Business Development Intern

About Dottir Labs:

Dottir Labs is an MIT spinout, building revolutionary optical sensors for chemical detection in water environments. We are developing new hardware and software to integrate into aquaculture, agriculture and ocean water for continuous monitoring and modeling.

About the Role:

As a Business Development Intern, you will directly support Dottir Labs’ growth in technology-driven chemical sensing across aquaculture, wastewater, manufacturing, and more. You will work closely with our leadership and technical teams to help shape market strategy, build partnerships, and identify new business opportunities. From researching prospective customers and engaging industry partners to supporting go-to-market initiatives and tracking key market trends, you’ll play a hands-on role in expanding the reach and impact of Dottir Labs’ innovative sensor technologies. Your contributions will support the entrepreneurial side of cutting-edge technology that has applications in sustainable aquaculture, environmental monitoring, and more.

Responsibilities:

• Research and identify new business and partnership opportunities across target sectors (e.g., aquaculture, wastewater, environmental monitoring, oil & gas, etc).
• Assist in developing and refining market entry strategies, segment analyses, and value propositions.
• Support outreach to potential customers, partners, and pilot users—conducting lead generation, introductory communications, and relationship-building.
• Prepare and organize materials for meetings, presentations, product demos, and trade show events.
• Track and analyze market, regulatory, and competitive developments relevant to chemical sensing and IoT technologies.
• Gather feedback from prospects, pilot users, and partners to help inform product positioning and strategy.
• Work with the team to prepare grant, accelerator, and funding applications.
• Help maintain a CRM pipeline and provide clear reporting on business development activities.
• Collaborate closely with technical team members to align commercial activities with product capabilities and development timelines.

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in the state of Massachusetts, or recently graduated (past year)
• Living in or be willing to relocate to Massachusetts
• Good academic standing
• Have experience in the following:
  • Coursework or practical experience in business and entrepreneurship
  • Market research, competitive analysis, or customer discovery
  • Written and verbal communication for professional applications (emails, presentations, proposals)
  • Comfort learning about technical products and communicating their value to diverse stakeholders
• Have an excitement for startup ecosystems and dynamic team environments

Nice to Have:

• Experience in science/engineering business operations
• Prior experience in technology sales, partnership development, or startup operations
• Familiarity with B2B markets in environmental, chemical, or biotech sectors
• Experience with CRM tools (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce)
• Understanding of grant writing or non-dilutive funding opportunities

Required Materials:

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter