Virtual Internships

What Virtual Internships does

Virtual Internships (legally Virtual Internship Partners Ltd.) is a London-headquartered, remote-first EdTech company founded in 2018 by Daniel Nivern and Edward Holroyd Pearce — both previously founders of CRCC Asia, which placed over 10,000 students in international internships. The company operates a multi-sided marketplace platform that connects three constituencies: individual students and recent graduates seeking work experience, universities and educational institutions embedding internships into curricula, and host companies ranging from startups to blue-chip enterprises (including Dentons, Deel, EV Connect) sourcing pre-vetted remote interns. The platform guarantees placement within one month across 18 career fields, with programs ranging from 120 to 500 hours over 1–4 months, and has supported 10,000+ alumni across 80+ countries with 13,000+ host companies on the platform.

The company's technology stack is built on Google Cloud Platform with an AI-powered matching algorithm as the core differentiator, proprietary CareerBridge curriculum delivered via LearnWorlds LMS, and a supporting toolchain including AWS for data storage, Stripe for payments, HubSpot and Salesforce for CRM, Videoask for video interviews, and Mixpanel and Metabase for analytics. The company is actively pursuing SOC 2 Type II compliance to support enterprise and institutional sales. The platform's service layer extends beyond marketplace matching to include Intern Experience Managers, Internship Coaches, weekly group discussions, and business webinars — creating a higher-touch service model than pure transactional marketplaces. The company is venture-backed ($16.8M total: $2.5M seed in July 2021 and $14.3M Series A in April 2022 led by Sequoia's Surge with Kaplan, Arsenal Growth Equity, Ascend Vietnam Ventures, Salica, and STIC participating) and operates with approximately 100+ employees distributed across 20 countries.

Virtual Internships generates revenue through three streams: one-time Program Fees from self-funded individual interns, recurring subscription/contract revenue from university and institutional partners (300+ globally) that fund or subsidize student access, and employer access fees from host companies using the platform as an HR extension. The go-to-market motion is hybrid — direct sales to enterprise host companies, inside sales to universities and educational institutions, and self-serve for individual interns — supported by a partner/affiliate network including Kaplan Languages Group and Sonic Foundry's Global Learning Exchange. Notable institutional deployments include University of the People (137,000+ students across 200 countries), Purdue University, University of Southern California, Illinois Institute of Technology, and government partnerships such as the Australian Sports Commission and Kiron (a refugee employability program in Germany).

Name

Virtual Internships

Legal name

Virtual Internship Partners Ltd.

Website

https://virtualinternships.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Virtual Internships operates a multi-sided EdTech marketplace connecting students, universities, and 13,000+ host companies for guaranteed remote internships across 80+ countries, using AI-powered matching and a proprietary CareerBridge curriculum to serve 300+ institutional partners globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Remote Internship Marketplace

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote/Virtual International Internship Programs (EDAIAFAF), Experiential Learning & Internships/Co-ops (EDALABAG), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

Keywords

• Virtual internship platform
• Remote internship matching
• Work-based learning programs
• Career readiness solutions
• Global talent placement

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Intern Program Fees (Self-Funded): Individual students pay a Program Fee (published on website) to participate in the internship program. The fee includes an Acceptance Fee (one-off) and a Balance payment upon acceptance of an internship placement. Self-funded participants register directly on the platform.
2. University/Institutional Partnerships: Partner institutions (universities, bootcamps, governments) pay for their students to access the program, either fully funding or subsidizing the Program Fee. Virtual Internships receives payment directly from the Partner Institution on behalf of enrolled students.
3. Company/Employer Access: Companies pay to access the platform to hire remote pre-vetted interns and build their talent pipeline. The platform serves as an HR extension for companies, matching them with ambitious Gen Z talent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Virtual Internships operates a multi-sided platform that guarantees remote internship placements for students and recent graduates at vetted global companies across 80+ countries and 18 career fields. The platform combines AI-powered matching between candidates and host organizations with a proprietary CareerBridge curriculum, personal coaching, and program management services. Self-funded interns pay a program fee, while universities, bootcamps, governments, and employers access the platform through partnership agreements or direct hiring channels.

Product overview

Virtual Internships operates as a unified platform combining an AI-powered remote internship marketplace with a proprietary learning component. The core Virtual Internships Platform handles the full lifecycle — student applications, AI-driven matching with host companies, placement management, and career coaching — while CareerBridge serves as the built-in curriculum and professional development module that complements the internship experience with skills training and remote work preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtual Internships Platform The primary cloud-based platform connecting students and recent graduates with guaranteed remote internship opportunities across 80+ countries and 18 career fields. The platform handles the full lifecycle — student applications, video interviews (via Videoask), AI-driven matching with vetted host companies (13,000+ companies), placement management, Intern Experience Manager support, Internship Coach guidance, weekly group discussions, business webinars, and end-of-program evaluations. Interns can apply, track their application status, and access the program digitally through web.virtualinternships.com.
• CareerBridge Virtual Internships' proprietary online internship curriculum and professional development platform, accessed through the LearnWorlds LMS. Provides remote work training, career skills courses, and complementary learning content tailored to each internship program, with data stored on LearnWorlds' Google Cloud infrastructure under a binding data processing agreement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% intern satisfaction rate developing essential career skills
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sonic Foundry (Global Learning Exchange)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSonic Foundry's Global Learning Exchange partnered with Virtual Internships to expand reach of virtual internship programs through Sonic Foundry's institutional network. This partnership enables VI to distribute its programs to Sonic Foundry's university and college clients.
• University of the PeoplecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUoPeople partnered with VI to provide remote internships to its 137,000+ students from 200 countries. This is one of VI's largest institutional partnerships, enabling large-scale student access to the platform.
• Kaplan Languages GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKaplan Languages Group appears as a partner logo on VI's website, indicating a marketing/distribution partnership to cross-refer students into VI's internship programs.
• Australian Sports CommissionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Australian Sports Commission partnered with VI to provide virtual internship opportunities to athletes around the world, helping athletes develop their careers during training downtime.
• CIEE and IIEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIEE and IIE published research on the impact of global internships on career readiness, citing VI's programs. This represents a thought leadership and research partnership in the international education space.
• KironminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiron partnered with VI to deliver an experiential learning program for refugees in Germany, providing tailored work experiences and boosting employability for under-served refugee populations.
• LearnWorldscoreTechnology or IntegrationLearnWorlds provides the LMS that hosts VI's proprietary CareerBridge curriculum. Data from CareerBridge users is stored on LearnWorlds' Google Cloud infrastructure, with data processing agreements in place per VI's privacy policy.
• Illinois Institute of TechnologyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIllinois Tech forged a strategic partnership with VI to expand its Elevate program, providing project learning experiences for students through virtual internships.
• University of CincinnatiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity of Cincinnati partnered with VI to expand student opportunities through virtual internships, enhancing career readiness for students.
• University of CumbriaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity of Cumbria partnered with VI to deliver career-boosting virtual internship opportunities to students.
• Landmark CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLandmark College partnered with VI to expand career opportunities specifically for students with learning differences, demonstrating VI's commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
• Colorado State University GlobalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColorado State University Global partnered with VI to enhance career readiness for modern learners who balance education with other commitments.
• Purdue University (Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPurdue's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering partnered with VI to connect graduate students with VI's global network of employers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CRCC Asia: Founded by VI's co-founders Dan Nivern and Ed Holroyd Pearce in 2006; placed 10,000+ students in international internships in Asia. Direct predecessor company with overlapping mission and founder DNA; competes in international internship placement.
• Intern Abroad HQ: Provider of international internship placements across multiple destinations and career fields. Targets a similar student/graduate segment with multi-country internship programs; closest direct competitor on the provider-run virtual/in-person spectrum.
• The Intern Group: Provider of international internships and work experience programs across global destinations. Directly comparable in career-field breadth, institutional university partnerships, and pricing structure for self-funded students.
• Global Experiences: Provider of international internship programs for students and graduates, primarily in-person in Europe. Competes directly with VI in the international internship placement category with overlapping university partner base.

Broad incumbents

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest US-based international education and exchange organizations. Operates a broad portfolio of study abroad and internship programs; competes with VI on the institutional side for university partnerships and student placement.
• IIE (Institute of International Education): Long-established nonprofit managing the Fulbright Program and global academic exchanges. Overlaps with VI in international experiential learning and workforce development; cited by VI as a research partner.
• Kaplan International Pathways: Global education provider and VI investor/distribution partner. Offers pathway programs and language training that overlap with VI's international experiential learning offering, particularly for international students entering university.

Emerging players

• Handshake: US-focused university-to-career platform connecting students with jobs and internships. Overlaps with VI's institutional sales motion and employer talent pipeline; though focused on US, it represents the broader digital talent-matching category VI competes in.
• WayUp: US-based platform connecting students and recent graduates with internships and entry-level jobs. Comparable in target demographic (GenZ talent) and employer-side value proposition of pre-vetted early-career candidates.

Others

• GoOverseas: Marketplace and review platform for study abroad, volunteer, and internship programs. Adjacent rather than direct competition; functions as an indirect marketing channel and information source for prospective international internship buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/onlineinterns
• YouTubeyoutube.com/VirtualInternships
• Facebookfacebook.com/virtualintern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virtual-internships
• Instagraminstagram.com/virtualinternships
• TikToktiktok.com/@virtual_internships

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors13 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virtual Internships