DBS launches unique internship programme for future startup founders

It’s open to all university undergrads.

Gone are the days when banking internships involved long weeks of working excessive hours. DBS Bank has launched the UNI.CORN Internship, which targets budding innovators and entrepreneurs and invites students to propose how they would solve real consumer problems using their creativity in business and marketing, design and coding skills.

Applications opened on 10 February for all university undergraduates in their second year and above. To be eligible, participants must have programming, design and/or business acumen to address the business challenge. The deadline for applications closes on 4 March.

Hopeful interns only need to submit a minute-long video to pitch their ideas, skillsets and motivations as well as submit their ideas on what the future of banking could look like.

Selected students will then be invited to form startup teams in a 24-hour Idea Smash as DBS aims to pit students in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment to see how they respond to real-world working conditions.

Winning students who emerge from Idea Smash will be invited to DBS’s 12-week UNI.CORN internship programme where they will receive training and mentorship from DBS Innovation Group, DBS Executives and collaborate with startups from the DBS HotSpot Pre-accelerator Bootcamp.

“We want to encourage more university graduates to follow their creativity directly from their education days either in startups or in innovative companies like DBS. We strongly believe that this is imperative to driving a strong culture of innovation in Singapore and to support Singapore’s future as a Smart Nation,” said Neal Cross, Chief Innovation Officer for DBS.