Impact Internship at Thinkubator

Meet Tricia and Victoria.

They’ve been part of the team for a while now, helping us run ClimateLaunchpad and keeping things moving behind the scenes. Now that their impact internship has come to an end we asked them a few questions about their highlights, the challenges they faced, and what they’d tell anyone thinking about applying.

What did you learn at Thinkubator that will stay with you?

Tricia: I’ve learned that I enjoy working on collaborative projects. Being able to work with a team has helped me engage in the community of Thinkubator and Vienna.

Victoria: One thing I learned at Thinkubator was the overall startup culture within Austria. In the past, I haven’t been exposed to many startup ideas until working on the outreach and planning for ClimateLaunchpad. After working with Thinkubator, I think the significance of entrepreneurship within sustainability will stick with me.

Was there a moment when you realized you had surpassed your own expectations?

Tricia: I realized I had exceeded my expectations when I realized I was able to see the concepts we had been working on put into practice.

Victoria: A moment when I surpassed my own expectations was when researching adjacent universities and organizations that Thinkubator could reach out to. Although it was difficult to get started at first using publicly available data, I learned how to use unique search methods and apply AI tools as needed.

What did you enjoy the most, and why?

Tricia: During the bootcamp for ClimateLaunchpad, I was able to see the physical payoff of our work. It was meaningful to see our work help startups grow and strengthen their ideas. Being able to talk with them and hear their ideas not only inspired me, but made me want to work harder.

Victoria: I most enjoyed creating the jury documents for all the startups and then seeing them learn pitching strategies during the bootcamp. I valued being able to see the cohort of different sustainable startups and how the ideas were made based on the founder’s unique educational backgrounds.

What would you say to someone considering an internship at Thinkubator?

Tricia: Be open to all aspects or tasks because there’s a lot to learn across the board and working at a smaller company allows you to more easily explore different roles and tasks.

Victoria: Take the time to adjust! Especially if you're new to working with startups or in smaller work environments, I recommend fully immersing yourself into the task structure, work culture, and communication styles used to become more comfortable taking initiative in the office and throughout your projects.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

Tricia: The perception of sustainability so people see its importance and see how we can all make a positive impact on each other.

Victoria: I would change people’s perceptions of the career opportunities available to them. I think many people don’t realize how many options there are to pursue an area that you’re passionate about, and I would love for more people to see how they can incorporate creativity into their career!

Thinkubator in three words:

Tricia: Motivational, forward thinking and dedicated.

Victoria: Educational, connected and reliable.

Tricia and Victoria - thanks for all your hard work, we wish you the very best for whatever comes next!