Founders leading bold ideas forward and Joiners contributing to those ideas.
How It Works
Founders submit a semester-based or academic-year project depending on the founder’s needs and the scope of the project. Joiner students apply to projects that align with their interests, skills, and learning goals. Founders review applicants, meet with potential joiners, and select students who are a strong fit for their project. Once matched, founders and joiners participate in a structured experience that includes onboarding, midpoint feedback, and final reflection.
What is a Joiner?
Collaborative Contributor
Joiners thrive in startup environments where they can apply their skills to help build and grow ventures alongside founders.
Versatile Problem-Solver
They bring adaptability, initiative, and a hands-on approach to tackling challenges across functions like product, marketing, or operations.
Impact-Driven Teammate
Joiners are motivated by purpose and progress, finding fulfillment in contributing meaningfully to a team’s mission and success.
What Joiners Gain
Startup Experience
Gain hands-on exposure to what it is like to contribute inside an early-stage venture.
Career Exploration
Discover your interest in startups, venture roles, entrepreneurship, and early-stage team environments.
Skill Development
Build the skills your project demands, from market research and customer discovery to content, analysis, and product work, while learning to manage ambiguity in a fast-moving environment.
What Founders Gain
Project Support
Receive help from Penn students on focused venture projects that move your idea forward.
Fresh Perspectives
Engage students who bring curiosity, initiative, and new ways of thinking to your venture.
Team Development Guidance
Workshop on scoping projects, onboarding students, setting expectations, and creating a positive experience.
Fall 2026 Practicum Projects
Browse available Practicum projects from founders. Use the table below to filter opportunities by skills, industry, project type, and timeframe so you can find projects that match your interests, strengths, and learning goals. You do not need to know everything before applying; the Practicum is designed for students who are ready to learn, contribute, ask thoughtful questions, and grow while building practical startup experience. Once you have identified the preferred project that interests you, please complete the Practicum application and select that project
Students will be matched to only one project per semester.
Students will be matched to only one project per semester.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Penn students across all schools and grade levels. Because Joiner participation is educational, the program is open to international students.
How much time will I commit?
Approximately 10 hours per week, with projects running a semester or a full academic year depending on the founder's submission.
How does matching work?
Approved founder projects are published in a project database. Students apply, founders review and hold brief conversations with candidates, and matches are confirmed before teams begin. The program opens in the Fall and Spring.
What kinds of projects are a good fit?
Strong Practicum projects are focused, realistic, and educational. Examples may include market research, customer discovery, product feedback, community building, operations support, marketing strategy, user research, or other venture-building projects where students can learn while contributing.
How many projects can a founder submit?
Founders may submit up to two projects. Each project may include up to four joiners, depending on project scope and founder capacity to support the students.
Is this an internship?
No. Practicum is not an internship or employment arrangement. It is an unpaid educational apprentice-type experience designed to support student learning through contribution to founder-led projects.
What support is provided?
Founders participate in a Founder Workshop focused on project scoping, onboarding, communication, feedback, and creating a strong student learning experience. Joiners participate in a Joiners Workshop focused on startup readiness, communication, professionalism, ambiguity, and how to contribute effectively in a founder-led environment.
Practicum is a non-paid, educational joinership focused on experiential learning, professional development, and exposure to startup environments.
Projects are designed to serve as a bridge between classroom learning and real-world application, allowing students to learn and apply a wide array of skills, from project management and team collaboration to strategic thinking and problem-solving, in a practical setting.
Penn acts as a great mechanism to vet the talent with whom you will work, and because of this, Penn is able to churn out successful startup after successful startup.
Startup Stories
Find out what's happening across the #entrePENNeur community! Want to tell your story? Contact us at venturelab@upenn.edu.
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