Advancing San Diego: Small Businesses & Startups
Through Advancing San Diego, we will provide up to 100 San Diego-based companies with paid interns in the fields of software, engineering, life sciences, and business, among others.
Ninety-eight percent of companies in San Diego have less than 100 employees, and those companies employ 60 percent of our local workforce. Often times, smaller companies face barriers (like time and resources) in connecting with and hiring local talent.
Advancing San Diego is funded by
How it works
- YOU create an internship job description – you know what’s best at your company!
- Advancing San Diego vets the students and the programs they come from. We’ve worked to create a list of Verified Programs – vetted talent providers that companies have deemed effective at helping prepare students for entry level jobs.
- You receive access to a pool of qualified students and recent grads who are interested in opportunities at your company – We provide ‘matchmaking’ services to help you find the best fit. Interns will go through your hiring process.
- Advancing San Diego pays your intern and provides support services to help your intern succeed! – No really, we do. In addition to taking care of the wages, select interns may be eligible for a $500 stipend to help with equipment and services that directly contribute to their success in the workplace!
Small companies who meet the eligibility criteria are selected as part of a competitive application process. All interns will come from education programs designated as Verified Programs.
Eligibility requirements
- Have an established office in San Diego County
- Commit to a minimum of two interns for a 240 hour internship each
- Apply for interns, submitting an internship project description that outlines a meaningful work experience for students
Frequently Asked Questions
View our internship program FAQ here, and read stories from our past interns about their experience on EDC’s blog.
Taylor Dunne
Director, Talent Initiatives
Host Companies Map
The following small companies were selected as part of a competitive application process to provide internship experiences to students from education programs designated as Preferred Providers.
