The Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation connects University of Arkansas students with startups, entrepreneurship support organizations, and investor networks across Northwest Arkansas. Our programs are built to expose students to the realities of early-stage company decision-making, grow the entrepreneurial student community at the university and across the region, and give ventures access to talented student interns with as little administrative burden as possible.
A University of Arkansas program that places UA students in paid internships with startups, venture firms and entrepreneurial organizations. Students gain hands-on experience working 15 hours per week while participating in a cohort-based program focused on professional development, coaching and a capstone experience.
- Must be eligible to enroll in internship credit or co-op
- Any major can apply, GPA considered
- 15 hours/week for 12 consecutive weeks
- $15.00/hour
- Open to U of A students
A regional program led in partnership with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and NorthWest Arkansas Community College that connects UA and NWACC students with paid internships at Northwest Arkansas startups. Students work 10 hours per week for 12 weeks, and participating companies can host up to two interns at a time. Students receive professional development and cohort-based support, while participating founders take part in Nasdaq’s Milestone Circles program.
- Must be eligible to enroll in internship credit
- Any major can apply, GPA considered
- 10 hours/week for 12 consecutive weeks
- $15.00/hour
- Open to NWACC and U of A students
POWERED BY A GRANT FROM THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
HOW TO APPLY (STUDENTS)
Students from both the University of Arkansas and NWACC should apply here. Your application will get you considered for both VIP and Startup Intern Match programs.
Applications close on October 12, 2026.
FOR VENTURES & STARTUPS: HOST AN INTERN
Venture Application
Want to host a VIP intern? Organizations apply separately through the Venture Application.
The Venture Intern Program partners with startups and entrepreneurial organizations across Northwest Arkansas to give University of Arkansas students hands-on startup experience.
Eligible partners include scalable ventures (for-profit or nonprofit), entrepreneurship support organizations, accelerator programs, and investor networks that are actively building or growing their business.
A scalable venture is one that can grow revenue, impact, or operations without a proportional increase in resources, for example, a model built to expand through hiring, licensing, or replication, as opposed to a freelance service business.
Partner organizations should offer meaningful learning experiences that expose students to the realities of working in an entrepreneurial environment, such as strategy, fundraising, financial planning, and founder decision-making, alongside project-based work.
Organizations that have hosted a Venture Intern in previous semesters are welcome to apply again.
Participation 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 younger
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Tier 2 – Established Organizations
$3,000 per intern• Organizations six years or older
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Tier 3 – Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Organizations
$3,000 per intern• Accelerators or incubators• Venture capital or investor networks• Entrepreneurship support organizations serving startups
STUDENT GALLERY
ORGANIZATION GALLERY
Questions about VIP? Contact Ericka Talley, Senior Program Manager for Student Entrepreneur Programs, at etalley@walton.uark.edu