Special Projects Internship

About Innovation Portal

Innovation Portal (Portal) is a nonprofit incubator and innovation hub accelerating startup growth in southwest Alabama and the Gulf Coast. Portal provides a growth-focused space and community for entrepreneurs, innovators, and creatives to connect. In addition to amazing workspace, we provide targeted programming to encourage successful launch, development, and scaling of local ventures. 

We are building a diverse, inclusive, and dynamic startup ecosystem and value our strategic partnerships with community organizations and leaders. We design services, programs, and activities to build community and support founders and their successful advancement through the startup lifecycle. 

We are a small, impact-driven team cultivating economic development, diversity, and health in the region.

About the Internship

This position will search for, identify, and assess various organizations and resources available to our local startup founders and create an ecosystem map and resource guide that helps founders identify resources that are relevant to them and navigate utilizing those resources. Good example of such guides include the Atlanta Startup Ecosystem Guide (https://tinyurl.com/y43r98zb), the Startup Knox Ecosystem Guide (https://tinyurl.com/y27dbdzg), and the Boulder Innovation Ecosystem image included in the attached Appendix.

This internship requires research, exploration and discovery, and creativity. The intern must be able to work well with Portal’s various constituents and greater community, demonstrating respect and always representing the organization with the utmost integrity. 

Responsibilities*:

– Resource Guide

  • Verify/maintain content accuracy in Resource Guide data
  • Create a one-page summary/infographic of resources
  • Create a one-page summary/infographic of Portal + Portal Programs
  • Create the additional pages of relevant information for each category and populate with data
  • Publish first approved v1.0 to website
  • Reach out and connect with all identified resource partners
    • Confirm all contact information & data is correct
    • Create a concise description of each resource partners contribution to the startup ecosystem

– Data 

  • Work with the PC to compile historical organization data and format for upload into CRM
  • Work with the PC to produce various surveys and analyze data

– Admin, Operations, & Advancement

  • Determine schedule and attend regular meetings with PC
  • Contribute to organizational activities and events as needed
  • File management and upkeep (Google Drive) 
  • Assist with 358STL member and facility management 
  • Record and track various data and performance metrics 
  • Record activities for impact, fundraising, etc

*Specific responsibilities may adjust contingent upon intern’s strengths and interests, and/or organizational growth and needs.

Qualifications

  • Incredibly high level of interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, and supporting startup founders and teams
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people; strong record of teamwork 
  • Strong organizational abilities 
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience speaking publicly in diverse forums 
  • Proven ability to work in culturally and ethnically diverse environments 
  • Experience with Google Drive, Excel and word processing required.
  • Experience with design and design tools (Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and/or Illustrator) required. Please provide portfolio pieces at the time of application.
APPLY HERE