New Tech Pilot Program Helps Students Get Paid Internships at Startups at CREATE-X and Beyond
Startups need talent. Students need experience. But too often, cost keeps them apart. Georgia Tech’s Office of Commercialization is breaking down that barrier—funding internships that give students real-world exposure while helping young companies scale—the result: faster startup growth, new jobs, and a stronger Atlanta tech economy.
Doubling Down on Entrepreneurship
As part of its refreshed strategic plan, Georgia Tech is making a “Big Bet” to build a national hub for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship in Atlanta. The goal is to amplify Georgia Tech’s role in the local tech ecosystem from deep technology ventures to creative startups and cement Atlanta as a vibrant entrepreneurial center. The Office of Commercialization is leading the charge, finding new ways to bring students into the startup ecosystem and strengthen Atlanta’s innovation pipeline.
To tackle the challenge of early-stage startups lacking funds for interns, the Office partnered with the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) to expand its summer internship program into the tech startup arena. SCoRE traditionally places students in sustainability-focused community organizations, but with the Office of Commercialization as a co-sponsor, the program now funds student internships at startups like Lilypad Health. This model expands access to the Atlanta startup ecosystem for students while providing much-needed talent to resource-strapped founders.
“The Office of Commercialization stepped up to be a sponsor and pay the intern to work at a startup,” noted Kayli Harlan, the Program Manager at the Office of Commercialization. By covering stipends ($4,000 for part-time or $8,000 for full-time summer), the initiative enables students to gain real-world experience without sacrificing income, while companies receive critical support. Last summer, a Georgia Tech student intern collaborated with Endeavor Atlanta as a proof-of-concept project. Building on that success, another student joined Lilypad Health. These early pilots demonstrated the model’s value: startups gain talent and perspective, and students gain hands-on experience.
Michael A. Dixon, Senior Director of SCoRE, stated, “At its core, this program is more than students sharpening classroom knowledge with real-world skills; it plays a vital role in cultivating entrepreneurship and economic development.” By helping startups access the talent they need to grow, the initiative accelerates company formation, drives job creation, and supports the growth of new industries in Atlanta. Each intern placed in a startup contributes not only to that company’s success but also to the city’s long-term competitiveness. The result is a stronger innovation economy that attracts investment, retains talent, and positions Atlanta as a national leader in entrepreneurship.
These internships create a win-win: students sharpen classroom knowledge with real-world skills, startups gain the talent they need to scale, and Atlanta cements its reputation as a rising tech hub. With expansion on the horizon, this pilot is set to become a cornerstone of Georgia Tech’s entrepreneurship and economic development strategy.
Students Gain Hands-On Experience
Working at a startup can be a radically different internship experience compared with a corporate setting. “[Early stage] startups are less structured, but there’s better insight into the decision-making process, how startups work, and getting that kind of experience,” said Ethan Damiani, a Georgia Tech student entrepreneur and cofounder of Lilypad Health, an award-winning startup developing a non-invasive at-home blood screening tool. “In small teams, interns wear many hats and witness pivotal decisions firsthand, gaining exposure to the nuts and bolts of building a business.”
Uduak Udom, a student at Georgia State University, interned with Lilypad Health. “At a startup, I had more freedom and could work on projects instead of doing just busy work,” she said. “You need all the skills,” she added, emphasizing the breadth of responsibility and exposure in a startup setting. From marketing to product development, students contribute meaningfully to company goals while gaining confidence and practical skills that will shape their careers.
“The internship program also provides professional development through weekly seminars, including site visits that expose interns to sustainability innovators and entrepreneurs across the city,” says Ruthie Yow, Associate Director of SCoRE.
Supporting Startups and Building the Ecosystem
This approach aligns with broader efforts to nurture talent in Atlanta. Like the City of Atlanta’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which places thousands of young people in paid internships each summer, Georgia Tech’s startup internship program focuses on college students and early-stage startups, investing in young talent while strengthening the local innovation ecosystem. By connecting students with meaningful, hands-on work, providing startups with critical support, and fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial environment, the pilot reinforces a winning strategy for all stakeholders. As the program continues to scale, it is poised to play an increasingly important role in Georgia Tech’s entrepreneurship and economic development efforts, while contributing to Atlanta’s reputation as a rising hub for innovation and business.