking, and understanding market trends. You’ll also create an investment strategy based on a specific client profile and adjust your portfolio over time, using research and data to support your decisions. Throughout the competition, you’ll write reports that explain your reasoning and track your progress. Finalists have the opportunity to present their work to a panel of judges, which includes faculty from Wharton and professionals from the finance industry.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies according to program. There is need-based financial aid.
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here
Dates: Vary according to cohort.
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a program that focuses on helping you explore the process of starting a business. Led by individuals with experience in entrepreneurship, the program takes you through key steps such as developing a business idea, creating a basic plan, and learning practical skills needed to manage a startup. You’ll participate in sessions that cover core topics like identifying problems, testing ideas, and understanding how businesses operate. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
5. Warner Bros Reach Honorship Program — Business Track
Location: Warner Bros, Discovery Studios, Burbank, California
Stipend: Free; $5,000 scholarship stipend toward college tuition
Application Deadline: Early February (exact date varies annually)
Dates: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school seniors in Burbank or Los Angeles County with a minimum 3.0 GPA, planning to attend an accredited college or university
The Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program — Business Track is designed for high school seniors in Burbank or Los Angeles County who are interested in the business aspects of the media industry. If you’re selected, you’ll complete a summer internship at Warner Bros. Studios in California during each year of college. Internships take place in areas such as marketing, finance, communications, and operations. You’ll be matched with mentors, take part in networking opportunities, and learn how different departments contribute to the broader work of the studio. The program also includes a scholarship of $5,000, distributed in yearly installments of $1,250, provided you maintain a college GPA of 2.8 or higher.
6. Avivar Capital — Internship Program
Location: Remote (U.S.-based, firm HQ in Los Angeles, CA)
Stipend: Paid; competitive compensation
Application Deadline: Rolling; specific dates vary by season (Spring/Summer 2025, tentatively)
Dates: 12-week summer internship; spring and project-based roles also possible (Summer: June – August, tentatively)
Eligibility: Open to graduate and undergraduate students, and in exceptional cases, high school students
This internship welcomes diverse, motivated candidates who wish to explore impact investing and venture capital. If selected as a high school applicant, you will work with Avivar professionals on due diligence, deal sourcing, portfolio research, and client engagement. Training covers investment structures and impact themes across asset classes, providing exposure to both social and financial analysis. The program includes expert guest speakers from impact investing, venture capital, and philanthropy, along with mentorship, team-building events, and networking opportunities. You are expected to work full-time in the summer; part-time internships are generally reserved for spring and special projects.
7. Futures and Options — Internship Program
Location: New York City, NY (In-person, Hybrid, and Remote options depending on placement)
Stipend: Paid internships; stipends or hourly wages vary by placement
Application Deadline: Rolling; strong recommendation to apply early for summer
Dates: School Year Internship Program (September – June, part-time 5–10 hours/week); Summer Internship Program (6 weeks in July – August, 20–30 hours/week)
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors with valid work permits and lawful work eligibility in the U.S.
The Futures and Options Internship Program connects New York City high school students with paid internships across a variety of industries, including some opportunities that may be in venture capital or in related fields such as finance, consulting, or entrepreneurship. While a placement at a venture capital firm is not guaranteed, the program considers your skills and interests when matching you with a work site, and some students may be placed in roles that help build experience relevant to the VC field. Throughout the program, you participate in mandatory orientations and weekly workshops that cover topics like financial literacy, career readiness, and professional reflection. This program provides structured support as you gain workplace experience and develop skills that are applicable in many professional areas, including venture capital.
8. Suffolk University — Summer Entrepreneurship Program for High School Students
Location: Suffolk University, Downtown Boston, MA (In-person)
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Formal registration typically opens in January
Dates: July 7 – 24
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (rising juniors considered on space-available basis)
This immersive summer program offers you hands-on experience learning how entrepreneurs start new ventures and create value in organizations. You engage in class instruction combined with team projects and field visits to leading entrepreneurial organizations in Boston. The experience culminates in a final event where you present your own entrepreneurial concept. For venture capital enthusiasts, this program is valuable as it develops a deep understanding of startup launching, entrepreneurial thinking, and value creation, core elements that venture capitalists consider when evaluating investment opportunities.
9. Jimerson Birr, P.A. – High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Application Deadline: Typically applies for summer sessions; check site directly for 2025 updates
Dates: 4–6 weeks during summer
Eligibility: High school students interested in gaining professional experience; no specific grade requirement mentioned
Jimerson Birr is a full-service business law firm offering a high school summer internship program designed to provide you with real-world professional experience. This program focuses on developing your professional skills through exposure to business operations and legal advisory practices in a firm that serves startups, closely held businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. The internship experience will help you better understand the legal and administrative aspects that VC firms and startups navigate, providing a foundational perspective that complements investment-focused roles. Additionally, exposure to communications and marketing departments could enrich your understanding of startup positioning and investor relations.
10. Venture Institute by VC Lab
Location: Online (Virtual program)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Application Deadline: December 15
Dates: February 3 – April 7
Eligibility: Open to all aspiring venture capital professionals, including high-achieving students interested in VC careers (no strict age limit stated)
The Venture Institute is a free, intensive 9-week program providing a structured curriculum to train aspiring venture capitalists on the tasks and structure of working within a venture capital fund. The program is designed to equip you with in-depth knowledge of the VC industry, emphasizing ethical standards aligned with The Mensarius Oath. You will learn the intricacies of venture funding, deal sourcing, and fund management from experienced VC thought leaders, including Decile Group executives. The program aims to demystify the opaque venture capital industry and train a new generation of ethical, knowledgeable VCs. Alongside the core curriculum, you benefit from expert-led events featuring industry leaders. This program is relevant to high school students keen on advancing within VC as it offers foundational skills, practical knowledge, and potential pathways into industry roles.
11. Junior Venture Capitalist Program (Women Founders Network)
Location: Women Founders Network, Greater Los Angeles, CA (In-person track) & Online-Only (nationwide)
Cost: $800 (in-person, Los Angeles); $100 (online-only); Need-based scholarships available; No stipend
Application Deadline: May 31 (tentatively)
Dates: June – October (4 months, tentatively)
Eligibility: Girls in grades 9–12 across the United States
This selective program is focused on girls interested in learning about venture capital and early-stage investing. You select either an in-person format in Los Angeles or a fully online experience. Over four months, expect weekly Zoom meetings on core VC topics, covering areas like market sizing, competitive analysis, and term sheets. Guest sessions feature professional investors, founders, and WFN alumni. In the fall, in-person participants travel to LA for deep-dive workshops on real startup finalists, while online participants can join virtually or attend if able. Everyone analyzes company pitch decks, debates investment theses, and refines evaluations in small mentoring circles. The program culminates at the annual WFN Fast Pitch event. As a participant, you help award a $5,000 real grant to a female founder by voting alongside your cohort during the live pitch showcase.
12. William & Mary — Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment
Location: Online (100% virtual learning)
Cost: $1,595. Need-based scholarships are available to support tuition. No stipend
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; multiple sessions available throughout the year
Dates: Multiple-length courses available year-round; flexible scheduling (typically 20–30 hours total instruction)
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up (high school students included)
This online pre-college course immerses you in the venture capital ecosystem by teaching how startups raise money, the roles of investors, and critical valuation and market research techniques. You take on the role of an entrepreneur to create and pitch a startup business, learning key concepts such as fundraising conditions, due diligence, deal closing, and post-investment support. Although this is not a paid internship, you complete a capstone final project where you present a pitch deck as if you are seeking seed-stage funding from VC investors. Mentoring is provided throughout the course to support your assignments and deepen your learning experience. Upon completion, you receive a William & Mary Certificate of Completion, enhancing your portfolio with venture capital and entrepreneurship skills relevant for college and career readiness.
13. New York Institute of Finance — Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience Summer Program
Location: New York City, NY (In-person with commuter options)
Cost: 7-Day Program: $8,599 plus airfare (Week 1) | 14-Day Program: $6,699 plus airfare
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Week 1: July 6 – 11; Week 2: July 12 – 17; 14 Day Program: July 6 – 17. All dates are tentative
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (ages 13–17)
This immersive 1 or 2-week summer program, hosted by NYIF and Westcoast Connection, offers high school students an educational experience on finance, trading, capital markets, and venture capital. Although not an internship, this program covers a comprehensive curriculum taught by senior Wall Street experts, including private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, cryptocurrency, and financial statement analysis. In Week 1, you will partake in a Sustainable Business Development & Funding Competition, where you collaborate with mentors to pitch a sustainable business idea for venture capital funding. Week 2 offers a Fund Manager Competition, where you analyze and build a portfolio of stocks, presenting your investment strategy to NYIF experts. The program balances academic learning with curated New York City experiences, such as Financial District tours, visits to iconic landmarks (Times Square, Top of the Rock), and networking events with finance industry leaders.
14. Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (In-person residential program)
Cost: $5,500 program fee (includes events, speakers, course materials, and apparel); financial aid available
Application Deadline: Typically early January (check current year dates)
Dates: June 7 – 17; June 21 – July 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (grades 11–12); motivated students passionate about business
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy offers you a rigorous and immersive introduction to the world of business. Through college-level classes, workshops, and project-based team challenges, you learn how businesses operate and leaders solve problems. The curriculum covers key business topics, including marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. A typical day balances faculty-led class sessions, collaborative group work, guest speakers, and field visits, including company tours and networking events with Michigan Ross faculty and alumni. For venture capital enthusiasts, this program provides foundational knowledge relevant to venture investing, such as understanding business operations, startup challenges, financial literacy, and leadership skills.
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