Venture and Program Support Intern

Partnership Overview

This internship is a joint initiative between Pioneers 21 and the Woody L. Hunt College of Business's HUNT G.O. Foundry for Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The position is hosted and supervised day-to-day at Pioneers 21, with the G.O. Foundry co-sponsoring 50% of the intern's wages as part of its commitment to giving UTEP students hands-on experience in the regional startup ecosystem.

Position Details

• Position Title: Venture & Program Support Intern
• Host Organization: Pioneers 21
• Co-Sponsor: HUNT G.O. Foundry for Entrepreneurship, UTEP Woody L. Hunt College of Business
• Location: El Paso, TX — In-person
• Schedule: 20 hours/week, Part-Time
• Term: Fall 2026: September 7 – December 18, 2026
• Compensation: $20/hr — 50% Pioneers 21 / 50% G.O. Foundry
• Reports To: Laura Butler, Executive Director, Pioneers 21

About Pioneers 21

Pioneers 21 is a nonprofit innovation hub and business incubator dedicated to inspiring and incubating businesses and entrepreneurs through mentorship, training, and connection. Since 2011, Pioneers 21 has helped innovators transform ideas into growing companies through access to experienced mentors, educational programming, strategic partnerships, and pathways to capital — including initiatives such as EDGE, Manufacturing EDGE, CapitalEdge, and the P21 Venture Mentoring Service (licensed by MIT).

About the HUNT G.O. Foundry

The G.O. Foundry for Entrepreneurship is UTEP's home for experiential entrepreneurship education, connecting students to real venture-building experience through speaker series, workshops, and partnerships across the U.S.-Mexico border region. This internship is part of the Foundry's effort to place students directly inside the regional startup ecosystem.

Position Summary

The Intern will support Pioneers 21's accelerator programs and venture-support initiatives — working directly with founders, mentors, and internal teams to execute programs, track venture progress, and improve operational systems. The role blends administrative and operational support with direct exposure to startup ecosystems, venture development, and innovation operations.

Primary Responsibilities

Program & Venture Support

• Assist with planning, coordination, and delivery of accelerator programs, workshops, and special events
• Support participant registration, onboarding, scheduling, and communications
• Coordinate logistics for speakers, mentors, instructors, and community partners
• Track venture progress, milestones, and outcomes across programs
• Assist with pitch preparation, business model refinement, and market research
• Maintain attendance records, participant files, and program documentation

Funding Research & Administrative Support

• Research grant, sponsorship, and funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities
• Maintain funding calendars, deadlines, and opportunity trackers
• Assist in gathering information and supporting documents for grant proposals and reports

Marketing & Ecosystem Engagement

• Assist with marketing accelerator programs, workshops, and events
• Create and schedule social media content and email communications
• Support outreach efforts with entrepreneurs, community partners, and stakeholders

Operations & Technology

• Maintain internal documentation, databases, and CRM records
• Contribute to projects involving AI tools, digital enablement, and process improvement
• Support day-to-day office operations and special projects

Qualifications

Required

• Juniors and Seniors currently enrolled as undergraduate business majors at UTEP
• Valid U.S. work authorization
• Strong organizational, research, and written/verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office / Google Workspace

Preferred

• Coursework or experience in business, entrepreneurship, marketing, or a related field
• Familiarity with startups, venture capital, or small business development
• Experience with AI tools, CRM systems, project management platforms, or Canva
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Learning Outcomes

• Practical experience supporting real ventures and founders
• Direct exposure to venture mentoring, startup operations, and innovation programs
• Development of professional skills in research, analysis, funding, and execution
• Mentorship from experienced operators and Borderland ecosystem leaders

Submit your application

Please submit your application by August 31st through the link below:

Pioneers 21 × UTEP G.O. Foundry

We'll conduct interviews during the first week of September to match a start date of September 7th, 2026.