Polsky South Side Business Development - Intern - Winter Quarter
This internship is part of the University’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program. Click here to learn more about the program, its benefits, and the UChicago community of supporters.
If you are an international student, please make sure to visit the OIA website to familiarize yourself with your work authorization eligibility and requirements as soon as possible.
This is considered an OFF-CAMPUS job. First year students and new transfer students who require CPT are not eligible.
If you’d like to make an appointment with your international adviser, please visit this page. This is not an on-campus position. CPT is required.
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The Polsky Exchange Winter Quarter Internship: South Side Business Development Internship (SBDI)
The Polsky Exchange is hiring undergraduate students for the Winter Quarter to deliver growth projects for local South Side businesses in need of support with customer discovery, marketing, or AI Implementation. You’ll own a project from first client conversation to final handoff, and finish with tangible deliverables you can show employers.
What you’ll do
Scope the project
- Meet with your client up front, in coordination with Polsky staff, to reach final agreement on objectives, scope, outcomes, and timeline.
- Finalize a project definition document that sets out your approach.
- Develop a project management plan in Excel covering key activities, deliverables, client interactions, and timing.
Research and plan
- Research the industry, company, customers, and competitors as needed.
- Research existing tools and platforms for building your deliverables. For example, if the key deliverable is an upgraded website, compare website-building platforms, pick one, and go deep on it.
- Identify and outline the key deliverable(s) for the project.
Build and deliver
- Develop the implementation deliverables, such as a new or upgraded website, an email marketing system (CRM), social media account setups, or banner ad content.
- Build them in a format, with login credentials, that can be easily turned over to the client.
- Review all draft deliverables with Polsky staff/coaches before presenting them to the client.
- Develop a final report and present your work to the client in person.
Communicate throughout
- Keep your client informed and on board, and manage expectations.
- Bring any client issues to your project’s Q/A partner regarding any client issues that arise
Be part of the community
- Attend and enthusiastically participate in events.
- Join weekly check-in meetings and other activities with fellow Polsky interns.
Who will thrive
- Strong interest in entrepreneurship, local community businesses, innovation, and eagerness to build the Polsky Exchange community and serve growth businesses.
- Exceptional attention to detail and organization.
- Priority goes to candidates who have not previously completed an SBDI opportunity
Project tracks
You’ll be matched to a project based on your interest and fit. Tell us which of these you want to work on:
- Social Media Marketing: marketing and content automations
- Customer Discovery: AI-powered market research and customer discovery
- AI Implementation: web development, chatbots, and custom GPTs that give first-line responses to common customer inquiries, plus customer service automations
Logistics
- Quarter: Winter 2027
- Time commitment: 80-90 hours total over the quarter (roughly 10 hours per week)
- Location: Hybrid
- Compensation: Students will be paid a $1,250 stipend
- Deadline: Nov 3rd
How to apply
Submit your resume and a one-page cover letter by Nov 3rd. In your cover letter, tell us which track(s) interest you and why, ideally with a specific example of something you’ve built, researched, or run (a class project, a club, a side project etc.).