Introduction: Interning at a Startup
For UK and Ireland students seeking long-term internships abroad, startups offer a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a dynamic environment.
Interning at a startup differ from short-term roles, providing in-depth learning experiences over an extended period.
In startups, interns are often given broad responsibilities, which allows them to engage in different facets of the business, building versatile skills and gaining international exposure.
Startups are gaining popularity due to their collaborative nature and direct access to leadership.
For students looking to develop entrepreneurial skills and experience fast-paced business growth firsthand, these long-term placements can be especially rewarding, setting them apart in the competitive job market.
The Pros and Cons of Interning at a Startup
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Real-World Projects: Work on meaningful tasks that impact the startup directly. | High Responsibility: Interns may be tasked with heavy workloads, requiring adaptability. |
| Close Mentorship: Interns work directly with founders and leadership, providing rich learning opportunities. | Limited Resources: Startups may have fewer resources and tools, which can slow down progress. |
| Potential for Growth: High-performing interns may receive job offers or more responsibilities. | Fast-Paced Environment: The quick-moving nature of startups can create pressure and stress. |
| Innovative Culture: The chance to bring new ideas to life in a creative, dynamic setting. | Unpredictability: Startups can face financial challenges, making long-term stability uncertain. |
| Versatile Skill Development: Gain experience in various roles, from marketing to operations. | Lack of Formal Training: Startups might not have structured programs, so learning is often self-driven. |
How Interning at a Startup Benefits the Company
- Task Support: Interns take on various responsibilities, allowing full-time staff to focus on strategic priorities, improving overall efficiency.
- Cost-Effective Talent: Interning at a startup provides businesses with affordable support, often at lower costs than hiring full-time employees.
- Fresh Ideas: Interns bring enthusiasm and innovative perspectives, offering creative solutions to challenges startups face.
- Future Talent Pool: Interning at a startup often leads to discovering potential full-time employees, building a pipeline of skilled talent.
- Enhanced Adaptability: Interns contribute diverse approaches, helping startups remain agile and responsive to industry changes.
Interning at a startup is a mutually beneficial arrangement, offering both valuable support and access to emerging talent.
Startup Internships vs. Established Companies
Comparison of Learning Experiences
When choosing between interning at a startup or an established company, consider the differences in both environments. Startups are dynamic, offering varied experiences across multiple roles, while larger companies are more structured with defined tasks and training programs.
Here are some key points to guide your decision:
Startups:
- Diverse responsibilities and faster career growth.
- Close interaction with leadership and a hands-on environment.
- Less structure and potential instability.
Established Companies:
- Specialized roles with formal training.
- Stability and clear career progression.
- Limited exposure to different business areas.
If you thrive in fast-paced, innovative settings, a startup may be a great fit. If you prefer stability and focused expertise, an established company could be more suitable.
How to Choose Between a Startup and a Big Company Internship
How to Make the Most of a Startup Internship
6 Entrepreneurial Skills You Gain by Interning at a Startup
- Idea Generation: Develop innovative ideas for products or services and identify market gaps to address unmet needs.
- Market Research: Understand your target market’s needs, preferences, and buying habits to tailor offerings and identify competitors.
- Business Planning: Create a clear plan with goals, funding sources, budgets, and financial projections for starting and running a business.
- Financial Management: Manage budgets, forecast expenses, and make smart financial decisions to ensure business stability.
- Sales and Marketing: Promote your business through campaigns, social media, and customer relationship building to attract and retain clients.
- Leadership and Management: Motivate your team, set clear expectations, and oversee daily operations effectively.
These skills can be developed through courses, mentorship, or experience at startups or small businesses.
Conclusion: Is a Startup Internship Worth It?
Interested in interning at a startup abroad?
Links Related to Interning at a Startup
- Pre-Internship Training Course
- What is the Turing Scheme and how does it work?
- Can I work during my Erasmus year?
- How to decide whether to study a new subject on your Erasmus year
- A Guide to Making the Most of Your Erasmus Experience
- 5 Tips for Building a Strong Personal Brand During Your Internship
- Spain Study Visa
- Erasmus Internships
- What are Pre-Placement Offers (PPO)?
- What are internships / intern jobs?
- What is a Placement Year?
Startup Internships Abroad Opportunities
Sales & Business Development Intern at a Communication Coaching Platform
London
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
14/04/2025
Are you ready to make an impact in the sales world? This internship provides an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in B2B sales, lead generation, and business development. Work directly with experienced founders and sales professionals while contributing to the growth of a dynamic communication coaching platform.
Talent Acquisition & Recruitment Internship in an International Energy-Focused HR Consultancy
Madrid
🎧 Customer Success
💰 Paid
11/04/2025
Join a Madrid-based recruitment consultancy specialized in the global energy sector, supporting the France division with end-to-end recruitment tasks. From sourcing to first interviews, you’ll gain hands-on experience in international talent acquisition while sharpening your French, Spanish, and English communication skills. Ideal for someone who thrives in a multicultural environment and wants to grow their career in HR within a dynamic, fast-paced startup.
AI Agent Engineer Intern in a Startup which is Disrupting the Survey and Market Research Industry
Spain
💻 Web Development and UI/UX
💰 Paid
09/04/2025
Join a founder-led AI startup building a platform to reinvent how market surveys are created, analysed, and actioned using autonomous agents. You’ll help prototype GPT workflows, test early features, and play a key role in shaping the product from 0 to 1.
Consultative sales Intern for a Marketing agency in London
London
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
08/04/2025
This internship offers a unique opportunity for candidates to gain hands-on experience in sales and account management. The intern will work directly with a growing sales team, contributing to lead generation, account management, and podcast-driven growth strategies. This is a chance to shape the future of the sales process, learn from industry experts, and play an active role in a variety of sales and marketing activities.
English & AI Support Intern in a Company Enhancing Language Services with Technology
Madrid
⚙️ Operations
💰 Paid
07/04/2025
This internship offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills in both teaching and technology, providing you with a well-rounded experience. By working directly with ESL students and engaging with AI-driven improvements, you'll gain valuable hands-on experience that can open doors in both the education and tech industries. If you’re passionate about making a real impact in both education and technology, this is the perfect role to kickstart your career and learn in an exciting, dynamic environment.
English Teaching Intern in a Madrid-based language centre
Madrid
👨💻👩💻 Curricular Internship
💰 Paid
07/04/2025
A Madrid-based English learning centre is looking for an enthusiastic intern to support its interactive and engaging teaching programs. The centre focuses on making language learning fun and immersive for children through creative teaching methods.
Sales Development Representative (SDR) Intern in an AI-Driven Company Transforming Workflow Automati
Madrid
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
02/04/2025
An innovative AI-driven software company is looking for a Sales Development Representative (SDR) Intern to help drive business growth and expand market reach. This role is perfect for a recent graduate or student eager to gain hands-on experience in sales, lead generation, and business development within a fast-growing tech company. The position offers flexibility, with options to work from our Madrid or Valencia office, or remotely.
Digital Marketing intern at theInterna
London
📢 Digital Marketing
💰 Paid
31/03/2025
Join a fast-growing startup connecting top UK & Irish students with startups across Europe as a Digital Marketing Intern, where you’ll take the lead on content, campaigns, and performance analysis. This is a hands-on opportunity to build your skills across the digital marketing stack while making a real impact in an early-stage business.
QA Tester and Automated Testing Intern at an GenZ career platform startup
Madrid
💻 Web Development and UI/UX
💰 Paid
31/03/2025
A company developing an AI-driven career mentorship platform is looking for interns to join its Quality Assurance (QA) and Automated Testing team. The platform is designed to help Gen Z navigate the future of work by providing personalized career guidance, learning paths, and skill development opportunities.
UK Business Development intern for a Fashion tech startup
Madrid
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
26/03/2025
This business development internship offers the opportunity to work with a fast-growing fashion-tech startup that partners with major global brands to solve sizing challenges in the industry. Ideal for students interested in sales, fashion, and technology, the role involves lead generation, market research, and supporting the sales team in expanding across the UK and English-speaking markets.
Customer Experience Intern in a storage solutions startup
London
🎧 Customer Success
💰 Paid
24/03/2025
Looking to make a real impact on student experiences? This Customer Experience Internship is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing service tailored to university students across the UK. If you're passionate about delivering outstanding customer support and improving user experiences, this role is perfect for you.
Full Stack Developer (Remote) in a Second-Hand Bike Marketplace Startup
Oxford
💻 Web Development and UI/UX
💰 Paid
21/03/2025
A company in the sustainable mobility sector is looking for a Full Stack Developer to help build and maintain its digital platform. This role is ideal for someone passionate about web development, cloud infrastructure, and scalable applications.
Marketing Specialist in a Second-Hand Bike Marketplace Startup
Oxford
📢 Digital Marketing
💰 Paid
21/03/2025
A company in the sustainable mobility sector is looking for a Marketing Specialist to lead campaigns, engage the community, and grow brand awareness. This is a great opportunity for a creative and proactive individual with a passion for marketing and social impact.
Lead Generation Intern in a Digital Agency Startup
Madrid
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
20/03/2025
Looking to gain hands-on experience in sales and marketing at a fast-growing tech company? This Lead Generation Internship offers a unique opportunity to work with a dynamic team, developing strategic outreach and business development skills. Ideal for ambitious, results-driven individuals eager to learn about lead generation and customer acquisition.
Marketing Automation Intern in a Digital Agency Startup
Madrid
⚙️ Operations
💰 Paid
19/03/2025
A company in the marketing and technology sector is looking for a Marketing Automation & Creator Relations Intern to support workflow automation, CRM management, and communication processes. This role is ideal for someone with an interest in marketing technology, process automation, and data optimization who wants hands-on experience in a fast-growing startup environment.
Marketing Intern – Spain, US, or Canada
Madrid
📢 Digital Marketing
💰 Paid
18/03/2025
A software development company delivering nearshore IT solutions to global clients, specializing in scalable and innovative digital products. We are looking for a Marketing Operations Specialist with a passion for automation, data-driven decision-making, and process optimization to enhance our marketing efficiency and impact.
Software Development Intern
Canary Islands
💻 Web Development and UI/UX
💰 Paid
26/03/2025
Looking to gain hands-on experience in software development at the intersection of optics, robotics, and computational mathematics? This Software Development internship offers a unique opportunity to work with a pioneering company, developing innovative solutions in semiconductor metrology, wavefront phase imaging, and astrophysics-inspired technology. Ideal for tech-savvy, analytical thinkers eager to push the boundaries of scientific innovation.
Recruiting and Matchmaking intern
London
🎧 Customer Success
💰 Paid
16/03/2025
This internship offers a hands-on opportunity to take full ownership of the talent matchmaking and recruitment process, from selecting top candidates to managing relationships with startups across Europe. Ideal for a proactive and detail-oriented individual, this role provides real-world experience in recruitment, database management, and client engagement in a fast-paced, remote setting.
Business Development Intern
Zaragoza
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
12/03/2025
Looking to gain hands-on experience in business development within a fast-growing company? This Business Development internship offers a unique opportunity to work with an innovative brand, helping to drive sales, partnerships, and growth. Ideal for proactive, entrepreneurial interns eager to make an impact.
Business Development Intern
London
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
04/04/2025
A hands-on opportunity to gain experience in sales, partnerships, and market expansion within an innovative SaaS company. Ideal for proactive and entrepreneurial individuals looking to develop key business skills in a fast-growing environment.
Business Development Advisory Service Intern
Pamplona
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
12/03/2025
Are you looking to jumpstart your career in business development and advisory services? Join a dynamic team and gain valuable hands-on experience in lead generation, prospecting, and business development strategy. This internship offers an exciting opportunity to develop key business development skills in a fast-paced and innovative environment.
B2B SaaS Sales Development Intern
Pamplona
📈 Sales and Business Development
💰 Paid
12/03/2025
Are you looking to jumpstart your career in B2B SaaS sales? Join a dynamic team and gain valuable hands-on experience in lead generation, prospecting, and business development. This internship offers an exciting opportunity to develop sales skills in a fast-paced and innovative environment.
Marketing & Social Media Communications Intern
Berlin
📢 Digital Marketing
💰 Paid
12/03/2025
A unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in marketing, social media, and digital strategy while supporting independent electronic music artists. This role is perfect for someone passionate about electronic music, content creation, and community engagement, looking to develop key skills in a dynamic and creative environment.
Software Development Intern
Madrid
💻 Web Development and UI/UX
💰 Paid
26/02/2025
Looking for an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in sustainability? Work on innovative projects that are shaping the future of renewable energy and make a real impact from day one!
Engineering Support Intern
Madrid
💻 Web Development and UI/UX
💰 Paid
26/02/2025
Looking for an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in sustainability? Work on innovative projects that are shaping the future of renewable energy and make a real impact from day one!
