15 Fintech Startup Internships for High School Students
If you're interested in the intersection of finance and technology, a fintech startup internship can be an excellent way to explore the industry before college. You'll gain hands-on experience in areas such as digital payments, investing, AI-powered finance, blockchain, product development, and business strategy while working in fast-paced startup environments. Beyond strengthening your college applications and resume,these internships can help you build practical skills, build a professional network, and learn directly from founders and industry experts. Many programs are offered virtually or provide financial aid, making them more accessible to students.
If you want to see what other finance internships are available, find a list of summer-specific internships here & paid internships here.
Why should you participate in fintech startup internships in high school?
As the fintech sector continues to grow, it can be challenging to find internships specifically open to high school students that provide meaningful, hands-on experience. Many of the opportunities are offered by leading universities, startup accelerators, research organizations, and fintech companies, giving students the chance to work on real-world projects while learning from founders and industry professionals. These programs providehands-on learning, expert mentorship, exposure to fintech and entrepreneurship, valuable networking opportunities, and strong institutional reputations.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 15 fintech startup internships for high school students.
Key takeaways
This list gathers programs connected to fintech and startup experience for high school students, spanning virtual internship-matching services, entrepreneurship competitions, and pre-college courses, with standout hosts including Fiserv, Bentley University, and Carolina Fintech Hub.
Cost varies enormously, from free options like several pitch competitions and job simulations, up to nearly $10,000 for a residential startup incubator program, so it's worth budgeting carefully depending on which type of program fits.
About half of these are genuine internship-style placements matching you with an existing startup, while the rest are competitions, courses, or incubators where you develop your own business idea rather than working within an established company, and fintech is the core focus for some while just one possible direction for others.
Most of these are fully virtual and open globally, with a couple requiring in-person attendance at a specific U.S. city like Charlotte or Boston.
A few of the earliest deadlines fall in December for one virtual fintech program, with several more clustering into February and April, so it's worth checking each listing's specific timeline individually since they vary quite a bit.
1. High School Internship Program - BSD Education x Young Founders School
Location: Remote, with global partner companies
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 4 - 6 weeks | Multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (aged 14 - 18 years)
The BSD Education × Young Founders School High School Internship Program combines a paid internship with practical training to help high school students build professional experience. You'll work on real-world projects with startups and global companies across industries such as finance, business, healthcare, and technology, giving you a chance to apply your skills in a professional setting. Before beginning your internship, you'll complete short online courses designed to prepare you for your role. Throughout the program, you'll receive mentorship from industry professionals and participate in skill-building workshops. The program concludes with a final presentation showcasing the projects you've worked on.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type | Full financial aid available | No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, winter, spring, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 8 to 12 weeks, devoting 10 to 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships is a selective 8-week virtual startup internship program for ambitious high school students who want hands-on experience working with high-growth startups. Startups offer opportunities across a wide range of industries, including tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, literature and philosophy, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s startups are high-growth companies that have raised over a million dollars on average. As an intern, you will work closely with your manager on real-world projects and present your work to the company at the end of the internship. Apply now!
3. Matchtern
Location: VirtualCost/Stipend: $1,950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rolling
Dates: 12 weeks, consisting of 4 weeks of professional training followed by approximately 2 months of internship placement
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Matchtern is a three-month internship placement program that connects high school students with venture-backed startups across industries such as fintech, technology, healthcare, and consumer products. Before starting their internship, participants complete a four-week professional training program focused on workplace skills, communication, and project readiness. Once placed, you'll work on real projects under the guidance of company managers while receiving ongoing mentorship and regular check-ins from the Matchtern team. The program is designed to help students gain meaningful professional experience, build industry connections, and develop skills that can strengthen your future college and career applications.
4. Fiserv Future Techies High School Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: December 14
Eligibility: Open to high school students with an interest in fintech, technology, entrepreneurship, app development, AI, or cybersecurity.
Fiserv's Future Techies High School Program introduces students to financial technology through a virtual, project-based experience. Working in teams, you'll explore topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, app development, and digital payments while developing a solution to a real-world fintech challenge. Throughout the program, you'll receive mentorship from Fiserv professionals, participate in interactive workshops, and present your project in a National Pitch Competition.
5. Carolina Fintech Hub's Youth Technology Apprenticeship Camp
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Vary by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to current high school students, particularly those living in or near Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Carolina Fintech Hub's Youth Technology Apprenticeship Camp (YTAC) combines technology training with paid internship opportunities to introduce high school students to careers in fintech. You'll develop skills in coding, game development, digital marketing, and financial technology while working with mentors from leading companies such as Ally Bank, LendingTree, and Movement Mortgage. You will also participate in hands-on projects and competitions. Selected participants transition into paid internships, gaining practical experience and exposure to the fintech industry.
6. Forage
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Self-paced; available year-round
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to anyone, including high school students | No prior experience required.
Forage offers free, self-paced virtual job simulations that allow students to explore careers in industries such as banking, financial services, consulting, and technology. Designed by leading employers,each simulation includes realistic tasks that mirror the work professionals perform on the job, helping you build practical skills while learning about different career paths. After completing a simulation, you'll receive a certificate that can be added to your resume or LinkedIn profile, making Forage a useful way to gain career exposure before applying for internships.
7. Empowerly's Startup Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Not publicly listed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Offered in fall, spring, and summer | Internship length varies by placement (from two-week intensives to multi-month internships).
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students interested in gaining startup experience
Empowerly's Startup Internship Program (SIP) connects high school students with remote internships at startups across a wide range of industries, including business, technology, AI, healthcare, and marketing. Before interviewing with partner companies,you'll receive one-on-one support with resume development, cover letter writing, and interview preparation. Once matched with a company, you'll work on real projects while gaining mentorship, professional experience, and exposure to the fast-paced startup environment. With opportunities offered during the fall, spring, and summer, the program helps students build practical skills, expand their professional network, and strengthen their college applications.
8. BetterMind Labs program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Applications are reviewed individually, and selected students receive an enrollment invitation
Dates: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 8th - 12th
BetterMind Labs is a mentor-guided artificial intelligence and machine learning program for high school students who want to build real-world projects rather than simply studying AI concepts. Over four weeks, you'll attend live, instructor-led sessions and work closely with industry mentors in small teams to develop an original AI solution in areas such as finance, healthcare, cybersecurity, business, entrepreneurship, or education. Throughout the program, you'll gain hands-on experience with AI tools, programming, and problem-solving while building a portfolio-ready capstone project. Students who complete the program receive an internship certificate, while top performers may also earn a letter of recommendation from their mentors.
9. Ventura Challenge
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not available
Dates: Summer; workshops run from June 15 - July 15
Application Deadline: July 29
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide (grades 9th - 12th)
The Ventura Challenge is a free, global virtual startup pitch competition that helps high school students turn innovative ideas into potential ventures. Working individually or in teams, you'll develop an original business concept, validate your solution, and prepare a professional startup pitch with guidance from workshops and industry feedback. You will submit a short video pitch and optional pitch deck. Top teams receive funding, mentorship, and continued support to help launch their ventures. The competition is open to startup ideas across sectors, including AI, fintech, healthcare, sustainability, education, and consumer technology, making it an excellent opportunity to build entrepreneurial skills and connect with founders and investors.
10. Bentley University's FinTech Startups program
Location: Waltham, Massachusetts, USA (Bentley University campus, near Boston)
Cost/Stipend: Online: $1,490 | The FinTech Startups course is offered as a Wall Street 101 program | Financial aid is available for eligible students.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed | Admissions are rolling and space is limited.
Dates: June 15 - 19 or June 22 - 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until June 1, or until the program reaches capacity.
Eligibility: Open to high school students interested in business, technology, or entrepreneurship.
If you're interested in finance, technology, and entrepreneurship, Bentley University's FinTech Startups program lets you explore how these fields come together to create innovative financial solutions. During this one-week pre-college program, you'll learn about digital payments, blockchain, artificial intelligence, online banking, and investing through hands-on activities and simulations. You'll also develop your own fintech startup idea, learn how business models and funding work, and present your concept in a final pitch. Along the way, you'll gain practical skills, work with other students, and hear from industry experts who can help you understand how fintech startups are built and scaled.
11. Youth Ideathon
Location: India
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Currently accepting
Application Deadline: Not yet announced for the current cycle | Applications remain open until the official registration period closes.
Eligibility: Open to students in classes 8 - 12 from schools across India.
It is a national entrepreneurship competition that helps school students turn innovative ideas into startup ventures. If you're interested in fintech, you can choose the FinTech innovation track and work on solutions related to digital payments, banking, personal finance, lending, or financial inclusion. Throughout the program, you'll receive mentorship from industry experts, attend workshops, refine your business idea through feedback, and pitch your startup to a panel of judges. You will also have the opportunity to win cash prizes, gain national recognition, and connect with other student entrepreneurs across India.
12. Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition
Location: Virtual (open to students worldwide)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed | All eligible high school students can register and submit a business idea.
Dates: Annual competition | Registration open
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide.
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is an international entrepreneurship competition where high school students develop and pitch original business ideas. In this program, you can create a startup that addresses challenges in areas such as digital payments, financial inclusion, or personal finance. As part of the competition, you'll explore the Blue Ocean Strategy framework, strengthen your business idea through planning tools and mentorship, and prepare a startup pitch for a panel of judges. Along the way, you'll develop entrepreneurial skills, receive valuable feedback, connect with a global community of young innovators, and compete for cash prizes and international recognition.
13. Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
Location: Available in the United States and 10+ countries through schools, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and online programs
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Offered throughout the year | Program schedules vary by school, region, and delivery partner.
Application Deadline: Varies by program and partner organization.
Eligibility: Open to learners ages 11 - 24, with many programs designed specifically for middle and high school students
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is a global entrepreneurship program that helps middle and high school students turn business ideas into potential ventures. You'll learn how to identify market opportunities, develop a business model, create a marketing strategy, and manage finances while building your own startup idea. The program also offers mentorship from entrepreneurs and industry professionals, hands-on entrepreneurship training, pitch competitions, and opportunities to earn certifications and compete for seed funding. Although NFTE is not focused exclusively on fintech, it provides the practical business and entrepreneurial skills needed to develop startups across a wide range of industries, including financial technology.
14. Technovation Girls
Location: Global
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Self-selective
Dates: August - May
Application Deadline: April 20
Eligibility: Open to girls and gender-diverse youth (including nonbinary, transgender, and gender nonconforming participants) aged 8 - 18 years worldwide
The program is designed to help girls and gender-diverse youth build technology-based solutions to real-world problems. You'll work in a team to develop a mobile app or AI project, learn the basics of entrepreneurship, and develop a business plan for your idea with support from mentors and a free online curriculum. Along the way, you'll build skills in coding, problem-solving, teamwork, and pitching your idea. You will then submit your project to an international competition to earn recognition and scholarships.
15. Leangap
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Online: $6,450 | San Francisco: $9,950 | Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 4%
Dates: Online: June 15 - July 10 | San Francisco: July 12 - August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 13 - 17 years from around the world
In this startup incubator, you'll work with a team to identify a problem, validate your idea by speaking with potential customers, and build a startup in an industry of your choice, including fintech. You can develop solutions related to digital payments, personal finance, financial inclusion, or other areas of financial technology while receiving guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. Throughout the program, you'll develop a minimum viable product (MVP), receive one-on-one mentorship, learn about marketing, branding, sales, product development, and pitching, and present your company to investors on Demo Day. By the end of the program, you'll have hands-on startup experience, stronger leadership and communication skills, and a real venture you can continue building after the program ends.
Questions students often ask about these programs
1. Do I need finance or coding experience already to apply to these programs?
No, most of these are designed to introduce fintech and entrepreneurship concepts from scratch, so no prior background is expected. A genuine interest in finance or technology matters more than specialized knowledge at this stage.
2. Some of these are competitions or courses rather than internships. What's the difference, and does it matter for college applications?
A competition or course still demonstrates initiative and skill-building, just through a different format than a workplace internship. Both are worth including on an application, as long as you describe the experience accurately rather than calling a competition an internship.
3. A couple of these programs aren't specifically about fintech. Are they still worth doing if I'm interested in finance?
Yes, if you're building general entrepreneurship or technical skills, since you can usually choose a fintech-related project or track within a broader program. If a dedicated fintech focus matters most to you, prioritize the listings built specifically around financial technology.