2024 Summer Graduate Startup Consultant Fellowship


NC IDEA is seeking two talented students with a demonstrated interest in startups and entrepreneurship for a summer fellowship opportunity. While the fellowship targets 1st year MBA candidates, students in other graduate programs with corresponding interests are encouraged to apply.


This program is ideal for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurially minded graduate students 1) looking to enhance their knowledge of challenges facing startups and the overall startup landscape in North Carolina, 2) considering working with startups after graduation, or 3) planning on an investment career with an angel/venture capital firm.  


Interested students are encouraged to register for our 2024 NC IDEA Fellowships webinar on Monday, September 25th, at 4 p.m. to learn more.


About NC IDEA

NC IDEA is an independent private, 501(c)(3) foundation whose vision is to help North Carolinians achieve their entrepreneurial ambition to start and grow high potential companies. NC IDEA fosters sustainable economic development with competitive grants and programs for entrepreneurs and funding to strengthen the North Carolina entrepreneurial ecosystem. NC IDEA offers grant funding and support on the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Learn more at  www.ncidea.org.


Role and Responsibilities 

Fellows will receive the opportunity to work directly with emerging startups who have received NC IDEA’s SEED and MICRO grants. This experience will allow fellows to dedicate their summer to a diverse range of projects including, but not limited to:

  • Competitor analysis

  • Customer discovery 

  • Customer segmentation

  • Financial modeling

  • Investor/valuation research

  • Marketing

  • Marketing segmentation and/or research

  • Pitch creation and feedback

  • Pricing analysis

  • Prototyping analysis, investigation, and/or research

  • Supply chain/procurement

Responsibilities include: 
  • Scoping projects submitted by NC IDEA companies and staff
  • Preparing project proposals
  • Managing 10-12 projects over the course of the summer
  • Overseeing undergraduate intern project participation
  • Independently managing calendar and project work, including meeting deadlines and preparing deliverables
Commitment
The fellowship requires a full-time, 40 hour/week commitment for 10 weeks over during June-August. Selected candidates will be compensated at a rate of $1,000 a week.


Additional Benefits 

Fellows are considered valuable members of the NC IDEA team and will participate in the weekly staff meetings. Depending on their schedules, fellows are also invited to take part in any NC IDEA meetings and events that are of interest, including NC IDEA grant recipient update meetings, ECOSYSTEM partner gatherings, speaker series presentations, and MICRO programming. They will also receive the advice and mentorship of the staff and will be afforded opportunities to network with entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors from around the state.


Resumes will be accepted until positions are filled. Additional questions can be directed to programs@ncidea.org. A PDF of this job description can be found here.


Questions? Contact programs@ncidea.org.