Programs Intern

About SeaAhead

SeaAhead is a Cambridge, MA-based benefit corporation with the mission of supporting venture innovation for the ocean and ocean-related industries. We have catalyzed a bluetech cluster and created an innovation hub that helps to build companies through our BlueSwell incubator and venture-build relationships. We also facilitate investments through our Launch Fund and Syndicate group.

Our ecosystem includes technologists, scientists, startups, foundations, corporations, governments, investors, and other ocean stakeholders who come together to scale solutions with ocean-centric approaches to the challenges of climate change and industrialization, in order to generate positive environmental, social, and economic impact. Our focus areas include sustainable shipping and ports, aquaculture and fisheries, offshore renewable energy, scalable solutions to ocean pollution, and ocean-centric approaches to the challenges of climate change. SeaAhead seeks to improve bluetech startup success rates through connections to investors, industry, and mentors; an active event schedule; an incubator; an angel investor group and a bluetech investment vehicle.

Open Innovation at SeaAhead

Startups are developing solutions to an array of intersectional challenges across the Blue Economy and can play a key role in building effective, competitive, and responsible ocean-based industries. However, it is often difficult for startups to gain traction in the market, as stakeholders and supply chains can be hesitant to adopt and rely on innovations without a track record of implementation. As a comprehensive bluetech open innovation platform, SeaAhead serves as a bridge between startups and corporations, investors, government agencies, research institutions, and non-profits that are seeking innovative solutions to challenges in the Blue Economy and marine ecosystems.

About the Internship

Salary: $16-20/hour, commensurate with relevant education and experience, to be paid bi-weekly

Location: Cambridge Innovation Center – One Broadway, Cambridge, MA, 02142

Hours: 20 hours/week (part-time), specific hours of work to be determined together within the boundaries of the MassCEC Program

Timeline: September – December 2026

Reporting to: Camille Kaczmar | Program Manager

Role

As a Programs Intern, you will support SeaAhead's corporate engagement and programs efforts, helping to identify, research, and build relationships with organizations and individuals who are a strong fit for SeaAhead's programs. This role is likely to include responsibilities such as:

• Contact verification and enrichment. Confirm that target contacts are current in role, titles are accurate, and organizational reporting lines are correct before outreach. Flag departures and identify replacements. Maintain contact records in Pipedrive.
• Prospect research briefs. Produce short pre-meeting briefs on target organizations: business lines, innovation or venture arm structure, recent public activity, stated technology priorities, and likely budget owner.
• Named-contact sourcing. Work an assigned list of organizations with no existing relationship to identify the right function and named individual to approach, with supporting rationale.
• Pipeline hygiene. Log outreach activity same-day, keep deal stages current, and produce a weekly summary of contacts made, meetings held, and follow-ups due.
• Market and ecosystem monitoring. Track competitor accelerator programs, corporate sponsorship announcements, and relevant funding or partnership news; deliver a brief weekly digest.
• Program theme development. Help identify and map out potential themes for future Programs, researching the niches, organizations, and stakeholders each theme would engage, and identifying key points of contact at the local, regional, and national level.

You will be required to sign SeaAhead's standard non-disclosure agreement to keep our proprietary information confidential.

Position Requirements

Qualities:

• Detail-oriented, with a meticulous approach to accuracy, organization, and time management
• Comfortable with independent desk research and able to work from a written brief without close supervision
• Collaborative spirit: a team-minded, trustworthy, happy-to-help individual naturally drawn to busy, evolving environments
• Willingness and skill to perform varied operational and administrative tasks; ability to take initiative, be resourceful, self-direct, and anticipate problems and needs
• Drive to learn and grow
• Demonstrated results orientation
• Strong (oral and written) communicator and relationship-builder
• Commitment to mission-based work, seeking this position as an opportunity to make powerful contributions to larger efforts
• Interest in ocean technology, climate, or corporate innovation is a plus

Skills, Education, Experience, and Other Requirements

• Excellent verbal communication, writing, and interpersonal skills
• Skill in using standard business technology, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel, Claude, Zoom and other video conferencing platforms, with an ability to quickly learn new software; experience with CRM tools such as Pipedrive is a plus
• Undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate, in a related field
• Previous experience with research, business development, or startups preferred
• Signing SeaAhead's standard non-disclosure agreement to keep our proprietary information confidential