Venture Studio Investment Strategy Intern

xPL Ventures Studio is the venture-building division of EPL. We build B2B AI/SaaS companies from zero across North America.

This is not a general business internship. You will work directly with the CEO on the investment logic that decides which ventures xPL builds, how they are capitalized, and how they are positioned to institutional investors.

The Investment Strategy Intern supports the CEO in designing and refining xPL's venture selection criteria, capital structure decisions, and investor-facing strategy. You will work at the intersection of venture studio economics, market analysis, and capital markets, producing analysis that directly informs decisions on new venture launches and fundraising structure.

Responsibilities

• Research and score candidate industries and verticals against xPL's studio-fit criteria (fragmentation, regulatory complexity, moat depth, buyer concentration)
• Build and maintain venture screening models: market sizing, competitive landscape, unit economics benchmarks
• Support design and refinement of studio-level capital structures, including equity retention models, carry pool mechanics, and fund structuring logic
• Assist in preparing investor-facing materials: fundraise decks, capital layer documentation, and return scenario models (conservative, base, optimistic cases)
• Track and synthesize comparable data from venture studio peers, fund-of-funds structures, and relevant public benchmarks
• Maintain source discipline on all figures used in strategy work: every number must be tagged by origin (confirmed input, industry-standard benchmark, or external reference data) and unsourced figures must be flagged, not assumed
• Draft internal memos and decision briefs that surface open strategic questions requiring CEO or IC decision, rather than resolving ambiguity by assumption

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in finance, economics, business, or a related quantitative field
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills (Excel/Google Sheets required; exposure to cap tables, waterfall models, or fund structures a plus)
• Demonstrated interest in venture capital, private equity, or venture studio models, evidenced by coursework, prior internships, or independent research
• Excellent written communication; able to produce precise, well-sourced analysis without embellishment
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and bringing structure to open-ended strategic questions
• High attention to detail and intellectual honesty: willing to flag inconsistencies or gaps in analysis rather than smooth over them

• Direct, sustained exposure to CEO-level strategic and investment decision-making at an operating venture studio
• Hands-on experience with the full venture studio capital stack, from operating-layer validation vehicles through institutional fund structures
• Exposure to real fundraising materials and investor relations processes at the SFO/institutional level
• Mentorship from a CEO who expects rigor, direct communication, and independent judgment, not agreement for its own sake
• An unpaid, non-credit internship