Startup Venture Capital Internship

I'm a new user at WSO.

I am a rising sophomore at USC studying International business and finance. So, not a target for finance but the IB program is the top in the nation, apparently. I've applied for transfer to some targets, but I won't be hearing back for decisions from them for a month.

A family friend has offered me an internship at his startup venture capital firm. The firm is a few years old. Basically, they invest in and manage farms/farmland in Ghana (hoping to expand to other West African nations). The internship is unpaid and only 10-20 hours a week, so I am able to pursue other internships (PWM etc.) to complement this. They plan on having their IPO on the Ghana Stock Exchange in the next year or so I may be working somewhat with that. This internship would be in the U.S., but the family friend says if I work hard, I could then intern in Ghana with them next summer for six weeks or so.

So, I have two questions.

How would an internship like this look like on my resume as I plan on trying on getting a SA gig next summer? (connections at T.Rowe and JPM for example).

My other question is, should I pursue the prolonged internship in Ghana next summer or even the summer after that instead of pursuing an internship at bank here in the U.S.? I would like to land a FT IBD or S&T position in the future.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

2 Comments
 

For this summer the internship would probably be solid, get some experience and put it on your resume. It sounds like a good gig.

Next summer is kind of a different story. You should really only pursue working there the summer after your junior year if you are considering it for a full time career. Otherwise your time might be better spent at Bank since it sounds like that is your ideal endgame. Either way keep the option open for next summer in the event you aren't able to find a SA offer, but pursue something more in line with where you want to end up.

"It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous. "
 

Molestiae rem voluptas et blanditiis atque. Et vel dolorem veniam quasi placeat a rerum. Corrupti numquam totam fugiat adipisci. Et expedita similique sapiente. Dolorem quos perspiciatis qui laboriosam rerum voluptates.

Autem necessitatibus mollitia libero sint occaecati similique odio. Enim ut impedit animi placeat quia est velit. Laborum culpa doloribus aut eius libero.

Qui nobis delectus est optio est repellat distinctio nemo. Ipsum rerum deserunt itaque ut ullam esse. Veritatis magnam harum quae iure deserunt ducimus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”