Finance
Venture Capital

Energy Innovation Capital: Venture Capital Deal Sourcing & Startup Analysis Externship

Think like a venture capitalist—faster with AI. Use AI-driven tools, databases, and market maps to spot and analyze energy, industrial, and sustainability startups, then craft investor-ready reports to pitch them like a pro.

8
Weeks
Starts September 22nd, 2025
Start Project TodayLearn More

What if you could think like a venture capitalist in just 8 weeks?

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The EIC Deal Sourcing Externship takes you inside the fast-paced world of startup investing, where you’ll learn how VCs uncover the next big thing before anyone else. From sourcing hidden gems to analyzing markets and competitors, you’ll gain hands-on experience conducting deep-dive due diligence and turning insights into actionable investment strategies. Using powerful AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity.ai, you’ll craft data-driven synthesis reports and build polished investment memos—just like the pros. If you’re ready to master the art of spotting opportunities and shaping the future of innovation, this is your launchpad into venture capital.

Project Output

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  • Startup Sourcing: Identify promising startups in high-impact sectors such as energy or industrial using online discovery tools.
  • Company Research: Collect and analyze startup data, including team background, fundraising history, press, and traction.
  • Competitor Analysis: Research competitors in the same market to see how the startups compare.
  • ‍Present your Investment Memo: Summarize your findings in reports that highlight key insights and recommendations. Opportunity to present in front of leadership.

‍

Get Started Today

Join our 8-week Externship with Energy Innovation Capital and learn real world AI skills and more!

Start Project Today

What past Externs have to say

Erik Schalk
Beats by Dre Extern
"Extern played a crucial role in bridging the gap between my formal business education & real-world application. The opportunity to present actionable recommendations to the Head of Customer Insights at Beats by Dre was invaluable, propelling my leadership journey and paving the way for my current role at Rolls-Royce.”
Now a Project Lead
at Rolls-Royce
Tori Nguyen
AT&T Extern
“I credit the Externship as the sole reason I was hired to intern at AT&T. I had never heard of the AT&T internship program and would never have applied to it if I hadn’t gone through the Externship. It allowed me to develop my skills, showcase my work and ultimately stand out so I was awarded the opportunity to interview the CEO of AT&T!”
Became an intern
at AT&T
Richard Wilson
Meta Extern
"The Externship is a great way to introduce students to what it is like to work on a project. I became a lot more data-focused and analytical in my approach. As an industrial engineering major, people questioned how the externship was related to my studies. My journey has shown me that you don’t have to be limited by your major."
Now a Technical
Program Manager at Meta
Maisa Mirza
HP Tech Ventures Externship
“During my venture capital externship, I learned how to use industry-standard metrics and tools like SQL and Tableau to determine startup success potential.This opportunity helped me stand out as a candidate and opened new doors for me - including offers from EY and Accenture."
Now an Analyst
at Accenture
Garrett Boyce
HP Tech Ventures Externship
“If I hadn’t done a VC externship during term time, I know I’d be spending hours watching YouTube videos just to understand which careers I might enjoy! I don’t think I fully understood the value of an externship till I actually did one and now I want to argue that externships should be a part of the college experience for every student.”
Now an Analyst at Boston Consulting Group
Diego Juarez
Crafted Capital Externship
“My Externship really changed my career trajectory. As students, we often chase after Fortune 500 work experiences, but the intimate experience of getting to work with a startup can actually really help you learn a lot and level up what you can bring to the table. My cohort even had the opportunity to speak with the founder of Crafted Capital and learn from his firsthand experience.”
Now a CLDP Analyst at
JP Morgan Chase & Co

Skills You'll Gain

Learn how to identify high-potential startups with energy or industrial applications, dual-use potential, or sustainability-focused innovation.
Use tools to discover promising startups and evaluate how well they align with a venture fund’s investment thesis.
Conduct research on startups, analyzing their technologies, market trends, and competition.
Create due diligence summaries and synthesis reports to support investment decisions.
Improve research and communication skills by working with real data from the startup world.
Tools You'll Learn
:
ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity.ai

Your Schedule

8 WEEK EXTERNSHIP
Project 1 — Sourcing Startups (Week 1-2)
Project 2 — Conducting Due Diligence (Week 3-4)
Project 3 — Synthesizing Insights for Strategic Decision-Making (Week 5-6)
Project 4 — Crafting an Investment Memo & Presenting to Leadership (Week 7–8)

About Energy Innovation Capital

Energy Innovation Capital (EIC) is a venture capital firm investing in companies developing the next generation of technology to ensure abundant, clean, and accessible energy. With offices in San Francisco, Houston, Boston, and New York, the EIC team is made up of multiple-time CEOs CEOs and experienced technology investors who have collectively led over 150 investments across the energy tech landscape. To date, EIC has backed more than 30 early-stage companies through three funds, supporting founders focused on innovation in energy transition, digital technologies, and sustainability.

The Home Depot is not accepting or considering any applications for this Externship through other channels.
Meet Your Host

Yucen Xie

Sr. Principal at Energy Innovation Capital

I'm passionate about investing in and helping build impactful companies. I partner with exceptional entrepreneurs and investors across the venture ecosystem to scale software and hardware solutions spanning diverse industries, drawing from the investment, strategy and operating experience at Energy Innovation Capital and my previous roles at BCG and as an engineer.

Get Started Today

Join our 8-week Externship with Energy Innovation Capital and learn real world AI skills and more!

Start Project Today
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