Cold Email and LinkedIn Texts for an Internship at Startups

If you're reaching out to startups, don't just ask for an internship - pitch yourself like a contributor.

Here's how to stand out:

• You need to keep your message casual but direct
• Show that you've done your homework (very important)
• Make it less about "learning" and more about contributing
• Bonus if you attach/pitch a small idea or mini-project in follow-up

And here's a template that you can use:

For cold email:

Subject: Quick idea + internship interest at {{Startup Name}}

Hi {{First Name}},

I've been following {{Startup Name}} and I really like how you're solving the {{problem}}.

I'm a {{Year}} student at {{University}}, and I've worked on {{relevant 1-liner experience}}.

Please note: I'm not just looking to learn – I want to roll up my sleeves and contribute to real work.

Let me know if there's a way I could be part of the team. I'd be happy to share a detailed portfolio.

Best,

{{Your Name}}

For LinkedIn:

Hey {{First Name}} – Big fan of what you're building at {{Startup Name}}, especially {{specific product or detail}}.

I'm a {{Degree}} student and would love to contribute to the team as an intern. I've worked on {{short project line}}, and I think there's a real overlap.

Let me know if you need a quick overview of my work?