11 Startups Offering Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in entrepreneurship, technology, or creative problem-solving, interning with a startup can give you firsthand experience in how new ideas turn into businesses.
What are startups? How are they different from other company structures?
Startups operate in small, fast-moving teams where every member contributes to product development, customer outreach, and marketing efforts. You get to see how decisions are made and how challenges are handled in real time. A startup internship lets you take on meaningful work and learn from founders and early employees who are building something from the ground up.
Why should I work at a startup as a high school student?
Working at a startup also helps you build a stronger college application and resume by showing your initiative and interest in innovation. It gives you a clearer view of what it takes to run a business and introduces you to the mindset needed to create solutions in a changing world.
With that, here’s a list of 11 startups offering internships for high school students!
If you’re interested in business internships, you can check here and here.
(Note: Not all are conventional startups, but every program connects you to the startup ecosystem and its ways of working)
11 Startups Offering Internships for High School Students
1. Get Girls Going Entrepreneur Program
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (hybrid opportunities available)
Cost: $15/hour stipend
Dates: October 27 - May 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications open until cohorts are filled
Eligibility: Black and Brown teen girls in high school who are passionate about entrepreneurship and social change
The Get Girls Going Entrepreneur Program helps high school students who identify as young women of color learn how to build a business. You work with mentors and peers to create a business idea that solves a problem in your community. You learn how to plan, how to market, how to manage money, how to lead, and how to pitch your idea and improve it through feedback. The program focuses on social entrepreneurship. You build something that helps others and makes a difference. You meet professionals who guide you through each step. You explore how startups work and how you can take part.
2. Girls Who Start Impact Internship – University Startups
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Dates: February 24 – April 30
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to all teen girls interested in entrepreneurship and social impact
The Girls Who Start Impact Internship gives you a chance to learn how startups work by joining a team and building a business idea from the ground up. You brainstorm with others, design a solution, and present your pitch just like you would at an early-stage company. You attend live webinars led by professors and startup professionals who teach you about business development, career planning, and financial literacy. The program uses a points system to keep you engaged through workshops and skill challenges. You learn by doing, and you connect classroom knowledge with real startup experience. By the end, you will build confidence in your ideas, improve your resume, and understand how to lead and grow a business that helps others.
3. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. There is need-based financial aid
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a virtual program where high school students learn how to build a startup from idea to launch under the guidance of Harvard-affiliated mentors. You’ll identify real-world problems and create business solutions. The program includes workshops, case studies, and sessions on business planning and ideation. You’ll work in teams to design prototypes, develop a minimum viable product, and refine your ideas with mentor feedback. By the end, you’ll prepare and present a pitch that clearly explains your startup concept and goals. You can check out the program brochure here.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Paid (stipend varies by startup)
Location: Remote, with opportunities to work with Silicon Valley–based startups
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling, varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students able to commit 10–20 hours/week
If you’re an ambitious high school student, the Ladder Internship Program may be a good choice for you. At Ladder, you will be connected with paid, project-based internships at fast-growing startups, including several headquartered in Silicon Valley. You’ll work with founders and managers on realistic business challenges in fields such as finance, consulting, marketing, and technology. Additionally, you’ll receive one-on-one mentorship from a Ladder Coach and attend cohort-wide workshops. By the end, you’ll have developed transferable skills in communication, leadership, and strategic thinking. Ladder alumni and entrepreneurs lead many participating startups from major firms like Google, Meta, and Microsoft.
5. Tech & Innovation Internship – Coded by: Programs
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (hybrid: in-person and virtual)
Cost: Paid ($500 per week)
Dates: 12th grade: June 9 – August 15; 10th-11th grade: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: Updated in spring
Eligibility: Current 10th–12th graders and college students living in the Philadelphia area
The Tech & Innovation Internship by Coded by: Programs gives you a paid opportunity to learn how startups work by building one yourself. You choose a track: UI/UX Design, Product Management, or Software Development, and join a small team to take a startup idea from concept to prototype. You work together in person and online, attend workshops, visit companies, and take part in networking and career events. You learn how to design products, use agile workflows, and pitch your ideas. You get support from mentors who work in tech and startups. You build a minimum viable product and see how business decisions shape what you create.
6. EnergyMag Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (unpaid; no cost to participate)
Dates: Half-time: 2–8 weeks (≈20 hours/week), Quarter-time: 1–9 months (≈8 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in renewable energy, business, or research
The EnergyMag Internship gives you a flexible way to explore renewable energy and technology through research. You investigate companies, technologies, and market trends with help from a mentor. You gather and analyze information, interview professionals, and write a research report that shows what you’ve learned. You work on real questions about energy and business. You learn how to communicate clearly, how to use data, and how to write reports that explain your findings. You see how science and business connect in the energy field. If you finish your project, you receive a Letter of Accomplishment that recognizes your work.
7. Youth Membership Program – OPEN Silicon Valley
Location: Silicon Valley, California (hybrid: in-person and virtual events)
Cost: $50 annual membership fee
Dates: Year-round (includes workshops, events, and mentorship sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18, college undergraduates, and young entrepreneurs under 25
The OPEN Silicon Valley Youth Membership Program provides young innovators with direct access to Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a member, you’ll gain mentorship from seasoned professionals, attend educational workshops, and engage in networking events that focus on technology, business, and leadership. The program bridges classroom learning with practical startup exposure through webinars, panels, and collaborative projects led by local entrepreneurs. Members can also apply for exclusive internship and job opportunities through OPEN’s network of startups and partner organizations.
8. Summer Internships at YC Startups
Location: San Francisco, California (primarily in-person; select remote options available)
Cost: Paid ($5,000–$16,000 per month, depending on company and role)
Dates: Summer (typically June – August)
Application Deadline: Rolling; early applications recommended
Eligibility: High school and college students with a strong interest or background in computer science, AI, or engineering
You will have the opportunity to work directly with founders at early-stage, high-growth companies funded by Y Combinator (YC), one of the world’s most prominent startup accelerators. You’ll join teams working in AI, software engineering, product design, or business development. Instead of just watching, you take part in core projects and work directly with founders and early engineers. You’ll gain hands-on experience at fast-moving startups such as SimCare AI, Bindwell, Morph, and Circleback. You’ll also attend events at YC’s headquarters, where you meet entrepreneurs and investors. The internships are based in San Francisco and come with competitive pay.
9. Fellowship at Startups in Silicon Valley
Location: Silicon Valley, California (includes startup placements and site visits)
Cost: $15,000
Dates: July – August (6 weeks total: 3 weeks of training + 3 weeks of startup fellowship)
Application Deadline: July
Eligibility: High school students ages 13 and above (grade 8 and higher) with English proficiency
The Fellowship at Startups in Silicon Valley gives you six weeks to learn how startups work by joining real teams and visiting major companies. In the first half, you take part in lectures and workshops led by experts while visiting places like Google, Meta, and Apple. You learn about business strategy, innovation, and how companies grow. In the second half, you intern with a U.S.-based startup and work on projects in marketing, product design, or operations. You get support from mentors who studied at Stanford, Harvard, and MIT. They help you understand how startups run and how to prepare for future goals in college or business.
10. Be Your Own Boss Internship – Future Founders
Location: Virtual (based in Chicago; open to students nationwide)
Cost: Paid (cash stipend based on attendance and participation)
Dates: October 7 – October 30
Application Deadline: September 26
Eligibility: Open to high school students in public or charter schools in Chicago and nationwide
The Be Your Own Boss Internship by Future Founders gives you a paid way to explore how startups work while building your own business idea. You join a four-week, after-school program where you take part in live virtual workshops and work with mentors who run real companies. You team up with other students to brainstorm, design, and pitch a startup idea from scratch. You learn how to think like an entrepreneur by working on group projects that connect STEM ideas with business strategy. You also take part in networking events and present your work at a final showcase. The program helps you build your skills, grow your network, and understand how startup teams operate.
11. GEB Silicon Valley Exchange Program
Cost: $2,000 registration fee (partial scholarships available)
Location: Silicon Valley, California
Dates: May 11 – May 14
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are filled
Eligibility: High school and university students, gap-year students, or early-stage entrepreneurs with strong English proficiency
Over four days, the GEB Silicon Valley Exchange Program will introduce you to the world of entrepreneurship in the global tech capital. You’ll be led by mentors from Stanford, Harvard, and MIT in hands-on workshops about design thinking, ideation, and business modeling. Through visits to Google, Apple, Netflix, Uber, and Stanford University, you’ll learn how these companies drive creativity and impact. At the pitch competition, you’ll present your business idea to investors and startup founders for feedback and potential funding opportunities. You’ll network with leading entrepreneurs and interact with students from 25+ countries. At the end, you’ll earn a Diploma Certificate in Entrepreneurship Education.
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