Business Development Intern

Job description

WHO WE ARE Plug and Play is a global innovation platform and venture capital firm. Our mission is to make innovation open to anyone, anywhere. Each year, hundreds of entrepreneurs join our industry-specific accelerator programs to collaborate with our corporate partners or receive direct investment from Plug and Play. With over 40 locations worldwide, our corporate partners include The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, USAA, Visa, Nationwide, Aflac, Daimler, Ford, Nissan, BP, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Pfizer, Walmart, Coca-Cola, Adidas, and more than 500 additional industry leaders. Our investment portfolio includes companies such as Honey, Guardant Health, ApplyBoard, BigID, Kustomer, Rappi, Flutterwave, Hippo, PayPal, LendingClub, and Dropbox. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We are looking for a proactive, entrepreneurial, and highly motivated Business Development Intern to support our team with a dedicated focus on the Israeli technology ecosystem. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about startups, venture capital, and innovation, and who enjoys building relationships and identifying new opportunities in a fast-paced, international environment. RESPONSIBILITIES Support the Business Development team in expanding Plug and Play's presence within the Israeli startup ecosystem. Scout and identify promising Israeli startups, emerging technologies, and innovation trends across multiple industries. Build and maintain relationships with founders, investors, accelerators, and other key ecosystem stakeholders. Research and evaluate startup opportunities based on corporate partner needs and strategic priorities. Assist in sourcing and managing deal flow for corporate innovation programs and venture activities. Create and maintain internal and external business development materials, including market analyses, startup profiles, opportunity briefs, presentations, and one-pagers. Support outreach efforts and facilitate introductions between startups and corporate partners when strategic opportunities arise. Contribute to the planning and execution of innovation programs, workshops, networking events, dealflow sessions, and demo days. Leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to improve research, sourcing, communication, and operational efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support corporate engagement and ecosystem development initiatives. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE Currently studying or recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, or related field. Strong interest in entrepreneurship, venture capital, startups, and innovation ecosystems. Deep familiarity with the Israeli technology landscape through personal background, professional experience, academic exposure, or an existing network. Ability to identify business opportunities and translate research into actionable insights. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling presentations, proposals, and outreach materials. Highly motivated, proactive, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Demonstrated integrity, accountability, professionalism, and strong interpersonal skills. Comfortable using AI tools to enhance productivity and business development activities. Hebrew fluency and an established network within the Israeli startup, venture capital, or innovation community are highly preferred. Strong English communication skills required.