Summer Internship Funding
Get paid + work experience
Connects ambitious students with innovative startups and cutting-edge venture capital firms for a transformative 12-week experience.
- Build invaluable connections
- Gain hands-on, real-world exposure
- Sharpen entrepreneurial skills
The ZLI Summer Internship program no longer has funding available for summer 2026 internships.
FOR STUDENTS…
Sophomores, juniors, and returning graduate students are eligible to apply for internship opportunities through ZLI’s Summer Internship Funding Program. ZLI provides 3 unique opportunities to receive internship funding: Company-Driven, Student-Driven, and the Summer Student Accelerator.
Company-Driven Internships: Opportunities sourced by the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Student-Driven Internships: Students source their own internship opportunities and request funding from the Zell Lurie Institute.
Summer Student Accelerator: A three-month, self-led program giving founders the freedom to drive their ventures.
Company-Driven & Student-Driven Internships: The funding offered through this program is “matched”. This means that ZLI will match what the host company offers, up to $25/hr for undergraduate students and up to $40/hr for graduate students for a 12-week, full-time internship.
Example for graduate internship: If a company is paying their graduate intern $20/hr, ZLI will match the $20/hr rate for a total salary of $40/hr. However, if a company is paying their graduate intern $15/hr, ZLI will match the $15/hr rate for a total salary of $30/hr.
To be eligible for funding, you must not be earning more than $25/hr as an undergraduate intern and no more than $40/hr as a graduate intern.
Summer Student Accelerator: Student founders working on their venture full-time over the summer will receive $10,000 from the Zell Lurie Institute.
Company-Driven Internships: Students must submit their resume and a cover letter.
Student-Driven Internships: Students must submit a completed application form and a signed offer letter.
Summer Student Accelerator: Students must submit a completed application form and attach their resume and pitch deck.
Company-Driven + Student-Driven:
- Internship Plan (due by the 2nd week of your internship)
- Donor Thank You Letter (due by Monday, July 6th)
- Exit Survey (due at the end of internship)
Summer Student Accelerator:
- Summer goals outline (due by the start of the internship)
- Donor Thank You Letter
- Exit Survey (due at the end of internship)
For companies…
Startups and VC firms seeking to hire Michigan students for full-time summer internships can receive funding from the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship.
To be eligible, companies must have significant financial need and must be seeking an intern to fill a business role at the company.
Applications for Summer 2026 are now closed. Please add your name to this interest form to be added to our email list for Summer 2027 internships.
Applications for Summer 2026 are now closed. Please add your name to this interest form to be added to our email list for Summer 2027 internships.
ZLI’s Summer internship funding is “matched” dollar for dollar, up to a salary cap. Undergraduate interns can earn up to $25/hr and graduate interns can earn up to $40/hr. These amounts include the contributions from the host company and from the Zell Lurie Institute.