Business Development Intern

Orien Energy is an early-stage start-up focused on building energy-efficient heat pump solutions for industrial waste heat recovery across multiple industries ranging from paper making industry to data centers. Founded by Dr. Yajing Zhao (MIT PhD'22, Forbes 30 under 30 Energy lister) in late 2024 and backed by prestigious investors and accelerator programs, including the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and Harvard Climate Circle, we are a small but ambitious team of builders and problem-solvers committed to bringing innovative, technology-driven solutions to market. Our office is located at the Cambridge Innovation Center (1 Broadway, Cambridge, MA), and our lab space is based at Greentown Labs (444 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA).

As a Business Development Intern, you will work closely with the company’s CEO to support fundraising and strategic growth initiatives. This role offers direct exposure to early-stage startup operations and investor engagement, providing hands-on experience in venture financing, market development, and strategic planning.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Fundraising Support: Assist the CEO throughout the fundraising process by preparing investor materials, refining messaging, and supporting outreach efforts.

• Customer Discovery & Go-to-Market Strategy: Conduct customer discovery interviews to gather insights on market needs, value propositions, and purchasing drivers. You will synthesize findings and collaborate with the CEO to refine the company’s go-to-market strategy and commercial positioning.

• Pitch Deck Development: Prepare, revise, and polish investor pitch decks and supporting materials to ensure clear, compelling, and data-driven storytelling tailored to different investor audiences.

• Financial Model Refinement: Support the development and refinement of financial models, including revenue projections, cost structures, unit economics, and scenario analysis to strengthen fundraising narratives.

• Investor Funnel Management: Build, organize, and maintain a structured investor pipeline. Track outreach, follow-ups, meeting progress, and key metrics to ensure disciplined execution of fundraising efforts.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to work directly alongside the CEO in a highly strategic capacity, gaining first-hand insight into how early-stage climate tech startups raise capital, validate markets, and build scalable business models.

We welcome candidates who are pursuing an MBA or have experience in a founder role or business development at an early-stage startup. That said, prior experience is not required. We value candidates who are intellectually curious, proactive, and eager to learn quickly in a fast-paced startup environment.

Strong analytical thinking, clear communication, and a high level of ownership are essential. This role is well-suited for individuals interested in entrepreneurship, venture capital, climate tech, or startup leadership who are excited to gain hands-on exposure to fundraising and company-building.