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SBS Excelerator Fellowship
The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Excelerator Fellowship is a highly selective, extended summer fellowship program for creative, curious, and entrepreneurial students that will earn their graduate and/or undergraduate degrees by Spring 2025. We are recruiting fellows that are passionate about creating life-changing opportunities and unlocking economic opportunity for New York City businesses, jobseekers, and neighborhoods.
Fellows manage individual projects and collaborate on thoughtful new pilots, policies, or efforts to benefit New York City businesses, jobseekers, and neighborhoods. Excelerator fellowship projects are as diverse as the fellows we will host. Fellows also take part in professional development opportunities to gain skills and insights to shape their career trajectories. Fellows will work in-person at SBS's offices from June 2, 2025, to October 2, 2025.
The 2025 application is now open. Applications will close on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. In addition to completing the application, please email your resume to careers@sbs.nyc.gov with the subject line: Excelerator Fellowship 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the steps in the application process?
- Attend SBS Excelerator Fellow information session (optional)
- Wednesday, March 26
- Wednesday, April 2
- Wednesday, April 9
- Complete the online application (due Sunday, April 15, at 12 a.m. EST)
- Qualified applicants will be invited to a video interview (approximately 20 minutes)
- Finalists will be invited to participate in an in-person group interview with other Excelerator Fellows candidates (Mid-April)
- Cohort selections and announcement will be made by April 30, 2025
How long is the fellowship?
This is an extended summer, four-month fellowship which runs from June 2, 2025 through October 2, 2025.
How is my work for the fellowship determined?
While you are going through the application process, we are going through a project scoping process with internal teams. We will work to match each fellow with a project that will make use of their skillsets while providing an opportunity to stretch and grow, with projects that are both interesting and challenging.
Are you looking for a specific professional or educational background?
Successful fellows can come from a wide variety of backgrounds, drawing on diverse and creative skillsets. All applicants must be currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree program and graduate by Spring 2025.
If you have an interest in creating life-changing opportunities by helping New York City businesses, jobseekers and neighborhoods unlock their economic potential, this might be the fellowship for you!
What are the mentorship and professional development components of the fellowship?
Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a series of SBS Insider Fireside Chats, and learn from various government officials, agency partners and experts in the disciplines that support our work. We will also organize site visits for fellows to see City work in action.
We encourage fellows to have coffee chats with our staff and other professionals they come in contact with. We want you to learn about what it's like to work in New York City government full-time at SBS, while gaining exposure into city government and the economic development ecosystem.
How many fellows will be selected for the cohort?
We will host a small group of 4-6 fellows.
What is the salary for the fellowship?
Fellows will be compensated approximately $17,000 for the four-month fellowship. The pay is $21.40 per hour for a 35-hour work week plus a $3,000 taxable fellowship stipend upon completion of all program requirements.
What are the hours of the fellowship?
Generally, you'll be expected "at work" from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday in-person. Earlier morning or evening hours may be required for your project work.