Programs

Skandalaris Summer Internship Opportunities

The summer internship program hosted by the Skandalaris Center is an immersive 10-week experience that provides access and insight to the dynamic environment and needs of a startup. This program is designed to enhance entrepreneurial skills, provide tools and resources for professional development, and immerse you in the greater St. Louis ecosystem.

Benefits:

  • Full-time paid internship supported by the Skandalaris Center.
    • Compensation for the summer program is $6,000. Funds are distributed in 4 installments of $1,500 (May 29, June 29, July 30, and August 28)
      • Housing is not provided. Living arrangements are the sole responsibility of the intern.
  • Programming and professional development opportunities provided through weekly engagements
  • Build your network through interactions with student-led startups, St. Louis area founders, and your fellow interns
  • Dedicated support by the Skandalaris Center staff during the course of the program

Qualifications for Skandalaris Summer Internships

Are you a current student interested in exploring entrepreneurship through an internship with a startup this summer?

Applications for Summer 2026 have closed.

Interested candidates will first complete a qualification application for the program. Once qualified, you will receive an email with access to an exclusive opportunities board with details on individual internships that are available. We are planning to launch the opportunities board on February 23, 2026.

This program is open to currently enrolled WashU undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent alumni (graduated May 2025 or later). If you are a current student, you must have plans to enroll in courses in the fall 2026 semester.

  • Please note: Currently enrolled students at a STLREE college/university are eligible to apply for an internship with a WashU student-founded startup.

Expectations

  • Commitment to working full-time (40 hours/week; Monday – Friday) through the duration of the program
    • Internships will begin Monday, June 1, and end on Friday, August 7. We will be hosting a mandatory kick-off breakfast for all founders and interns on Monday, June 1.
    • July 4 is the only observed holiday / day off.
  • Actively engage in projects and assignments from your founder, as well as participating in Skandalaris weekly programming. Failure to participate or failure to meet the expectations of your founder and/or the Skandalaris Center can result in your removal from the program.
  • Attendance at weekly Wednesday afternoon programming hosted by the Skandalaris Center is mandatory. An unexcused absence from one event will result in a warning; an additional unexcused absence will result in removal from the program.

Important 2026 Summer Program Dates

  • Wednesday, January 14: Qualification Application Opens
  • Monday, February 23: Exclusive opportunities board will launch with available internships. Qualified students will be provided access starting on this date and on rolling basis thereafter.
  • Monday, June 1: Internship Begins / Kick-off Breakfast
  • Friday, July 4: Holiday Observed
  • Wednesday, August 5: Skandalaris Launchpad Expo
  • Friday, August 7: Internship Ends

Frequently Asked Questions

Monday, June 1 through Friday, August 7. Independence Day will be observed July 4 by the University. Outside of this date, additional vacation time is not permitted

The application deadline to qualify for the summer program is Monday, April 20. Due to limited space in our program, we strongly encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.

As we are actively recruiting startup founders to participate in the program, we will compile those opportunities into one exclusive opportunities board. Those postings will go live on February 23, and continue to be updated as additional internships become available.

After qualifying for the program, individual internship opportunities will be listed. These will include specific details that founders are looking for, including area of expertise and/or job roles (i.e. marketing, social media, programming, etc.). You are able to apply to any roles that are of interest, and founders will review applications and interview candidates that fit their needs.

Each week, we will host programming aimed at professional development, creating connections, and overall engagement with the WashU and St. Louis communities. This will include workshops, panels, presentations, group activities, and more! These sessions are mandatory and failure to attend will result in removal from the program.

Interns are able to participate in and receive monetary support from one program during the summer. Interns are not eligible for multiple funding programs simultaneously and therefore cannot participate in other paid opportunities in addition to the Skandalaris program.

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