Eleven regional nonprofit and commercial entities have been selected to host Grove City College students in the Spring 2026 cohort of the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation’s E+I Fellows program.
E+I Fellows provides paid student interns at no cost to nonprofits, startups, and small businesses that have a positive impact regionally through social innovation or economic opportunity but lack resources to hire traditional interns or employees to increase capacity and continue to grow.
“The E+I Fellows program has truly become one of our signature student experiences, celebrated not only for its meaningful impact on students, but for the way it also strengthens and supports local businesses and nonprofits across the region. Its continued growth demonstrates just how essential it is to our regional innovation ecosystem," said Emma O'Toole '23, E+I community manager and organizer of the E+I Fellows program.
Interest in E+I Fellows program has grown steadily, with 82 organizations applying for student assistance this spring. Since it began in 2024, the program has provided 113 internships to 77 regional businesses across 8 counties in the Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio region, with some businesses participating in multiple cohorts.
Seventy-eight Grove City College students met with prospective employers at Preview Night on Jan. 22 in the Morledge Great Room of Rathburn Hall on campus. Students from all majors applied for internship positions.
“Serving as a host organization for the E+I Fellows Program has been an incredibly valuable experience for our Chamber. Fellows have contributed to meaningful research, strategic insight, and fresh entrepreneurial thinking that directly supported our initiatives and strengthened our impact in the business community,” Carrie Nolan-Robson, executive director of the North Side/Shore Chamber of Commerce. “The program creates a true partnership. Our placed students gain hands-on, high-level experience, while organizations like ours benefit from their talent, professionalism, and innovative perspective.”
In addition to the interns’ labor, hosts get help creating a detailed project plan to maximize the value of the placement for both the organization and the students involved. The interns’ $25 per hour rate is covered by a grant from an anonymous donor during the spring 2026 cohort.
The organizations selected to host 17 E+I Fellows this spring are:
- Aquatonomy – A robotics company transforming underwater infrastructure through AI robotics and 3D scanning.
- Baked True North – A gluten–free bakery, cafe, and vintage shop.
- Built to Exit – A business operating system that empowers business owners to custom–tailor the exit of their company.
- Hardly – Software for career support service providers.
- Joy in the Journey – Supporting children and families as they navigate challenging medical journeys.
- Keystone Veterinary Care – Full–service veterinary care for cats and dogs, including preventive care, diagnostics, dentistry, and surgery.
- Luke's Landscaping and Tree Service Co. – Providing residential and commercial property landscaping and maintenance services.
- Northside | Northshore Chamber of Commerce – Promotes, connects, and supports the growth of Pittsburgh's Northside businesses.
- Pittsburgh Robotics Network – Representing robotics, autonomy, and AI leaders to accelerate growth and innovation in Southwestern PA.
- Senior Olympics of Western PA – Empowering athletes 50+ to stay active and redefine aging through regional and national Senior Olympic sports.
- Storify Marketing – Providing strategic marketing leadership and messaging for sales–driven B2B tech companies.
Startups, small businesses, and nonprofits who may be interested in applying for the Fall 2026 cohort can visit gccentrepreneurship.com/future–interest–form to join the interest list.
For more about the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation, visit gccentrepreneurship.com.