The ENtern Program
The ENtern Entrepreneurship Intern Program
The ENtern Entrepreneurship Intern Program was created by the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program in the Penn State College of Engineering School of Engineering Design and Innovation. The goal of the program is to provide entrepreneurship students with experience in startups and to provide startups with student help they may not be able to otherwise afford.
Through a partnership between the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program and Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, the entrepreneurship internship (ENtern) program pairs entrepreneurship students with startup companies currently participating in Happy Valley LaunchBox’s FastTrack Accelerator or Invent Penn State’s Summer Founders program.
We also partner with companies working with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the Small Business Development Center and other local startups.
Through their internships, ENterns are directly exposed to the startup environment and can explore their entrepreneurship interests and the startup culture. They gain real-world experience as an employee of an early-stage venture, building their resumes and potentially identifying employment opportunities in the Centre Region.
If you are a startup founder interested in learning more about the program or are ready to hire an ENtern, please contact Ted Graef, Director of the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program, for more info at eship@engr.psu.edu.
To apply for an ENtern position, a student must have taken or currently be taking any entrepreneurship class in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor. Optimally the student has declared the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor which is available to any student at Penn State.
Applicants apply for one of the positions below and get “hired.” You will be onboarded through the program and complete your 150 hours of assistance over a time period worked out between you and your sponsor.
Yes, this is a paid opportunity for students. ENterns receive an award from the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program for their first 150 hours helping a startup. Provide the Engineering Entrepreneurship program with a one page report on what you have learned through your experience at the halfway point and the end point along with your time log, and the $1,500 award is processed.
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Classes Offered
Start with ENGR 310
ENGR 310 is our introductory class for the minor or certificate. It’s open to all students in any major from first years to seniors. Try this class as an elective for several majors or as a tech elective in engineering. Did you love ENGR 310? Next consider the ENTI Minor or E-Ship Certificate!
ENTI Minor Tech-Based Cluster
For the ENTI minor, take MGMT 215 and pick the Tech-based or Product Innovation Cluster where we teach you how to build and launch real products, whether hardware, software or service. All six classes below are required for the minor.
Product Innovation Entrepreneurship Certificate
Don’t have space for the full minor? Complete the Product Innovation Entrepreneurship with only three classes: Take ENGR 411 and two of: ENGR 310, ENGR 407, ENGR 415.
Tech-based Classes
Explore our suite of features designed to streamline your operations, drive sales, and enhance customer satisfaction.
ENGR 310
Entrepreneurial Leadership: Develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills using collaborative, problem-based projects, with students from all University colleges working in teams. Start two businesses in the class!
MGMT 215
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Learn to think like an entrepreneur in the broader context of social entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, creative problem solving, opportunity recognition, and innovation.
ENGR 407
Technology-Based Entrepreneurship: Develop skills and knowledge and learn to deal with ambiguity through practical entrepreneurial experiences. One of the most unique classes at Penn State. Sign up early, it’s always full!
ENGR 411
Business Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs: Learn business fundamentals with a start-up perspective from experienced entrepreneurs. It’s an MBA for entrepreneurs in a semester.
ENGR 415
Technology Launch for Entrepreneurs: Develop business plans for both an existing company of your choice as an intrapreneurial product manager and your own business as an entrepreneur. Learn the characteristics of an intrapreneurial company and learn about the company you want to work for!
ENGR 425
New Venture Creation: Develop skills that are of high value in any workplace: leadership skills, self-efficacy, creativity and the ability to deal with ambiguity. Attain a working knowledge of traditional and non-traditional ways for identifying a new product or business opportunity, quantifying the potential, understanding the key competitive factors, researching the audience, and producing a convincing plan for financing and launch.