Student Startup Experience
Paid opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from N.Y. with high-tech startups in the cleantech and clean energy fields. With flexible in-person, remote, and hybrid options–undergraduate and graduate students from various disciplines get professional, relevant work experience with ground-breaking innovations and companies.
Students funded, companies supported
The NENY Student Startup Experience can range from 5 to 20 hours per week in fall and spring semesters (up to 40 hours per week in summer) with stipends of up to $10,000 per semester. Funding for stipends is provided by New Energy New York. Funding student interns is often a barrier for startups, so our program fill that gap so startups can focus on the professional quality of the students' experience with the company.
Approved and innovative experiences
The companies we work with go through a review process ensuring the opportunity is mutually beneficial to the student and the company. Approved companies must be located/headquartered or be an active member of an incubation/accelerator program in New York state.
Open to all majors from any college or university in New York State
Our students placed to date have come from degree programs including Business, Engineering, Sciences and Humanities. Students registered for credit any any community college, college or university in New York state are eligible to apply and participate in the program. Experiential projects give students the opportunity to learn about and participate in:
- Clean energy research and development
- Entrepreneurship and startup advancement
- Marketing strategy and content creation
- Sales methodology
- Lab work
- Customer discovery
Student Frequently Asked Questions
How does the application process work?
The process is straightforward:
- Submit your application.
- Participate in a screening interview.
- Complete a final round interview with a company.
- If both you and the company decide to move forward, we’ll handle the financial paperwork for your participation stipend.
What if I am not contacted by a business?
If a business does not contact you, we will provide constructive feedback on how you can improve your resume or interview skills.
Can I participate in the experience remotely?
Depending upon the business, yes! Some startups have projects that require in-person participation, while others are open to fully remote work. That is something you and the startup would need to discuss and agree upon.
When do I get paid?
Participants are expected to receive their stipend no later than four weeks after successfully completed documents are processed with our Human Resources office.
How much can I get paid?
The program is stipend-based, with an approximate rate of $20.83 per hour.
Can part time students participate?
Yes!
Can I participate in the summer even if I am not taking summer classes?
Yes. As long as you have part-time or full-time student status at your college or university, you may participate in the summer.
Do I need CPT authorization?
Generally speaking, students in F-1 status do not CPT to participate in this initial experience. However, if a student in F-1 status was offered the opportunity to continue to work for this start-up beyond this initial experience, they would need to request and be approved for CPT prior to extending their experience. Students in this situation should consult with the ISSS.
Can I participate if I don’t have a social security number?
Yes! Please note, however, that this is not employment, and would not make you eligible to apply for a social security number.
Is there a limit to the hours I can commit to?
Yes, each student may not exceed 20 hours/week for any given semester.
Will I have taxes withheld from my stipend?
Yes, per IRS Tax Law, 30% taxes will be withheld from non- citizen people who receive stipends.
Link to W-8BEN form: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf
Do you have a question that wasn’t answered here? Please contact International Student and Scholar Services at intlwork@binghamton.edu for Binghamton University students. For students from other institutions, reach out to your respective offices on your campus for International Students.
Company Frequently Asked Questions
How does the process work for companies selecting students?
The process is as follows:
- We provide you with the NENY Student applications database for the semester.
- You review the applications and directly contact and interview the relevant
candidates. - If both you and the student agree to proceed, notify us so we can process their
stipend paperwork. - The student begins work on the agreed-upon start date.
How many students can I work with?
You may work with two students per semester.
What if a student does not respond to my interview request?
Reach out to our program coordinator, Epiphany Muñoz if a student is not responding within two to three business days during the recruitment/application process. If a student becomes unavailable due to schedule changes or other reasons, consider reaching out to another candidate for your position.
What if I already have a student I’d like to work with who isn’t in the database?
Only students who have gone through the recruitment process with our staff can be selected.
May I choose a part-time student?
Yes!
Can the student participate remotely?
Yes, you may require a Non-Disclosure Agreement if needed.
Can I require the student to sign an NDA?
Generally speaking, students in F-1 status do not CPT to participate in this initial experience. However, if a student in F-1 status was offered the opportunity to continue to work for this start-up beyond this initial experience, they would need to request and be approved for CPT prior to extending their experience. Students in this situation should consult with the ISSS.
Companies We Work With
Want to join this network? Companies apply here
