The Intern Group
The Intern Group is a London-based EdTech operator founded in 2011 that places university students and recent graduates into international internship programs across 9 destinations and 20+ career fields, monetized through program fees and distributed via a 150+ university partnership network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Intern Group does
The Intern Group is a London-headquartered EdTech operator founded in 2011 that places university students and recent graduates into international internships across 9 destinations (London, Dublin, Madrid, New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Medellín) and 20+ career fields. The company runs four program formats — In-Person, Virtual/Remote, Blended, and Digital Nomad — each bundling guaranteed internship placement, accommodation assistance, visa support, airport transfers, cultural activities, and optional academic credit (administered via a School of Record partnership with Florida A&M University). The underlying technology is a HubSpot-based application portal (app.theinterngroup.com) augmented by Google Analytics, ZoomInfo, Facebook and TikTok pixels, and partnerships with Talkspace (mental health), Secutive (travel insurance), and Control Risks (crisis management protocol).
The business is monetized through one-time program fees paid by participants (e.g., ¥495,000 for Tokyo, €3,490 for Dublin, AU$5,600 for Melbourne), with a $30 application fee and a $250 two-sided referral discount. Distribution is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via the online application portal and admissions interviews, combined with a structured university partnership channel covering 150+ institutions that supply discounted referrals and academic-credit pipelines. The host side is a network of 3,000+ organizations providing internship placements.
Revenue reached $15M annually per CEO David Lloyd in a Mixergy interview, achieved without institutional venture capital — the company is bootstrapped with only a Start-Up Chile government grant and a 2020 Magma Partners involvement disclosed. The company maintains a wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary (Intern Hong Kong Limited) alongside its UK parent, and reports 15,000+ alumni, 40,000 annual applicants, and approximately 2,000 participants per year. Recognition includes consecutive GoOverseas Top Internship Provider for Safety awards (2023, 2025), Entrepreneur's 100 Most Brilliant Companies, and features in Forbes, BBC, WSJ, Bloomberg, CNN, Time, and the Financial Times.
The Intern Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Intern Group
- Legal name
- The Intern Group
- Website
- https://theinterngroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Intern Group is a London-based EdTech operator founded in 2011 that places university students and recent graduates into international internship programs across 9 destinations and 20+ career fields, monetized through program fees and distributed via a 150+ university partnership network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Intern Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Internship Placement Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Experiential Learning & Internships/Co-ops (EDALABAG), Internship Program Provider Housing (3rd-Party Placement Programs) (THAMAGAF)
Keywords
Where The Intern Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
The Intern Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Program Fees: Fees charged to participants for internship programs, varying by destination and program type. Includes placement, accommodation, airport transfer, and other services depending on program type. Payment structure: Initial deposit within 2 weeks, 50% within 30 days of deposit, remaining balance within 5 days of internship confirmation, full payment due 14 days before commencement.
- University Partnerships: Revenue from institutional partnerships with 150+ universities, including referral fees, academic credit administration through School of Record partnership with Florida A&M University, and group discounts for partner institution students.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Tokyo Program - 4-12 weeks from ¥495,000 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Dublin Program - 4-24 weeks from €3,490 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Melbourne Program - 4-24 weeks from AU$5,600 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Referral Discount - $250 value each |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Application Fee - $30 |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Intern Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Intern Group places university students and young professionals into international internship roles across 9 global destinations (London, Dublin, Madrid, New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Medellín) and 20+ career fields, via four program formats (In-Person, Virtual/Remote, Blended, Digital Nomad). Each program bundles guaranteed internship placement, accommodation, visa assistance, airport transfer, cultural activities, and access to professional development resources, with optional academic credit administration via a School of Record partnership with Florida A&M University.
Product overview
The Intern Group offers a portfolio of international internship programs designed to place students and recent graduates in professional work experiences across 9 global destinations and 20+ career fields. The core offerings consist of four program formats: In-Person (traditional on-site internships at host organizations), Virtual/Remote (online internships from home), Blended (hybrid model combining remote and in-person), and Digital Nomad (flexible remote work while traveling). All programs include guaranteed internship placement, accommodation assistance, visa support, airport transfers, and cultural activities. The company provides supplementary services including academic credit pathways (via home institutions or Florida A&M University School of Record), scholarship and financial aid programs, travel insurance partnerships (via Secutive), mental health support (via Talkspace), and lifetime alumni network membership with career coaching. The technology platform includes an online application portal built on HubSpot infrastructure. The business model relies heavily on university partnerships (150+ institutions) to recruit participants and corporate host organizations for internship placements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-Person Internship Programs On-site international internship placements at host organizations in one of nine global destinations (London, Dublin, Madrid, New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Medellín). Includes guaranteed internship placement, accommodation, airport transfer, visa support, cultural activities, and 24/7 emergency support. Targeted at students and young professionals seeking immersive international work experience.
- Virtual/Remote Internship Programs Online internships conducted remotely via internet, allowing participants to intern with international companies from their home location. Includes 24/7 virtual emergency support, professional development resources, and guaranteed placement.
- Blended Internship Programs Hybrid internship model combining remote work with in-person components, offering flexibility for participants who want partial international experience. Includes the same support services as in-person and remote formats.
- Digital Nomad Programs Flexible internship program designed for participants who wish to work remotely while traveling to different locations during their internship period, combining remote work with destination experiences.
- Career Field Internship Placements Internship placements across 20+ career fields including Architecture, Business, Consulting, Engineering, Finance & Accounting, Government & Politics, Hospitality, IT & Computer Science, Journalism, Law, Marketing, NGOs, and more. Participants can select their preferred career field as part of the 1-on-1 placement process.
- Academic Credit Programs Academic credit pathway allowing students to earn credit for internships through their home institution or The Intern Group's School of Record (Florida A&M University). Credit ranges from minimum 3 to maximum 12 credits based on program length.
- University Partnership Program Partnership network with 150+ universities worldwide offering exclusive discounts, academic credit coordination, and institutional reporting for students from partner institutions.
- Scholarship & Financial Aid Program Need-based financial aid and scholarship opportunities including support for Turing, Erasmus, New Colombo Plan, and Prime Minister's Scholarship programs, plus The Intern Group's own scholarship opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of alumni rate the program 9+/10
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Intern Group
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Intern Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature3 records
The Intern Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- University of PennsylvaniacorePartner university offering exclusive discounts and academic credit pathways for students participating in international internship programs. Students receive financial benefits and can earn academic credit.
- Cornell UniversitycoreAcademic collaboration partner providing students access to international internship programs with potential for academic credit.
- London School of EconomicscorePartner university with student discount program for international internship placements.
- University of TorontocorePartner university offering exclusive discounts and pathways to international internship programs.
- Florida A&M UniversitycoreSchool of Record partnership for academic credit administration. Students can earn academic credit through Florida A&M University's accreditation for internship programs.
- Control RiskscoreGlobal risk consultancy that co-developed The Intern Group's crisis management protocol called First Response. Framework ensures teams know how to act quickly, calmly, and effectively in emergency situations.
- TalkspacecoreMental health support partnership providing all interns with three months of fully anonymous access to licensed therapists via text. Service included at no extra cost and accessible worldwide.
- SecutivecoreRecommended travel insurance provider for international internship programs. Insurance plan specifically designed for The Intern Group's programs with comprehensive coverage.
- Host Organizations (3,000+ companies)coreNetwork of 3,000+ companies across 9+ destinations providing internship placements for program participants. Includes diverse industries and companies from startups to established organizations.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Intern Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest U.S.-based nonprofit providers of international internships, study abroad, and work-exchange programs. Closest direct competitor to The Intern Group in multi-country, multi-career-field internship placement for university students.
- IES Abroad: Chicago-based nonprofit running internship and study abroad programs across multiple global cities. Directly comparable to The Intern Group in destination breadth, university partnerships, and academic credit integration.
- AIESEC: Global youth-run nonprofit placing students and recent graduates in international internships and volunteer experiences across 100+ countries. Directly comparable offering with a broader geographic footprint and a much lower price point.
- Intern Abroad HQ: Provider of international internship placements across many destinations and career fields, with both in-person and remote programs. Closely mirrors The Intern Group's core product, GTM, and target customer.
- Global Experiences: U.S.-based provider of international internship programs in Europe and Asia, partnering with universities to offer credit-bearing placements. Comparable scale, product mix, and university partnership channel.
- CRCC Asia: Specialist provider of international internships with a focus on China and Asia-Pacific destinations. Comparable in placement model, university partnerships, and career-field breadth, though narrower geographically.
- Absolute Internship: Provider of international internships across Europe, Asia, and Latin America targeting university students and recent graduates. Comparable on destinations, career fields, and bundled housing/support model.
- CEA Study Abroad: Study abroad and international internship provider with multiple global destinations and university partnerships. Directly comparable in academic credit integration, bundled services, and student demographic.
Emerging players
- Parker Dewey: U.S.-based micro-internship platform connecting students and recent graduates with short-term paid project work. Comparable in target customer and career-development value proposition, with partial overlap to The Intern Group's virtual internship program.
- Forage: Virtual experience and internship platform partnering with employers to offer free, self-paced career simulations for students. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but increasingly substitutes for paid virtual internships in the same buyer segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Intern Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Intern Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Intern Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Intern Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Intern Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Intern Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Intern Group
What does The Intern Group do?
The Intern Group places university students and young professionals into international internship roles across 9 global destinations (London, Dublin, Madrid, New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Medellín) and 20+ career fields, via four program formats (In-Person, Virtual/Remote, Blended, Digital Nomad). Each program bundles guaranteed internship placement, accommodation, visa assistance, airport transfer, cultural activities, and access to professional development resources, with optional academic credit administration via a School of Record partnership with Florida A&M University.
Is The Intern Group a public or private company?
The Intern Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Intern Group founded?
The Intern Group was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Intern Group based?
The Intern Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Intern Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are university Partnerships.
Who are The Intern Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), IES Abroad, AIESEC, Intern Abroad HQ, Global Experiences, CRCC Asia, Absolute Internship and CEA Study Abroad. Emerging players are Parker Dewey and Forage.
Does The Intern Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Intern Group.
What industry is The Intern Group in?
The Intern Group's product category is International Internship Placement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAFAA, Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry), with a secondary code of EDALABAG, Experiential Learning & Internships/Co-ops. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.