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Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

 

Entrepreneurial Summer Program (ESP) 2008

Applications for the 2008 Program have now closed. The information on this page is for reference; information for summer 2009 will be posted in the winter.

 

Video from the ESP BBL with MBA2 students who took part last year. (Access restricted, GSB community only).

Introduction

The Entrepreneurial Summer Program is aimed at GSB students working at an entrepreneurial company as a summer intern. ESP has 2 elements:

1. Program element:

  • Open to all returning Stanford MBA students working at entrepreneurial companies, regardless of whether you receive funding. If you would like to participate only in this element, please contact Pauline Wiles.
  • Includes a send-off event (May 21st), mid-summer gathering, final report and end of summer conference.

2. Funding element:

  • Both the student and the company must meet certain guidelines to receive funding.
  • Information on this page is relevant if you would like to apply for funding.
  • The intention of the program is to allow students to experience an entrepreneurial summer with an operational company that they might otherwise not be able to have.

The CES typically posts pre-approved positions starting in February but students are also encouraged to find their own positions. Only first year students or returning dual degree students are eligible for the financial stipend; preference is given to those approved for financial aid by the GSB. The deadline for 2008 applications is noon on May 16th.

If you are a GSB student and would like to receive a weekly email listing ESP job postings, please visit http://lists.stanford.edu and subscribe to esp_updates.

Now available: video from the ESP BBL with MBA2 students who took part last year. (Access restricted, GSB community only).

How do I find a suitable ESP job?

  1. From February, to see company applications that have been pre-approved for ESP funds, go to the student shared drive (T-drive, studentsharing on 'gsb-file3'), under the file folder: ESP Internships.
  2. Go to the Special Internships page on MyGSB and enter My Career Dashboard.
  3. The CES will also send weekly emails of approved ESP opportunities to all MBA1s.
  4. Remember, you can also source your own internship. This makes sense if you have a preferred industry or geographic focus for the summer. Here are some resources from the Jackson Library to conduct an independent search.

You should then apply directly to the company - the CES does not get involved in 'matching'.

How does the student funding application work?

  • Secure an offer from the company of your choice (you don't have to have accepted it), and THEN submit your student application.
  • If the company has not been pre-approved, you may submit the student portion of the application concurrently with the company application.
  • Complete the student portion of the application.
  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, until 12:00 noon, May 16, 2008. Note that you need to have agreed your internship with the company by this date.
  • However, since funds will be awarded on a rolling basis, we may run out of funds prior to that date.

Once your position has been finalized and the company and student applications have been approved:

  • Submit to the CES a countersigned offer letter from the company.
  • Sign up for direct deposit in Axess (or, at the very least, update your mailing address) so that you receive your stipends promptly.
  • Work directly with the company to negotiate start date and logistical details.

What happens during and after the summer?

  • Participate in the send-off event at the GSB on Wednesday, May 21st.
  • If requested, host the CES executive director for a summer visit.
  • If in the Bay Area, attend a mid-summer student and faculty gathering.
  • Complete an end-of-summer report.
  • Thank a CES donor at the end of the summer.
  • Participate in the end-of-summer conference, usually held on a Wednesday in October.
  • Provide feedback to the CES on your summer experience and the program.

Payment arrangements:

  • The company will pay you directly for their portion of the compensation.
  • The University will pay you directly for your supplemental funding in two parts, one in the first few weeks of July and one at the end of the summer.

Questions? Contact Pauline Wiles at wiles_pauline @gsb.stanford.edu or 650-723-0887.