Heizer Growth Internship Stipends

2024 STIPEND FUNDING APPLICATION

Internship Description

Would you like to work on the senior team of a private equity portfolio company? Does the idea of joining a scaling tech company sound appealing? Are you interested in owning and running your own mid-sized business?

The Heizer Center Growth-Stage Summer Internship Program is an opportunity for MBA students across a spectrum of career paths to make meaningful contributions to growth-stage companies in a variety of industries. It will be of special interest to students who wish to:

  • Recruit for "PE Ops" programs or other hands-on roles in PE portfolio companies
  • Join scaling venture-backed technology businesses
  • Raise a search fund to acquire a company, either right after graduation or in the future
  • Return to an operating role in a family-owned business
  • Join a PE firm in an investing role
  • Recruit with consulting firms

Stipend Requirements

Through this program, students can apply for a $7K matching compensation stipend, and must secure a minimum of $6K and a maximum of $9K in additional compensation from the internship employer. Application requires a signed offer letter and will be reviewed for approval by Heizer Center staff. We offer this stipend funding on a first-come, first-served basis over the winter and spring quarters until our available pool has been fully allocated. Stipends are restricted to current Kellogg students.

Application Process

Interested students should submit a Summer Stipend Application. We will begin posting pre-approved positions in mid-January. Students are also welcome to recruit host companies that meet our eligibility criteria on their own.

Company Eligibility

Host companies may span a variety of industries and functions, however they must also meet the following criteria:

  • Have annual revenues of at least $3 million
  • Be an operating company (internships at investment funds, including private equity, venture capital, and search funds are not eligible)
  • Provide the intern with direct interaction with company senior management
  • Provide between $6K-$9K in compensation to student intern

In order to ensure that interns will have a meaningful work experiences, we ask each participating company to scope out a project (or several alternative projects) related directly to a strategic priority. We also ask our hosts outside of the Chicago area to consider an additional living expense allowance, assuming that students will be working on-site.

Companies interested in becoming a Heizer Growth sponsor should contact Professor Karin O'Connor for more information.

Featured Sponsors & Past Participants

COMPANIES INCLUDE VENTURE, GROWTH-CAPITAL, PE-BACKED, FAMILY-OWNED, INDIVIDUAL FOUNDERS, OR SEARCH-FUND ACQUIRED.

Students have interned at growing companies ranging from $5 MM to $200 MM in revenues, representing the software, manufacturing, CPG, technology, multi-site consumer, hospitality and health and wellness sectors.


Through my internship with Workhuman, I worked closely with senior leadership to identify a project that aligned with my interests and goals. The experience allowed me to make an impact on the organization while broadening my skillset, gaining exposure to a completely new industry, and forming strong relationships with start-up executives.

Rachel Abel, '23

Interested in learning more? Get in touch.