Entrepreneurial Intern - Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Bowling Green State University•Main Campus (BG), OH

About The Position

The Entrepreneurial Internship provides students with hands-on experience supporting the growth of an early-stage company. Interns work directly with founders and small teams, typically with 0–10 employees, to help solve real business challenges and gain exposure to the realities of launching and scaling a venture. Rather than having narrowly defined responsibilities, interns contribute across multiple functions according to the business’s needs. Projects may include customer discovery, operations, product development, marketing, sales, research, business strategy, process improvement, and other high-impact initiatives. The internship develops an entrepreneurial mindset through ownership, adaptability, collaboration, and experiential learning. Entrepreneurial Internships are coordinated through the Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green State University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining an employment and educational environment free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics. BGSU is an E-Verify employer. Hires must provide acceptable original identification documents for employment verification through the Federal I-9 process. Applicants with disabilities may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Human Resources.

Requirements

Current Bowling Green State University undergraduate or graduate student.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to think critically and solve problems independently.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, or startup companies.
Willingness to learn, adapt, and take initiative.

Nice To Haves

Coursework or experience in entrepreneurship, business, engineering, marketing, design, computer science, communications, or related disciplines.
Experience working on collaborative projects.
Familiarity with market research, customer discovery, or project management.
Interest in startups, innovation, product development, or business growth.

Responsibilities

Support founders and leadership teams with strategic and operational initiatives.
Contribute to projects that help the company develop, launch, or scale products, services, or operations.
Conduct customer, competitor, and market research to support business decisions.
Assist with customer discovery, user feedback collection, and validation activities.
Identify opportunities to improve business processes, efficiency, or customer experience.
Participate in planning, problem-solving, and cross-functional team meetings.
Assist with project management, documentation, and execution of key initiatives.
Develop presentations, reports, and other business communications.
Adapt to evolving priorities and contribute wherever the business has the greatest need.
Demonstrate professionalism, initiative, and ownership in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
Take initiative to learn new tools, systems, or procedures on the job.
Maintain a positive, growth-oriented mindset when facing challenges.
Adjust communication tone and approach based on the audience.
Present ideas or updates clearly and in an organized manner.
Analyze problems and propose practical solutions.
Break down tasks into steps to complete work more efficiently.