INTERNSHIP: Business Development Social Entrepreneurship

We are an Amsterdam-based, internationally operating non-profit organisation devoted to helping newcomers pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. We empower them to launch, grow, fund, and sustain their own businesses. We believe in the incredible talent of people with a refugee background, their value to society, and their potential to build bridges across communities.

Vision 2026

By 2026, we will be the leading ecosystem in the field of entrepreneurship for forcibly displaced individuals in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. We offer free entrepreneurship education, training, and events to more than 4000 aspiring entrepreneurial newcomers yearly. Supported by a thriving community of 1,500 volunteers. We structurally support 500 businesses from successful alumni in growing their businesses, boosting revenues and having access to capital, talent and the best business services. Community Members independently connect and support each other. Newcomers achieve economic independence; they are regarded as valuable members within their new home societies.

Overview of the Role

As a Business Development intern you are an entrepreneurial, business-minded and organised student. You have the ability to spot opportunities and to turn your ideas into action. In close collaboration with the business development team you have the responsibility to find new donors and sponsors and support the BD team in writing attractive proposals. You have a keen interest in sales and business development and you are not afraid to get your hands dirty.

Responsibilities of the Role:

• Find new leads that fit the criteria of FI as potential funders/sponsors
• Identify the right entries into these leads: clarifying application processes, and individuals responsible for handling grant requests and collaboration requests.
• Managing the entire fundraising pipeline in CRM-system Monday.com for your leads and opportunities
• Come up with new approaches for lead generation & partnership development
• Developing best practices for lead generation and outreach
• Helping prepare BD team members for meetings and supporting with writing proposals and reports
• Support entrepreneurs in a Program with setting up a business
• To support the team in other tasks where needed

Commitments:

• You have a strong conviction to empower entrepreneurs to build and grow their businesses;
• You empathise with entrepreneurs who do so without connections and startup capital and who come from a different cultural background;
• You are not afraid to get your hands dirty and work alongside entrepreneurs. You go beyond giving advice and provide practical support;
• You are an all-rounder and able to support our vision, mission and objectives.

Must-have requirements

• You are fluent in English. Fluency in Dutch or Arabic is a plus for this role;
• You have a finished BSc or MSc degree in business or economics, or a demonstrable interest in business development;
• You are a good communicator who gains energy from networking and meeting people;
• You are tech-savvy;
• You have a proactive, entrepreneurial, results-oriented attitude with an ability to work effectively in a fast-paced organisation;
• You are flexible and can deal well with a lot of uncertainty. You have a solution focussed mentality.
• You are allowed to work in the Netherlands

What we offer

• Start: August / September
• Availability: 40 hours per week
• Duration: 5-6 months.
• Remuneration: we provide an internship compensation of 500 EUR for BSc students and 750 EUR for MSc students, based on 5 days per week.
• Location: Amsterdam or Rotterdam. We currently work 2 days a week at the office (Monday AMS & Thursday RTM) and 3 days remotely.
• Perks: you join an amazing team with colleagues from the Netherlands, Germany, Romania, Luxembourg, Egypt, Lebanon, Indonesia, Poland, Portugal, Italy, Bosnia, Mozambique and the UK. We are deeply committed to our mission and ensure teamwork makes the dream work