Keenan Center Internships

group of over 20 LaunchpadOSU students huddled together in a planning meeting

The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship student internships are designed to be a meaningful, practical, and collaborative partnership with programming staff to facilitate a full spectrum of resources and education to Ohio State-affiliated entrepreneurs.

The  internship program allows students to get hands-on experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem while exploring their own career opportunities. Interns will participate in all areas of Keenan Center programming, from building showcase events and creating brand awareness to shaping the day-to-day operations of the programming team.

Student Brand Ambassador

Student Brand Ambassadors lead targeted outreach efforts on behalf of the Keenan Center to promote entrepreneurship resources to Ohio State students, faculty, and staff. Students in this position will identify stakeholders within their assigned academic college who may want to engage with the Keenan Center while creating and executing outreach tactics to activate the audience.

Duties include:

  • Developing and leading one entrepreneurship workshop or event per semester engaging students within the interns’ respective academic college
  • Identifying opportunities for the Keenan Center to collaborate with academic college initiatives and goals
  • Creating and facilitating presentations to student groups and classes to promote Keenan Center programs and resources
  • Driving communication to students, faculty, and staff while assisting with the curation and dissemination of educational materials (i.e., articles, webinars, videos)
  • Assisting with event coordination for Keenan Center programs, including but not limited to Best of Student Startups (BOSS), President’s Buckeye Accelerator, Buckeye Venture Mentor Service, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars
  • Facilitating meetings with students interested in accessing entrepreneurial resources
  • Other duties may include but are not limited to developing brand strategy, surveying, and other general duties as assigned.

Students in this position are asked to work 10-15 hours per week during the academic year.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities
Desired attributes include:

  • Current Ohio State student at the undergraduate or graduate level
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team
  • Interest and experience working with entrepreneurial students, faculty, alumni, and staff
  • Passion for expanding the network and resources of Ohio State’s startup ecosystem
  • Effective communication and organizational skills
  • Experience or interest in planning and implementation of programs and events

Anticipated Time Breakdown

  • 30% – Creating and facilitating presentations to student groups and classes to promote Keenan Center programs and resources
  • 30% – Developing and leading one entrepreneurship workshop or event
  • 30% – Driving communication to students, faculty, and staff while assisting with the curation and dissemination of educational materials (i.e., articles, webinars, videos)
  • 10% – Event coordination and execution

Additional Information

The Ohio State University and the Office of Innovation and Economic Development value diversity in people and ideas. We are an inclusive, supportive community where our team can comfortably join in or confidently stand out. We treat everyone with dignity, kindness, and fairness regardless of origins, views, or affiliations. We demonstrate commitment to the ideas of diversity such as fostering diverse viewpoints and perspectives, allowing us to perform our best work.

Due to U.S. export control regulations governing information, technology, and facilities accessed during the performance of work, applicants must be: (1) U.S. citizens or nationals; (2) permanent residents; (3) asylees or refugees; or (4) individuals otherwise described as “protected individuals” pursuant to Title 8 U.S. Code Section 1324b(a)(3)(b).

Ohio State will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Apply today.

Student Marketing Assistants

Student Marketing Assistants play a critical role in developing and executing integrated marketing initiatives that support brand objectives. Students in this position can interact with and learn from seasoned marketing and communications professionals while bringing the Keenan Center brand to life across multiple channels alongside the Programming team.

Duties include:

  • Creating multi-channel content that resonates with the identified target audience
  • Managing communication between internal and external stakeholders – includes text, graphic and visual content, and in-person communication
  • Leveraging quantitative and qualitative data from digital channels (i.e., social media, website, email) to measure impact
  • Assisting the Programming team with event planning and promotion, focusing on student-focused initiatives, including but not limited to Best of Student Startups (BOSS), President’s Buckeye Accelerator, Buckeye Venture Mentor Service, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars
  • Executing marketing tactics and brand building while participating in the development of the Keenan Canter brand strategy
  • Other duties may include but are not limited to benchmarking, working with assigned student ventures, surveying, and other general duties as assigned.

Students in this position are asked to work 10-15 hours per week during the academic year.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities
Desired attributes include:

  • Current Ohio State student at the undergraduate or graduate level
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team
  • Interest and experience working with entrepreneurial students, faculty, alumni, and staff
  • Passion for expanding the network and resources of Ohio State’s startup ecosystem
  • Effective communication and organizational skills
  • Experience or interest in planning and implementation of programs and events

Anticipated Time Breakdown

  • 40% – Creating multi-channel content that resonates with the identified target audience
  • 30% – Event coordination and execution
  • 20% – Managing communication between internal and external stakeholders – includes text, graphic and visual content, and in-person communication
  • 10% – Leveraging quantitative and qualitative data from digital channels (i.e., social media, website, email) to measure impact

Additional Information

The Ohio State University and the Office of Innovation and Economic Development value diversity in people and ideas. We are an inclusive, supportive community where our team can comfortably join in or confidently stand out. We treat everyone with dignity, kindness, and fairness regardless of origins, views, or affiliations. We demonstrate commitment to the ideas of diversity such as fostering diverse viewpoints and perspectives, allowing us to perform our best work.

Due to U.S. export control regulations governing information, technology, and facilities accessed during the performance of work, applicants must be: (1) U.S. citizens or nationals; (2) permanent residents; (3) asylees or refugees; or (4) individuals otherwise described as “protected individuals” pursuant to Title 8 U.S. Code Section 1324b(a)(3)(b).

Ohio State will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.\

Apply today.

Student Entrepreneurial Program Assistant

Student Program Assistants bring entrepreneurial programs and resources to life. Students in this position will develop, plan, and execute initiatives designed to grow and strengthen the Ohio State entrepreneurial ecosystem. Interns will work alongside the Programming team to implement ongoing Keenan Center programs, while select interns will work directly with an innovative, Ohio State-affiliated startup company.

Duties include:

  • Planning and implementing projects for an assigned initiative – working independently or with a team of 2-4 interns
  • Providing administrative support while supporting the accomplishment of program objectives
  • Assisting with event coordination for Keenan Center programs, including but not limited to Best of Student Startups (BOSS), President’s Buckeye Accelerator, Buckeye Venture Mentor Service, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars
  • Creating, curating, and systemizing educational materials to be used across all programming areas
  • Maintaining program records, researching information, gathering related data, and producing reports or summaries as directed
  • Working on a project-needed basis with an assigned startup company
  • Other duties may include benchmarking, managing communication between internal and external stakeholders, marketing student-led programs and events, and other general duties as assigned.

Students in this position are asked to work 10-15 hours per week during the academic year.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities
Desired attributes include:

  • Current Ohio State student at the undergraduate or graduate level
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team
  • Interest and experience working with entrepreneurial students, faculty, alumni, and staff
  • Passion for expanding the network and resources of Ohio State’s startup ecosystem
  • Effective communication and organizational skills
  • Experience or interest in planning and implementation of programs and events

Anticipated Time Breakdown

  • 60% – Planning and implementing projects for the Keenan Center or assigned startup company
  • 20% – Event coordination and execution
  • 10% – Maintaining program records, researching information, gathering related data, producing reports or summaries as directed
  • 10% – Creating, curating, and systemizing educational materials

Additional Information

The Ohio State University and the Office of Innovation and Economic Development value diversity in people and ideas. We are an inclusive, supportive community where our team can comfortably join in or confidently stand out. We treat everyone with dignity, kindness, and fairness regardless of origins, views, or affiliations. We demonstrate commitment to the ideas of diversity such as fostering diverse viewpoints and perspectives, allowing us to perform our best work.

Due to U.S. export control regulations governing information, technology, and facilities accessed during the performance of work, applicants must be: (1) U.S. citizens or nationals; (2) permanent residents; (3) asylees or refugees; or (4) individuals otherwise described as “protected individuals” pursuant to Title 8 U.S. Code Section 1324b(a)(3)(b).

Ohio State will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Apply today.

The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship carefully selects MBA and graduate-level students to serve as Venture Development Interns in paid positions to support emerging technologies and startup companies.

Ven Dev Interns see a variety of activities in technology development and assessment, business leader recruitment, startup creation, capital-raising efforts, and portfolio company operation. Working closely with a specific KCE team leader, VDIs help assist the KCE team, OSU-faculty innovators, and university spinouts / startups with a variety of activities, from putting together pitch decks, assessing market opportunities and competitive landscapes, identifying capital resources, informing overall business plan development, and aiding KCE in supporting and monitoring OSU startups’ development and progress.

Responsibilities

  • Assist the Venture Development team in the due diligence process to evaluate potential startup technologies, including market sizing, analysis of industry trends and news, competitor identification and analysis, financial modeling, and valuation
  • Assist in the ideation and development of appropriate business models for startup technologies
  • Conduct market and background research independently (with some guidance), analyze findings and effectively communicate with the Venture Development team and startup leaders
  • Create technology summaries, pitch decks and other marketing materials of Technology pipeline opportunities for potential investors, entrepreneurs, and marketing campaigns
  • Help refine the process for advancing technologies through Venture Development to economic realization, from invention disclosure to startup launch to post-startup support and monitoring

Ven Dev Interns may gain further experience by working closely with professionals in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, primarily faculty and staff within the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Current enrollment as Ohio State University MBA/graduate-level student/postdoc
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident status
  • Availability to work up to 8-10 hours per week

Desired Qualifications

  • Excellent written, communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team
  • Strong curiosity, research and presentation skills
  • Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills, and comfort with complexity and ambiguity
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint
  • Innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, physical sciences, investment and/or startup experience is helpful

Additional Information:

We are seeking eight (8) curious, exceptional individuals with a strong interest or passion for entrepreneurship . Ven Dev Interns are expected to work 8-10 hours with work primarily occurring on-site at the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship’s offices plus potential flexibility for some off-site / remote work.

The rate of pay is $15.00/hour.

Due to U.S. export control regulations governing information, technology, and facilities accessed during the performance of this work, applicants must be:  (1) U.S. citizens or nationals; (2) permanent residents; (3) asylees or refugees; or (4) individuals otherwise described as “protected individuals” pursuant to Title 8 U.S. Code Section 1324b(a)(3)(b).

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.  A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Career application within Workday. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other basis under the law.

Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit the Equal Employment Identification form.