A Hunter student and a recent graduate who participated this summer in innovative tech internships showcased their work at a conference in Manhattan on August 13.
Student Siobhan Forrester, who expects to graduate in December, and alumnus Victor Yuen ’25 interned in the 10-week NYC Startup Internship Program. They presented their work in front of an audience of early-stage startups and city officials.
Forrester, a media-studies major, worked as a marketing and operations intern at microbiome-based diagnostic firm Miora. Yuen, with a degree in computer science, was a program operations intern at the venture-capital firm Company Ventures.
Forrester said she learned a lot at the firm.
“Healthcare has always felt personal to me. I’ve worked as a medical assistant, so I’ve seen the system from the inside,” Forrester told an interviewer. “Whether it’s building awareness through social media or helping shape a product, I wanted to create work that makes someone’s care journey better.”
Twenty-one Hunter students or recent alumni — mostly computer science majors — participated this year in the Startup Internship Program, which is sponsored by Company Ventures, Tech: NYC, Blackstone LaunchPad, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. They worked at firms including Cambio Labs, 2nd Set AI, and Gratis Intelligence.
The program seeks to address disparities in the tech workforce by providing city students with on-ramps to good-paying jobs.
“Over 10 weeks, interns from Hunter and across CUNY contributed to early-stage startups and venture firms, gaining hands-on experience, building professional skills, and exploring career pathways in tech, entrepreneurship, and venture capital,” said Hunter Director of Partnerships Travis Fox. “The showcase was an opportunity to hear directly from interns as they reflected on their summer experiences, shared what they worked on, and discussed what’s next in their journeys.”
The interns were paid $20 an hour, with the wages of those in the Startup Program subsidized by Blackstone Launchpad.
“The NYC Startup Internship Program opens doors for talented students across the city to gain meaningful experience in the startup ecosystem,” said Mia Manantan, director of impact programs at Company Ventures. “Hunter students stood out this summer for their curiosity, drive, and impact at their host companies, and we’re proud to support them as they take these next steps in their careers.”
