I am an Environment and Development student with a Social Entrepreneurship minor who is passionate about the renewable energy space and very interested in exploring the role of the private sector in the fight against climate change. At 捆绑SM社区, I found that my courses have focused on concepts, theories, and models which are not necessarily the best at preparing me for a future in a renewable space that is in constant flux with new innovation and opportunities. Hence, it was important for me to find an internship with an employer that is at the heart of the cleantech industry so I can be exposed to the latest developments and learn from colleagues that are experts in this field.
Inerjys Ventures is a cleantech investment fund that specializes in renewable energy, energy storage, clean mobility, and several other relevant sectors for me. Inerjys鈥� priority is to provide funding for cleantech startups on the verge of commercialization, with the goal of helping these new technologies proliferate as quickly as possible. That presented an exciting opportunity for me - what better experience could I get than being involved with many cleantech startups bursting onto the scene, and working alongside cleantech experts from whom I would hopefully learn a lot.
My responsibilities as an intern revolved around analysing new startups to determine if their technology is viable and sustainable, if the company is poised for success and profitability, and if they are ready for investment and commercialization. This work involved digging through company documents about their technology, intellectual property rights, finances etc. and doing external research on their competitors and market. Another responsibility of mine was to create a financial model for a vertical farming project that Inerjys is currently undertaking. The goal of my tasks was to predict likely future financial outcomes to determine the maximum amount of rent for the farming space Inerjys can pay, while still ensuring a profitable project.
A highlight of the internship was doing analysis on a company that has invented a potentially ground-breaking solar panel glass that improves solar panel efficiency. It was amazing to work with a small Montreal startup that has a high ceiling 鈥� this was exactly the kind of experience that made me so excited about taking on this internship in the first place. Another highlight was really coming into my own as a member of the team and becoming closer with my colleagues. Inerjys has some truly incredible employees that were always receptive to my questions, so I leave the internship feeling much more knowledgeable than when I started. Lastly, I greatly appreciated how much I was encouraged to spend time reading and staying informed with the latest cleantech trends. I thoroughly enjoyed consistently reading cleantech news and was able to build habits that I will continue to do long after this internship.
Working from home posed a significant challenge because it is so much harder to socialize with colleagues when you cannot connect in person. Another unexpected consequence was left more to fend for myself with the work assigned to me. I always had the option to reach out and ask for help but there is a much bigger mental hurdle to climb when sending an email rather than quickly asking your desk neighbour. However, these challenges ultimately helped me grow because towards the end of the internship, I felt much more comfortable working independently and trusting my judgement.
I am receiving academic credit for this internship. In the fall semester I will be working on a research paper on how social entrepreneurship is manifested in the cleantech space under supervision from Professor Jason Carmichael, using my experience at Inerjys as the foundation for that analysis. I will always remember this internship as a core aspect to my university experience because it truly filled in many important gaps in my education and the knowledge gained from my time at Inerjys will undoubtedly be extremely useful for my future renewable energy ambitions.
I am incredibly grateful to have received funding from the Arts Student Employment Fund. The extraordinarily generous contribution was used to pay my rent and groceries during the 12 weeks of my internship. Prior to receiving the grant, I was exploring other options to support myself through a summer of unpaid work experience including getting a part-time job in addition to the full-time internship. Receiving the Arts Student Employment Fund meant that I could focus entirely on making the most of my internship with a clear mind.
