Everyone is aware that this is a tough economic year, and that job prospects for new college graduates are not great. This has severely affected student internships, which provide not only short term talent for companies, but also important work experience for students, a long term talent pipeline for companies and vitality for our region. These issues and opportunities are particularly key to the continued entrepreneurial development of Northeast Ohio. A number of programs, three of which JumpStart TechLift Advisors either manages or promotes, are driving student internships into our entrepreneurial companies and organizations:
- The JumpStart TechLift Business Intern program is in a pilot phase this year, thanks to a generous grant from the GAR Foundation. The goal of the program is to place Northeast Ohio students in business applications at entrepreneurial technology companies in the region, with a focus on the Akron area. The program is completely filled for the 2009 season. Sixteen students from nine different Ohio universities and colleges will work with a wide variety of technologies including software, internet marketing, new energy solutions, clean technology, advanced materials, robotics, military electronics and medical devices. The internships are in human resources, marketing, market research, accounting and intellectual property. In addition to their work experience, interns will attend events to learn about venture capital, entrepreneurship and business networking.
- In 2008, JumpStart TechLift Advisors announced an exciting new program with Purdue University called Interns for Entrepreneurship for internship experiences at Northeast Ohio entrepreneurial technology companies. Four students, two from Northeast Ohio, one from India, and one from New Jersey will participate in the program, which, in addition to their work experience in medical devices, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing, includes in-depth studies in entrepreneurship, business planning and venture capital.
- Ohio's Third Frontier Internship program is one of the best in the nation for its flexibility and resulting success in placing science, technology, engineering and math students into Northeast Ohio technology companies. JumpStart TechLift Advisors was involved in helping at least 30 of these internships happen in 2009 alone.
- Additional interns are working in economic and entrepreneurial development organizations, including JumpStart, NorTech, the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, BioEnterprise, Entrepreneurs EDGE and others, through various other internship programs, most notably Summer on the Cuyahoga.
So what is the benefit of all of these programs and internships? In order for Northeast Ohio to develop and grow a self sustaining, fast moving, entrepreneurial culture, we need a constant supply of young talent, exuberance and creativity. Programs that are helping to make this happen are making a real difference and are probably among the best "bang for the buck" opportunities for growing the talent pool in the region.
Chris Mather is President, JumpStart Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Previously, he managed a number of technology initiatives in Northeast Ohio for NorTech. Before entering the economic development world, Chris ran a number of technology companies in Northeast Ohio and New England, including Ion Optics Inc., where he raised $6.7 million in venture capital, and Apsco Inc. and Gould Instrument Systems. Prior to that, he spent 13 years in sales, marketing and management roles with Hewlett Packard after graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BS in Electrical Engineering.