Overwhelming demand for start-up internship roles showcases untapped potential  

A Start-up Interns programme delivered by the University of Auckland Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) has offered a transformative experience that benefits both students and emerging ventures. 

Participating in a start-up environment provides valuable opportunities for students to develop diverse skills, fast, and gain hands-on experience. Start-ups, known for their agility and collaborative culture, offer interns significant responsibilities, impactful projects, and the chance to see their ideas come to life.  
 
CIE’s Start-up Interns programme was originally developed as part of the prize package for the Velocity $100k Challenge start-up competition delivered by CIE. Winners receive a place in CIE’s incubator and CIE recruits and pays for an intern to support the team over the six months duration of the incubator. 
 
This year, the Start-up Interns programme received over 560 applications for the six available positions, highlighting the immense enthusiasm and passion students have for working at start-ups.  
 
CIE Programme Coordinator Maru Maxwell says “It was a shock to see just how much interest there is to get paid experience working for start-ups. When we advertised the roles we noted the particular skill sets that each intern role required. It took a long time to match students with roles. We also worked to ensure that both the start-ups and the interns were supported to meet each other’s expectations. For most of the start-ups it was the first time they had had an employee or had ever managed someone.” 

Computer Science student Prabhjot Sodhi supported Melitta Skin by creating website wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and an e-commerce Shopify site. “My experience has been rewarding, to say the least. This bonding experience convinced me that the start-up ecosystem is where I want to devote my time.” 

Prabhjot’s hands-on experience has shaped his career aspirations. “These internships taught me that I want to work for a tech start-up focusing on health and wellness. The hands-on experience and opportunity to have a real impact were inspiring. I’ve learned the value of clear communication and adaptability in a fast-paced environment where high-stakes decisions are made quickly.” 

Mechanical Engineering student Camilla Hilario joined Cyclemate to delve into the inner workings of a business. With a technical background, Camilla sought to gain professional skills and experience the start-up culture in New Zealand. 

At Cyclemate, Camilla’s experience focused on the product development of a sanitary disposal kit for women working in trades. She played a key role in designing and building a prototype of the kit, creating digital mock-ups using computer-aided design software, and sourcing materials to assemble the product. “A significant moment was when our team went to a fabric supplier and picked out materials. It was memorable because we were finally able to see our product come to life!” 

Erin Williams is studying towards a Bachelor of Art and Commerce, majoring in management and Psychology. She worked for a start-up exploring solutions for sensorineural hearing loss. Erin says, “I was fortunate to be invited to a meeting with the CEO of a large European pharmaceutical company, which was fascinating to be a part of. I also really enjoyed the Venture Lab workshops; it was cool to meet others working in start-ups and hear about their experiences.” 

The Start-up Interns programme will run again in 2025, following the announcement of the next cohort of Venture Lab incubator participants. 

CIE Director Darsel Keane says “We would love to be able to extend the scope of the programme to match student interns with start-ups in New Zealand’s wider ecosystem and are looking at what support we might require covering the administration of such a programme. Our experience over the last few years has unearthed how critical it is to have human resources support to match interns with start-ups and provide pastoral care to make sure everyone’s needs are met.”