Launched just over two years ago, the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation's Venture Intern Program has provided nearly 200 students with exposure to the workings of early-stage ventures and the Northwest Arkansas entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The program wrapped its sixth semester earlier this month after placing 42 students with local organizations or startups.

Designed to help students succeed in ambiguous, fast-paced environments, the Venture Intern Program pairs talented undergraduate U of A students with startups, entrepreneurship support organizations and investor networks for semester-long internships.

"It's been a truly great semester," said Ethan Trollinger, a senior finance major in the Sam M. Walton College of Business. Trollinger was paired with a local founder of a postpartum recovery product.

"On paper it didn't look like as much of a match as it ended up being."

The program is open to juniors and seniors in good standing from any discipline at the U of A with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher. 

Students participating in the program should be prepared to wear many hats and maintain a high degree of professionalism and autonomy. In exchange, they can expect direct access to founders and an opportunity to play an essential role in a highly dynamic environment.

Students go through a matching process when selecting their internship home. They submit their top five companies they would like to work with, interview and then are matched. The paid program also includes one hour of academic course credit.

The Venture Intern Program is supported by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. Since its inception, the program has cultivated an interdisciplinary group of students, and the foundation's funding has helped serve 197 students while supporting more than 80 startups.

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio, Startup Village, and Greenhouse at the Bentonville Collaborative, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and Division of Economic Development, OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.