Startup Fellows Program
Startup Fellows is a selective, cohort-based fellowship where ambitious students join fast-growing Cincinnati startups to tackle real projects and grow alongside a community of future founders and operators.
Startup Fellows Program
Startup Fellows is a selective, cohort-based fellowship where ambitious students join fast-growing Cincinnati startups to tackle real projects and grow alongside a community of future founders and operators.
The Cintrifuse Startup Fellows Program places top-tier university students with high-growth Cincinnati startups on impactful, real-world projects.
The Startup Fellows Program connects curious, driven students with Cincinnati’s startup community. Whether you’re exploring entrepreneurship for the first time or already building something of your own, this program offers hands-on learning, meaningful work, and a community of founders and peers who are building what comes next.
Applications for the May – August 2026 cohort are now closed.
Hands-On Experience
Work on real problems, not hypothetical projects. Build skills you’ll use everywhere: product thinking, communication, teamwork, and resilience.
Community & Professional Development
You’ll learn alongside a cohort of peers and founders, with workshops, mentorship, and shared experiences that build real relationships and continue well beyond the summer.
Founder Mindset & Tools
Learn how startups actually operate: customer discovery, MVP testing, iteration, storytelling, and strategic decision-making under uncertainty.
Career Pathways in Cincinnati
Build relationships across Cincinnati with founders, hiring managers, investors, and alumni who are shaping the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Choose your startup path.
No two entrepreneurial journeys look the same. In this program, you can choose the path that matches where you are right now, whether you want to work inside a startup or build something of your own.
Startup Fellow (Full-Time Startup Role)
Work alongside a founder and contribute to real company growth.
Full-Time Startup Placement
Spend 10 weeks working at $17+/hour inside a high-growth Cincinnati startup.
Hands-On, Real Work
Contribute to project areas like product, marketing, engineering, design, sales, or operations.
Cohort & Community Support
Learn with a group of peers; join community gatherings, founder talks, and workshops that build your network and confidence.
Ideal Participants
Curious, proactive student who wants to learn how startups actually work and contribute meaningfully to a team, even if this is your first startup experience.
Builder Fellow (Venture-Building Track)
Build your startup idea with guidance and support.
$10,000 Non-Dilutive Grant
Use funding for prototyping, customer research, pilot testing, or personal runway while you build.
Structured Coaching & Founder Practice
Work through a guided curriculum focused on validation, iteration, and early traction.
Shared Community of Builders
Develop your idea alongside peers, mentors, and founders, gaining a supportive network that lasts beyond the summer.
Ideal Participants
A student with a concept or early direction (not necessarily a finished product) who is ready to test assumptions, talk to customers, and push their idea forward.
Here is how the fellowship experience works.
01.
Application
Students share their skills, interests, and what type of role they want to pursue. Startups submit a short role or project description, no polished job post required. We can help shape it if needed.02.
Curated Matching
Cintrifuse reviews every application and makes thoughtful, intentional matches based on company needs, student strengths, and shared working styles. Both sides confirm interest before moving forward.03.
Interviews
Once we identify a strong match, students and startups interview to explore skills, working style, and team fit. This conversation helps ensure the role aligns with what the student wants to learn and what the company needs to move forward.04.
Summer Cohort Experience
Once matched, Fellows begin their 10-week summer experience. Throughout the summer, the full cohort comes together for workshops, founder talks, peer circles, and community events.Are you a venture-backed founder or startup leader seeking motivated, talented interns to contribute to your startups' growth?
Upcoming program application deadlines & dates:
Upcoming cohort
Summer 2026 Startup Fellow Cohort
A 15-week internship program pairing motivated interns with high-growth startups, offering hands-on experience and mentorship to contribute to the startups’ success.
Applications open: November 20, 2025
Application deadline: Closed
Program Duration: May – August (exact dates vary by individual startup placement)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior startup experience to apply?
No. Curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn are the most important factors. Many Fellows are exploring startups for the first time.
What types of roles do Startup Fellows work in?
Roles vary by company, but common areas include marketing, product, design, software engineering, operations, customer research, and sales. We match based on your skills and interests.
What if I don’t have a fully formed business idea for the Founder Fellow track?
That’s okay. You simply need a direction, concept, or problem you want to explore. The program helps you validate, test, and shape the idea.
How does the matching process work?
After reviewing applications, we identify strong student–startup matches. You’ll then interview with the company to assess skills, working style, and team fit before any placement is finalized.
Are Fellows paid?
Yes. Startup Fellows are paid $17+/hour for full-time summer work. Founder Fellows receive a $10,000 non-dilutive grant to support building their venture.
Is this an in-person program?
Yes. Fellows work in-person in Cincinnati. The cohort experience—gatherings, workshops, founder talks—is designed to help you build lasting relationships in the StartupCincy community.
The Startup Fellows Program is a part of Cintrifuse’s intentionally designed lifecycle of support that meets founders where they are and helps them move from idea to launch to scale.
