The Innovation Internship is a high-impact, academic experiential learning opportunity for current Lehigh students seeking to develop their entrepreneurial mindset and skills. It provides an integrated, real-world internship experience in the innovation ecosystem.
Offered through the College of Business and available to students across colleges and disciplines, students in the Innovation Internship participate in a remote internship with a startup or innovation-focused company. In addition to the 10-hour-per-week internship, the experience is facilitated through a 3-credit course (BUS 176 // BUS 476). Students participate in mandatory weekly class sessions designed to enhance career readiness through professional development and entrepreneurial leadership exercises in small-group breakout sessions and live discussions. Classes will also regularly feature business leaders from Silicon Valley. Students will receive tools and guidance to enhance their personal and professional development.
Students are matched by Lehigh West with startups and innovation-focused companies based on available opportunities, skill alignment, and entrepreneurial interest.
The course is designed for sophomores and above, including graduate students, across all disciplines and majors at Lehigh. Permission is required and is granted through the application process. Participation in the program is contingent upon a successful internship placement. Students may only participate once; credits are non-repeatable.
Want to find out more about our Innovation Internship? Join us at one of our info sessions. Register below.
We will review your application to ensure you meet the program criteria. If selected, you will be invited to a group interview, where you and other candidates will work together to solve a real-world problem. This collaborative format allows us to see how you approach challenges, interact with peers, and demonstrate the entrepreneurial mindset. Final selections are based on both the strength of your application and your performance in the interview.
We have a pipeline of host companies that are eager to work with Lehigh students. They provide descriptions of the opportunities available, and students identify their preferences. We carefully consider student profiles, skills, and interests, and then match students with host company opportunities. Every placement is chosen to give you a meaningful opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow.
* For students requiring CPT authorization, we will work to align your placement with your major to ensure that you are meeting the criteria.
You won’t be doing this alone! The program includes a 3-credit academic course where you’ll:
- Participate in weekly class sessions with professional development, leadership exercises, and guest speakers from Silicon Valley.
- Connect with peers in small group breakout sessions to problem-solve and share experiences.
- Receive tools, guidance, and mentoring to help you navigate your internship successfully.
Absolutely. Regardless of whether the internship aligns exactly with your major, you’ll gain hands-on professional experience in an innovation ecosystem. Employers value the ability to adapt, learn quickly, and contribute in fast-paced environments — all of which this program emphasizes. For students requiring CPT authorization, we will work to align your placement with your major to ensure that you are meeting the criteria.
Candidate Criteria
- Open to students from any major or college
- Sophomore level and above, including graduate students (F-1 visa students must have been at Lehigh for one academic year to qualify for CPT; J-1 visa holders are ineligible)
- ENTP 101 or relevant entrepreneurial experience preferred
- Previous relevant work, internship, or entrepreneurial experience preferred
- Our companies are selected such that they offer a unique work environment in which to develop the entrepreneurial mindset—therefore candidates must be:
- Comfortable with ambiguity and unstructured settings
- Ready to take initiative and work through challenges in fast-paced environments
- Passionate about making an impact and willing to roll up sleeves to help entrepreneurs build early-stage companies
- Self-motivated, curious, creative, and eager to learn and grow
- Interested in developing an entrepreneurial mindset and skills
- Comfortable with ambiguity and unstructured settings
- Advisor approval before enrolling
- CPT for F-1 visa holders required (J-1 visa holders are ineligible)
- Strong time-management skills and the ability to balance coursework, exams, student life, and 10–15 hours/week internship
- Ability to meet deadlines
Final Deliverables:
- Reflection Paper
- Student Presentation
- Internship Manager Evaluation
BUS 176 (undergraduate students)/ BUS 476 (graduate students)
Course Structure
Course Dates: January 19 – May 1, 2026 (14 weeks)
Meeting Times: Remote (via Zoom), Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:10–1:25 pm ET
Internship Requirement: At least 10 hours/week // 140 hours/semester with host companies (failure to meet the minimum will be reflected in the grade).
Selection Process: Participation in the Innovation Internship is selective. After submitting an application, qualified candidates will be invited to a group interview. In this setting, applicants work collaboratively with peers to solve a problem, allowing the selection team to assess entrepreneurial mindset, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Final participants are chosen based on both their application and interview performance.