SUMMARY
The Venture Intern Program matches talented undergraduate students from the University of Arkansas with startups, entrepreneurship support organizations, and investor networks for semester-long internships and provides training to help them to succeed in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
The Venture Internship Program has three goals:
- Provide students with exposure to the workings of early-stage companies and the decision-making/negotiations inherent to startup environments,
- Develop the entrepreneurial student community at the University of Arkansas and throughout the region, and
- Allow startups and entrepreneurship support organizations to recruit talented student interns with as little administrative burden as possible.
Applications for Fall 2026 will open March 13, 2026.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Program Expectations
Students selected for the program are expected to:
- Commit to working a minimum of 15 hours per week for 12 consecutive weeks
- Actively participate in the following throughout the semester:
Orientation
2 small group sessions
Mid-semester check-in with GA
Weekly reflections (VIP Field Notebook)
Capstone presentation
Eligibility Requirements for Students:
To be eligible for this program, students must:
- Be a junior or senior in good standing from any discipline at the University of Arkansas
- Be approved to enroll in at least one credit hour of co-op credit within their respective college. Please confirm eligibility with your academic advisor. (Walton College students must have completed their business core requirements.)
- Hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students who fall below this threshold but demonstrate exceptional qualifications may still be considered.
Compensation:
Students will be paid $15.00 per hour and are expected to work an average of 15 hours per week.
Co-op/Internship Credit:
All participants must enroll in a minimum of one credit hour. Students are responsible for coordinating enrollment with their respective college, as requirements vary across colleges at the University of Arkansas
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The Venture Intern Program partners with startups and entrepreneurial organizations across Northwest Arkansas to provide University of Arkansas students with hands-on startup experience.
Eligible partner organizations include scalable ventures (for-profit or nonprofit), entrepreneurship support organizations, accelerator programs, and investor networks. Ventures participating in the program are actively building or growing their business.
For the purposes of this program, a scalable venture is one that can grow its revenue, impact, or operations without a proportional increase in resources. For example, a freelance service business may not be scalable, while a company with a model designed to expand through hiring, licensing, or replication could qualify.
Partner organizations should provide meaningful learning experiences that expose students to the realities of working in an entrepreneurial environment. In addition to project-based work, interns may gain exposure to areas such as strategy, fundraising, financial planning, leadership discussions, and founder decision-making.
Organizations that have hosted a Venture Intern in previous semesters are welcome to apply again.
Participation Tiers
Organizations participate in the program through the following tiers:
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Tier 1 – Early-Stage Ventures$1,500 for the first intern; $3,000 for each additional intern• For-profit or nonprofit ventures five years old or youngerTier 2 – Established Organizations$3,000 per intern• Organizations six years or olderTier 3 – Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Organizations$3,000 per intern• Accelerators or incubators• Venture capital or investor networks• Entrepreneurship support organizations serving startups
Questions
For questions about the Venture Intern Program, contact Ericka Talley, Venture Intern Program Manager, at etalley@walton.uark.edu.