How Are You Most Effectively Utilizing Interns in Your Search Fund Journey?

searcher profile

May 28, 2025

by a searcher from New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business in New York, NY, USA

Hi SearchFunder Community, As many of us navigate the demanding and multifaceted search fund process, I'm keen to tap into the collective wisdom on how to best leverage the enthusiasm and capabilities of interns. We all know interns can be a valuable asset, potentially assisting with everything from industry research and deal sourcing to initial screening and data management. However, moving beyond the basics, I'm really interested in learning from your experiences: What are your most effective strategies for truly maximizing the value interns bring to your search, and how do you ensure it's a mutually beneficial experience? I'm particularly curious about: * High-Impact Tasks: Beyond typical screening, what specific projects or responsibilities have you found where interns can deliver exceptional value? * Structure & Stages: How do you tailor intern involvement to the different stages of your search (e.g., initial broad outreach vs. deep dive on a specific target)? * Onboarding & Mentorship: In a lean search environment, what are your best practices for efficient onboarding, training, and providing meaningful mentorship? * Motivation & Incentives: What creative and effective ways have you found to motivate interns, especially when financial compensation might be limited? * Lessons Learned: What are some common pitfalls to avoid when integrating interns into your workflow, and what would you do differently if you were starting over? * Ensuring a Quality Learning Experience: How do you balance getting the help you need with providing a genuinely enriching learning opportunity for them? I'm looking to build a robust internship component and would be incredibly grateful for any insights, success stories, or cautionary tales you're willing to share. Thanks in advance for your advice!
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Reply by a searcher
from University of Pennsylvania in Washington, DC, USA
Thanks for the ^redacted‌. Willie, I spent a lot of time putting thought into structuring our program, with help from investors and other searchers. It started with figuring out what they wanted out of the internship during recruiting. I tried to structure our needs around what they wanted to develop. I also tried to spend time in one-on-one feedback sessions. I wasn't always successful but I was lucky enough to have a lot of really good interns. They seemed to have enjoyed their experience also and many went on to do really cool things. I'm happy to chat. Just DM me and we can connect.
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Reply by a searcher
from Stanford University in 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Hi Willie, I am happy to connect on this. As someone who has been battling with this question as well - happy to serve as a thought partner on this
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