Chicago Venture Summit 2024 Intern

World Business Chicago (WBC), is a public-private, non-profit partnership that drives inclusive economic growth and job creation, supports business, and promotes Chicago as a leading global city. Supported by a council of 250+ tech community leaders, Innovation & Venture leads World Business Chicago’s dedicated effort driving inclusive growth and opportunity for Chicago’s tech economy and innovation ecosystem. Innovation & Venture’s portfolio of programs include ThinkChicago, the Chicago Venture Summit, Startup Chicago, and Venture Engine with the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC).

As Chicago’s flagship venture capital conference, the Chicago Venture Summit (CVS 2024) brings together the strongest local, regional and national venture capital firms with our best and brightest entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The most recent 2023 summit year attracted 300+ venture capital firms, 2000+ in total attendance and showcased 300+ of Chicago’s best startups.

POSITION SUMMARY

World Business Chicago (WBC) is seeking a Chicago Venture Summit intern to aid the Innovation & Venture team in the management of the Chicago Venture Summit program. The intern will support the 2024 Chicago Venture Summit, reporting to the Venture Programs Managers and receiving leadership and direction from the Director of Innovation & Venture.

The Innovation & Venture intern will have strong passion for Chicago’s technology and venture capital community and some experience in marketing, events, or technology companies, venture capital firms or financial companies. The Innovation & Venture intern will have excellent project management, organization and communication skills, and an ability to thrive in complex environments and manage multiple work-streams simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Program Development and event management

• Work with Innovation & Venture partners and relevant stakeholders on development of the Chicago Venture Summit
• Support efforts to procure and identify vendors
• Ensure that all projects are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget while maintaining comprehensive project documentation.

External Communications

• Support communications strategy with selected partners to advertise and build awareness of the Chicago Venture Summit through planned content creation
• Identify key partners in a communication plan relevant to venture programs
• Contribute to communications products, including outreach plans, press releases and blog posts to drive awareness of the Chicago Venture Summit.
• Manage maintenance and updates for the Chicago Venture Summit through relevant digital and social media assets including but not limited event app, website, and registration site.

Desired Competencies, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work effectively across a variety of skill areas, including project management, communications, content creation, event planning and execution.
• Awareness of and experience working within Chicago’s venture and technology community.
• Commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including WBC staff, board members, government stakeholders, and outside advisors.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently as well as with a team; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to deliver against deadlines; ability to handle high priority and pressure situations.
• Entrepreneurial approach is a must, and experience working in a startup environment with evolving priorities and processes preferred.

Qualifications

• Current undergrad student pursuing a career in business, economics or economic development, finance, administration, event planning, or other relevant areas of study
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite applications.

This is a 10-week hybrid summer internship position from June 10 – August 16, 2024, paid at $16.00 per hour with up to 29 hours per week.

To Apply

If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to: Carrie Simmons  hr@worldbusinesschicago.com