In an effort to provide prospective employees or interns perspective of what working at Launch SA is like, we’re posting these accounts from previous interns in their original, unedited form. We hope that this not only provides depth to our work environment but also a different perspective of the support that we provide to the community at large!
My name is Taylor Helmcamp and I was a Students + Startups Intern and the Content Creation Project Lead this summer with Launch SA. I found the Students + Startups program through Handshake as a junior with the University of Texas at San Antonio, and I decided to pursue the opportunity to work in the San Antonio small business community because of my appreciation for entrepreneurs and small business owners. I am a rising senior studying global affairs, Russian, and linguistics, so it was difficult to find a company willing to take a chance on someone who did not officially study business. Launch SA seemed like the perfect fit for what I was seeking because they are one of the main startup hubs in San Antonio, so I knew I would learn about the city’s business community and entrepreneurship at large.
My own father is a small business owner, so I immediately bought into Launch SA’s mission to serve as a small business resource center. Thankfully, Launch SA’s team decided that I was a good fit to intern with them. As I mentioned above, I served as the Content Creation Project Lead, essentially meaning I was the person running social media campaigns, pushing marketing efforts for upcoming events, and dabbling into graphic design to create media content and community spotlight articles. I would be lying if I said Launch SA’s summer 2020 social media presence was all me; working with Launch SA is truly a team effort.
My favorite part about working with Launch SA was the opportunities Ryan and Daniela gave us to grow and expand beyond our comfort zones. For instance, I have had little to no official “content creation” training during my years in university, but Daniela offered amazing advice and feedback on my informative creations. Furthermore, Ryan and Daniela consistently shared interesting events and panels with us so we could learn more about our particular interests; as the Content Creation Project Lead, for example, I utilized an opportunity to become HubSpot Academy Certified in Sales Management, Frictionless Sales, and Social Media Marketing. Without the advice and guidance from both Daniela and Ryan, I can honestly say I would not have the marketable skill set I have today.
In my opinion, Launch SA is the gorilla glue that holds together the startup community in San Antonio. Working here automatically entails that you will wear many hats, probably attend a meeting or two you didn’t originally plan for, or quickly share information about a recent announcement that needs to get out ASAP. Working here also guarantees that you will help people and facilitate growth during their entrepreneurship journeys. This fact alone makes the fast-paced environment completely worth it because, for me, I am fulfilled when I am part of a team with a mission to help others. Ultimately, if helping others, being independent, and learning new skills drive you, you would be a perfect fit at Launch SA.
