About ISG:
We’re not your typical private equity firm. ISG is on a mission to acquire and scale industrial businesses across the U.S., focusing on companies with sub-$5M EBITDA. Our leadership team brings 110+ years of experience and a track record of $2B+ in deals closed—now, we’re inviting driven, entrepreneurial-minded interns to join us.

This is a “learning by doing” experience. You’ll source high-quality deals, speak directly with business owners, and gain exposure to every step of the acquisition process—from origination to close. Forget the usual intern grunt work; we leverage Upwork for the tedious stuff. Here, you’ll be treated like a real deal team member with access to high-impact conversations and meaningful work.

Corporate Development Internship Program (Unpaid, Educational)

Company: ISG
Location: 100% Remote (U.S.-Based Only)
Position: M&A Intern – Educational Experience
Start Date: Rolling Admissions
Time Commitment: ~15 hours/week (flexible; accommodates academic schedules)
Compensation: Unpaid, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor’s guidelines for internship programs

Overview

ISG is a private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing industrial businesses across the U.S., including platform investments such as Pen Manufacturing. Our M&A Internship Program is structured around an educational experience, providing students and recent graduates with hands-on exposure to deal sourcing, financial modeling, and private equity fundamentals in a closely mentored environment.

This is not a job. This is not free labor. This is real learning through shadowing, simulation, guided tasks, and mentorship. You won’t be replacing employees or producing deliverables unsupervised—but you will gain practical, résumé-worthy experience while building a strong foundation in private equity.

What You’ll Learn

This internship is designed to simulate the early stages of an M&A associate’s responsibilities—but in a controlled, educational setting with full supervision and no critical business reliance.

Core Learning Objectives:

• How to build a 3-statement financial model (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow)
• How to perform a simple LBO and DCF valuation
• How to assess small-cap acquisition targets
• How private equity firms source deals
• How to use CRM tools to manage deal flow
• How to analyze an LOI or term sheet
• How to conduct preliminary due diligence and industry research

Activities May Include:

• Shadowing real calls with business owners and intermediaries
• Participating in weekly team learning sessions and deal reviews
• Practicing building models using past case studies
• Assisting in data entry and light research under direct supervision
• Attending internal workshops and seminars (e.g., M&A Strategy 101)

Mentorship & Oversight

You will be assigned a dedicated mentor from the investment team who will:

• Host weekly 1-on-1 check-ins
• Provide feedback on mock assignments
• Assign learning milestones
• Facilitate exposure to deal conversations and firm strategy
• Ensure you are never asked to perform unmonitored or substitutive labor

Program Requirements

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college/university program (Finance, Economics, Business, or related)
• Strong interest in private equity, entrepreneurship, or M&A
• Available ~15 hours/week; schedule flexible around coursework
• Excellent communication skills; comfortable asking questions
• U.S.-based; this internship does not offer visa sponsorship
• Signed Intern Agreement confirming:
• • This internship is unpaid
  • There is no promise of future employment
  • It is primarily for educational purposes

Legal & Documentation Provided

• Intern Agreement (clarifying unpaid status, no employment promise, educational goals)
• Intern Curriculum Guide (learning path, objectives, sample projects)
• Confidentiality Agreement (optional, depending on access to sensitive deal materials)
• Weekly Logs/Feedback Forms (documenting mentorship & progress)

Optional: If your school offers college credit for internships, we are happy to provide documentation and coordinate with your academic advisor.

Why Join?

• Work directly with real investors and operators
• Gain true private equity exposure—no coffee runs
• Build financial modeling and deal analysis skills through case-based learning
• Receive personal mentorship and career guidance
• Create a strong foundation for future internships, jobs, or entrepreneurial ventures

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a brief statement (150–200 words) on why you're interested in learning private equity through this internship. If you're currently enrolled in school, please also include whether you’re seeking academic credit.