Program Overview

Introduction to the SternWorks Program

The SternWorks program is an initiative by NYU Stern to fund summer internships in diverse post-MBA career areas. This program is designed to support first-year full-time MBA students and dual-degree MBA students by providing a salary supplement for their 10-week summer internship, up to a total of $15,000, including minimum employer compensation.

Program Guidelines

To be eligible for the SternWorks program, students must meet specific criteria, and host companies must adhere to certain guidelines. The program is categorized into three main areas: Social and Environmental Impact, Startup, and Early-stage PE/VC. Each category has its own set of requirements and minimum employer contributions.

Social and Environmental Impact

• Must meet one of the following designators:
  • Hold 501c3 tax status (non-profits)
  • Be a government entity
  • Hold B Corp certification
• Minimum employer contribution: $3,000 per 10-week internship

Startup

• Must meet one of the following designators:
  • Are operational and funded/financed
  • Between 5 and 200 employees
  • Less than $25M in total revenue
  • Consulting and research companies may apply
  • Any Series B+ startups will not be considered
• Minimum employer contribution: $5,000 per 10-week internship

Early-stage PE/VC

• Must meet one of the following designators:
  • Have <$100m in assets under management
  • Have between two and seven full-time investors
• Minimum employer contribution: $5,000 per 10-week internship

Host Company Responsibilities

Host companies are required to:

• Pay at least the funding minimum based on the organization
• Be based in the U.S.
• Commit to having a senior leader mentor and work with the student on a regular basis
• Clearly define student responsibilities upfront
• Provide written confirmation (e.g., offer letter) of alignment with SternWorks, including:
  • Fellowship is full-time, defined as a minimum of 35 hours per week
  • Number of weeks working and/or dates of employment (10 weeks)
  • Confirmation of the organization meeting SternWorks criteria
  • Confirmation of the organization's commitment to meet the stipend requirement

The Projects

Stern MBA students come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and any project should be tailored to the goals and capabilities of that student. Past internships have included projects focused on areas such as business strategy, marketing, business development and sales, operations, and financial modeling.

Sharing Opportunities

Eligible employers can share their SternWorks internship opportunities, which will be posted in the system for approved students to select from. However, posting a job that meets all requirements does not guarantee an MBA1 student fellow, as approved students must opt to pick a qualified organization to match with their approved funding.