Social Innovation Business Intern

Rising Solutions (RS) is a boutique, small woman-owned innovation strategy, design thinking and consulting firm based in Washington, DC. Rising Solutions drives positive change in the world by partnering with nonprofits, governments, companies, and social enterprises to help make their ideas for social impact a reality. We work with clients such as The Rainforest Alliance, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to solve the world’s most complex problems and we live through the values of empathy, humility, and curiosity as we seek to leave a positive legacy for social change.  

RS seeks an intern/fellow to support the business case for a new digital product to increase creativity in the workplace, and help people do the right work at the right time. This is an outstanding opportunity to dive into a thriving social start-up working in the creativity and innovation space. RS is developing a custom technology solution to positively change behavior to increase creative output, using sleep, nutrition, and neuroscience. The development of this product is in direct response to the needs we have seen from our extensive time and experience consulting in the innovation space.

We are seeking a passionate, fun, self-starter who is excited about playing a key role and getting experience in many areas of entrepreneurship, such as market research and supporting innovation development. We have made significant progress in our product development and are looking for someone who can help increase our growth and traction! As a critical member of our launch team, you can expect the following responsibilities: 

∙ Model the Rising Solutions values of empathy, humility, and curiosity, putting people first- whether it be project team members, the client or the stakeholders contributing their experiences and ideas to the research.
∙ Identify and Apply for Funding Opportunities (50%)

• Conduct research to identify relevant grant opportunities aligned with the product’s goals, this may include applying for grants, incubators, accelerators or research on angel investors
• Assist with gathering and compiling data required for grant proposals
• Write, proofread, and edit applications for clarity, accuracy, and adherence to deadlines
• Collaborate with teammates to brainstorm ideas and responses for applications
• May attend grant workshops or webinars as needed
• Edit and/or adapt pitch decks
• Attend networking events as relevant

∙ Support Design Research and Strategy (40%)

• Support SaaS development and launch, such as coordinating interviews, researching potential customers and features
• Conduct secondary research to understand the market, trends, users, and best practices
• Support primary research with stakeholders and potential users, such as creating interview guides and surveys
• Support user journey mapping to create a positive experience for our various stakeholders and users, and develop relevant content to support the experiences

∙ Support Product Development and Operations (10%)

• Collaborate with other team members to create better processes and problem-solve challenges as they come up. This may include design and copy feedback or creation, strategy scenario development, developing marketing and launch materials, and supporting partnership strategies.

∙ Attend weekly team meetings

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Demonstrate the ability to lead with:

Humility: The ability to be open, to listen & accept the perspectives of others, even when they differ from our own. It's about inner strength and confidence.

Empathy: the ability to understand another person's thoughts and feelings in a situation from their point of view, rather than your own.

Curiosity: You can get curious only when the focus is not on you but the person in front of you; when he/she is more important than yourself at that moment and that comes only out of sheer care for them. You are open to listening and to new ideas.

Candidate must be able to live these values in all they do, especially under pressure and in stressful, complex, and ambiguous circumstances.

• You are earning a BA or Masters in business, product development, social sciences, or entrepreneurship.
• You’re interested in behavioral design, product development, tech for good, innovation and/or social entrepreneurship.
• It would be helpful if you have experience working/interning for a social enterprise, nonprofits or in the social sector.
• Others describe you as a self-starter, with a positive, can-do attitude.
• You have some past experience and/or interest in product development, fundraising, start-ups.
• Experience with Figma a plus; Experience with Miro a plus (and if you don’t have these skills, you’ll get the chance to learn them).
   

How to apply: 

1. CV or Resume
2. Instead of a cover letter, tell us in less than one page briefly about your interests in social innovation, product development for social impact and/or the future of work
3. Please email your documents to Danielle Lim (dwzlim@gmail.com) 

Compensation: 

We are a small, young start-up doing super cool work for great causes. We offer a fun, dynamic work environment, a chance to build and test ideas and a space to explore your passions. Although our goal is to reward young people for the work they contribute to our company with financial compensation, at our nascent stage we aren’t quite there yet. 

As such, we aim to partner with students whose universities require practical work experience in their curriculum in order to graduate. We are happy to work with your university to design the type of experience your University requires for course credit.