Eligibility note: This fellowship is only for current college students who already have US work authorization, and it is based in New York or San Francisco. Students living in Africa without the right to work in the US can’t apply. African students already enrolled at a US college who are allowed to work in the US may qualify. If that isn’t you, see the related opportunities open to Africans at the end.
Thrive Capital, the New York venture capital firm behind investments in companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, Stripe, Spotify and Instagram, has opened applications for its Summer 2027 Thrive Fellowship. It’s a paid summer internship, annualized at a US$100,000 salary, plus a US$40,000 education stipend to help with junior-year costs.
The deadline is 11 December 2026.
At a Glance
| Organisation | Thrive Capital |
| Programme | Thrive Capital Summer Fellowship 2027 |
| Pay | Paid internship, annualized at US$100,000 |
| Education stipend | US$40,000 toward junior-year education costs |
| Location | New York or San Francisco |
| Who can apply | Current college students with US work authorization |
| Deadline | 11 December 2026 |
What Fellows Do
Thrive says this is not a traditional investment internship. Fellows are encouraged to pursue their own ideas with the firm’s support, while also contributing to its work by challenging assumptions and supporting portfolio companies. Example projects from past fellows include:
- Developing a faster, cheaper way to make printed circuit boards, then turning it into a business plan
- Working with Thrive Holdings teams to test how AI models perform in real businesses and building tools to improve them
- Building data tools and fan products for sports franchises
- Studying whether AI can deliver the benefits of one-to-one tutoring at lower cost
- Developing an investment thesis in AI-driven drug discovery
Thrive encourages applicants to propose ideas that reflect their own interests.
Benefits
- Paid internship, annualized at a US$100,000 salary
- A US$40,000 education stipend to help cover junior-year costs
- Freedom to pursue your own projects with Thrive’s people and resources
- Exposure to leading technology companies in Thrive’s portfolio
Eligibility
- You must be a current college student.
- You must have US work authorization.
- You must be able to work from New York or San Francisco.
- Thrive looks for exceptional ability, strong ethics and honesty, and people who can make a lasting positive impression on its team and portfolio companies.
The official page does not state a specific class year for 2027. Past cohorts were aimed at freshmen, sophomores and juniors, so check with Thrive if you are unsure.
How to Apply
- Go to the official fellowship page (link below) and click Apply.
- In your application, describe ideas and projects that reflect your own interests.
- Submit before 11 December 2026.
Timeline: interviews begin in January 2027, and fellows are selected in February 2027.
Official Thrive Capital Summer Fellowship 2027 page
Questions: [email protected]
Note: Thrive says it may already be pursuing, or may later pursue, ideas similar to those shared in applications, and that applying creates no obligation on its part.
