Skandalaris Internship Program - SkIP 2025

Unlock your startup's potential with top talent!

The Skandalaris Internship Program (SkIP), subsidized by generous donors, is an exclusive 10-week summer initiative designed to connect innovative St. Louis startups with a pipeline of exceptional WashU students to help drive the growth of your venture and nurture talent development in St Louis.

Eligible startups can host one full-time intern from Monday, June 2 to Friday, August 8, 2025. Interns work five days a week, eight hours a day, with one half-day per week dedicated to Skandalaris programming. The structured Skandalaris programming ensures meaningful contributions to your startup while investing in the innovators of tomorrow.

Applications for Summer 2025 have closed.

Benefits for participating founders and startups:

Gain access to highly motivated WashU students and recent alumni who bring fresh perspectives, innovative skills, and diverse talents to your startup.

Access to WashU's world-class institutional resources and leadership certifications.

Join a community of innovators and startup founders to benefit from unique networking opportunities.

The Skandalaris Center handles all intern payments and administrative responsibilities, including tax liabilities, HR onboarding, and OPT/CPT for international interns, allowing you to focus on scaling your business and integrating your intern into your company culture.

Eligibility Criteria

Operations must be based in the St. Louis region.
Have a team of at least two full-time founders or one full-time founder with additional full-time employees.
Employ fewer than 100 employees and be less than 10 years old.
Offer internships in a formal office or co-working space; remote work is not permitted.
To qualify for the program, you must be a growth-minded startup that is looking to scale.
Startups incorporated within the last 5 years must pay $2,000 to participate in the program. Startups who have been incorporated for more than 5 years must pay $3,000 to participate. (Note: any participants from 2024 will pay $500 more in 2025).

Apply to SkIP

Important Program Dates

Friday, January 17: Application for founders opens

Friday, February 14: Application for founders closes at 5:00 p.m. CT

Monday, February 24: Summer Opportunity Job Board goes live

Friday, April 4: Last day for founder/intern matches

Monday, June 2: Kick-off breakfast and orientation

Wednesday, August 6: Skandalaris Launchpad Expo*

Friday, August 8: Program ends

*The Skandalaris Launchpad Expo is an end of summer showcase for students founders in our Launchpad program. We strongly encourage SkIP founders to attend and support your fellow founders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates of the Skandalaris Launchpad Program?

Monday, June 2 through Friday, August 8. Independence Day will be observed on July 4.

When is the application deadline for founders?

The application will open on Friday, January 17 and will close on Friday, February 14 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

How can I learn more about SkIP and ask questions before applying?

Please reach out to Dave Kanoff (dkanoff@wustl.edu) with any questions you have about participating in the program.

When will I be notified of my acceptance status?

You will be notified within one week of your application if you are accepted into the program or if a first-time applicant phone call is required.