The Project for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, based at 605 Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz is a collaboration between the City of Santa Cruz and UCSC designed to support a culture of entrepreneurship by placing select student interns into high tech and green tech startups.
What We Are
This program is for motivated students who want to take control of of their careers — even before they start.
We aim to reinforce the lessons students have learned at UCSC and give students some solid professional skills and a resume line item to take into the world after graduation.
If you’re a self starter, if you’re unafraid to make connections, to build your network and hone your skills, we’re here for you — but we’re not able to hold your hand.
How We Do It
Look around the site, and read up on the companies involved. If you see a position that interests you, apply. The form emails your potential future boss and BCC the program admins. If you get a ping back from the employer, set up an interview. Ask questions, figure out if this is something you want to do.If you get an offer, we’ll refer you on to our faculty allies to get you credit for your time. About half of these internships are paid.
You’re going to be working in fast paced, creative, growing businesses and it’s up to you to balance that experience with your other classes and work requirements. Most interns put in about 10 hours a week at their job sites working on everything from User Experience and database coding to marketing, social media management and even environmental remediation and chemistry. We have lots of cool places to work.
To reinforce the lessons learned on the job, we’ve set up a weekly speakers series on Fridays at 605 Front Street office featuringexecutives and founders speaking on topics like scaling & exit strategies, resource & software development, funding, financing, community building and strategy.
We have bankers and lawyers, VCs and inventors, CEOs and directors of companies both small and large. These are good people to know, and they have good lessons to impart. Check the blog for write-ups on some of the topics we’ve covered. And some of the talented and connected people that have volunteered their time to make this program successful: Folks from Apple, from SVB, from the City Council, from Ecology Action.
Also, graduates of the program are also able to use our physical space to incubate their ideas for new businesses. The PIE space has helped to incubate seven student companies in the last year. Some are still going, some have failed, all have benefited from the experience.
If this is of interest, but you have questions, drop us a line at inovatesantacruzATgmailDOTcom
Thank you to all those who applied this quarter and congratulations to the new students on board. All applications are currently closed so please check back again next quarter!