UNC Chapel Hill: Connectern

The Client

UNC Chapel Hill is a prestigious public research university with a vibrant student body seeking meaningful professional experiences. The university sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of the nation's fastest-growing startup ecosystems, with hundreds of emerging companies within minutes of campus.

UNC's Career Services team recognized an untapped opportunity: their students were struggling to find internships while local startups desperately needed talent. The proximity created perfect conditions for mutually beneficial partnerships, but no infrastructure existed to facilitate these connections at scale.

The Problem

UNC students faced a fragmented internship search process. Traditional job boards focused on large corporations, overlooking the unique opportunities available at local startups. Students had no systematic way to discover nearby companies that aligned with their skills and interests, often graduating without experiencing the startup environment despite having it on their doorstep.

Meanwhile, Triangle-area startups struggled to recruit UNC talent. They lacked the resources to compete with corporate recruiting programs and had no efficient channel to reach students. Many founders didn't realize the caliber of talent available so close to their offices. This disconnect meant startups missed crucial help during growth phases while students missed invaluable learning experiences.

Even when connections formed, there was no structured framework to manage internships, track progress, or ensure meaningful experiences. Without proper oversight, internships often devolved into busy work rather than genuine professional development.

The Solution

We built Connectern, a comprehensive platform that bridges the gap between UNC students and Research Triangle startups. The system handles the entire lifecycle from discovery to successful completion, ensuring both parties derive maximum value from the experience.

The platform's intelligent matching engine analyzes student profiles and startup needs to create optimal pairings:

The Impact

Connectern has transformed the internship landscape at UNC. The platform successfully connects students with Triangle-area startups through intelligent matching, with the vast majority of internships reaching completion and both parties reporting positive experiences.

Students gain hands-on experience building real products and companies, developing skills that can't be taught in classrooms. They build professional networks and often receive full-time offers. Many discover their passion for the startup world, going on to launch their own ventures or join early-stage companies after graduation.

Startups access a pipeline of motivated, talented students who bring fresh perspectives and meaningful contributions. The platform has become an essential recruiting tool for Triangle companies, helping them compete for talent while staying lean. By solving the discovery and management challenges, Connectern created a thriving ecosystem where students and startups grow together.