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.

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