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McMaster Startup Internships

McMaster Startups Internships

Like other top universities, McMaster University hosts a wide range of educational programs that provide students with the opportunity to develop a diverse set of entrepreneurial skills. However, there is a pressing need for programs that enable students to undertake positions at local startups, venture capital firms or tech transfer offices, where they can obtain hands-on, immersive entrepreneurship experience.

In response, McMaster will leverage the strengths of our local entrepreneurship ecosystem to provide entrepreneurial internship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Interested students can apply for opportunities to: 1) Work with McMaster startup companies to support their business endeavors and 2) Work with the McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO) to conduct company due diligence, as performed by venture capital firms.

McMaster Startup Immersion Internships

Real-world experience, real-world impact.

Program Overview

The McMaster Startup Immersion Internships program will recruit startups to hire students to fill an innovative role within their startup company for a 16-week internship from May to August in 2025.

Program Structure: Full time, 35 hours per week.

Startup Companies

Looking for Bright, Motivated Talent to Grow Your Startup?

Eligibility Criteria: 

  • McMaster-affiliated startup Open to all industry sectors. Affiliation may include: founded by a McMaster student, alumni, staff, faculty; developing products / services from McMaster research; startup supported by McMaster’s entrepreneurship ecosystem
  • Scalable business model
  • Must be incorporated
  • Must have a dedicated full time team member who will be responsible for supervising and mentoring the student throughout the course of the internship
  • Must be willing and able to complete a Business Strategy Internship (BSI) application through MITACS
  • Job must be innovative in nature i.e. Research, Development, Data Analytics, Marketing.

Benefits:

  • McMaster University will cover the majority of the funding to employ the student, however companies must complete a MITACS application.
  • McMaster Supports with hiring such as sample job descriptions, interviewing, accessibility and inclusion, resume screening
  • McMaster Supports with onboarding and managing students
Submit a company application

Expandable List

To learn more about this exciting hiring opportunity, register to join the MSI Information Session taking place Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 12-1 p.m. on Zoom.

  1. Complete the application form between November 14 and December 1, 2024
  2. Host Startup Companies will be selected and notified by December 12, 2024

Students

Are you a student who wants to get paid to work for a startup full time this summer? Want to make real-world impact and get real-world experience? Apply to the McMaster Startup Immersion Internships!

Eligibility Criteria: 

Applicants must be a current undergraduate or graduate student at McMaster University. This program is open to:

  • All faculties and programs.
  • Both domestic and international students.
  • Both full time and part time students.

Benefits: 

  • Get real world experience working with a startup
  • Meaningful roles that make an impact
  • Training such as resume building and interview skills.
  • Networking and co-working opportunities through working with the McMaster Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
  • Invitation to the Student Staff Conference in Summer 2025
  • Immersion into the entrepreneurship ecosystem

Expandable List

To learn more about this exciting hiring opportunity, register to join the MSI Student Information and Bracelet Making Session taking place on Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 11:30am-1:30pm in Gilmour Hall 110. The session is drop in, but registration is encouraged.

  • Apply via OscarPlus to job postings between January 27- February 15, 2025
  • Top applicants will be invited for interviews during February -March 2025.
  • Successful applicants will be chosen in March 2025

Investor Analyst Fellowship

Are you a student who wants to learn about venture capital or startup investment? Want to apply your skills in the real world?
Become an Investor Analyst Fellow and get paid to learn!

Program Overview

Program Duration: January 20 – March 28, 2025.  
 
Program Structure: Part-time. Hybrid with asynchronous online learning and special in-person events. Convenient for students!

This program will recruit interested students to be trained in the fundamentals of venture capital (VC) due diligence processes. The program will run over 10 weeks, mid January to end of March 2025 and include the following:

  1. 6 weeks of content delivery (January 20 – February 28, 2025)
    Online resources such as Front Row Ventures Academy, a national program focused on developing student entrepreneurs and future investors will be accessed to learn aspects of VC deal breakdowns, VC decision process, investment philosophy, value proposition design and risk mitigation. In addition to online content, fellows will be provided with an in-person mentor to review concepts as a group and explore real life examples. There is an expectation of 5-7 hours per week over 6 weeks dedicated to this portion of the program.
  2. 4 weeks of experiential learning (March 3 – 28, 2025)
    Following the course, fellows will generate due diligence reports for companies applying to the McMaster Student Seed Fund program. Students will work in small teams under the supervision of an experienced mentor. There is an expectation of 8-10 hours per week dedicated to this portion of the program.

Students accepted into the fellowship will receive a $1,000 stipend upon program completion.

Benefits:

  • Learn key concepts about VC world and due diligence process
  • Get trained by experienced mentor
  • Apply newfound skills to vet real company funding applications – You help decide who gets $10k
  • Participate in Investor Pitch Days – Network with investors and entrepreneurs
  • Advance your future career with experiential learning
  • Receive $1,000 stipend

Eligibility:

  1. No prior education about VC or startup investment is necessary
  2. No prior experience with due diligence is necessary.
  3. You must be a current undergraduate or graduate student at McMaster University. This program is open to:
    • All faculties and programs.
    • Domestic and international students.
    • Full-time and part-time students

Expandable List

Application Deadline is January 6, 2025.

In order to apply for this opportunity, you must complete the following two steps:

Step 1 of 2: Find OSCARplus posting and click “I intend to apply for this opportunity” at the top of your OSCARplus screen; AND

Step 2 of 2: Submit the online Application Form.

Top applicants will be invited for virtual interviews during January 13-16, 2025.
Successful applicants will be announced on January 17, 2025 and invited to join the program.

Contact Mariya Leslie, Manager of Student Entrepreneurship at The Forge: mariya@theforge.mcmaster.ca 

 

Book a meeting during Forge Office Hours. Click here for OscarPlus booking instructions.