Entrepreneurial Summer Internship Program

Through the Entrepreneurial Summer Internship Program (ESIP), GSB students gain deep insight into the day-to-day activities of entrepreneurial ventures over 8-10 week summer internships with:

• Early-stage companies with promising business models and validation from customers and investors, between 5-50 employees, and pre-Series B funding; or
• Search fund-backed companies within two years of acquisition.

Only host companies that can provide dedicated mentorship will be approved.

We ask participating companies to contribute as much as they can toward student wages. ESIP does not provide specific guidance to companies about summer wages; however, a helpful resource for companies is the data on Summer Employment for MBA Students. If an approved company cannot pay market wages, ESIP may offer a supplemental stipend to students.  

Note, however, that ESIP has a maximum stipend award to enable as many students as possible to have a positive internship experience. Stipends are awarded on a rolling basis until program funds are completely distributed for the year or until 5 pm PT, May 24, 2024, whichever comes first. We encourage employers to make offers to students as soon as they have found an appropriate candidate.

Eligible Companies

We have created a checklist to help companies determine whether or not they meet the ESIP eligibility criteria.

Students accepting an ESIP stipend cannot have any form of equity (including stock options) in the company, nor can they take any equity while a part of ESIP.

Mentor Requirements

Each company must assign a mentor to work with its student intern. The mentor should be:

• A seasoned industry expert and/or entrepreneur with 10 to 15 years of significant and relevant experience; and
• Able to interact with the student at least weekly.

The mentor does not need to be the day-to-day supervisor. A board director or investor actively engaged with the company may also serve as a mentor if company founders do not meet the above requirements.

Application and Recruitment Process

How you apply to ESIP depends on whether you have identified a student for the intern position.

Applying Without a Student

If you are interested in hiring a student but do not have a candidate identified, you may apply for pre-approval and then recruit a student.

1. Complete the ESIP employer application.
2. Post your position through the Stanford GSB Job Board. You don’t need to wait for ESIP approval to post the job.
3. Identify and interview candidates.
4. Once you have found a desirable student, extend an offer.
5. Have your candidate submit their ESIP student application to us for approval.

We will market approved ESIP opportunities to students via various methods. However, each company must do its own recruiting, as we do not offer a matching service. If students are interested, they will contact you directly; you schedule and conduct your interviews. You are not obligated to hire a student if you do not find a suitable candidate, nor are you guaranteed a student.

Applying With a Student

If you have already identified a student intern, you and the student may apply together once you have extended an offer to a student.

1. After a student accepts your offer, ask them to fill out the ESIP student application.
2. An email will be sent to your company with a link to the employer portion of the application for completion.