it’s giving...startups hiring + AI + secret invite we can't share

Your Games ticket unlocks an invite-only recruiter intel session

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Manny Duenas & Kathryn Mendaros
August 14, 2025

On Deck Today

CAPTAIN’S LOG 🚢

✨ Captain’s Log: Adventures from Coast to Coast

Entry #042 — Stardate: August 2025
The winds have been favorable, the crew spirited, and the ports of call unforgettable. This month, the good ship Intern Ship dropped anchor on both coasts, gathering the young, the bright, and the bold.

Port of San Francisco — The Summer Kickback

Upon arrival, we tossed the standard introductions overboard. Instead, each sailor sketched themselves and scrawled three curious facts — no names, just mystery. The mission: find the artist. Chaos ensued. Laughter erupted before the first official bell rang. One hat, emblazoned with the Google crest, became a beacon that led its seeker straight to the artist’s table.

Midway through, an old shipmate from our San Jose voyage reappeared — last year’s Rock-Paper-Scissors champion. Turns out, he stayed in touch with his opponent. One year later, they’re still friends, and one now mentors the other at Adobe. A fine reminder that true treasure is measured in friendships forged at sea.

Port of New York — The Intern Game Night

The harbor was packed — 138 voyagers boarded out of 194 who pledged to sail, setting a new fleet record. The cargo? Twenty unique board games. The atmosphere? Enough energy to light every lighthouse along the Eastern seaboard.

The evening’s voyage featured more than games. First, our alumni panel took the deck, sharing tales of adventures past. Then, two distinguished passengers took the speaking mast:

  • Ume Habiba — whose AMA session was like a compass pointing to both professional insight and personal growth, guiding many toward new horizons.

  • Morgan Young — LinkedIn Top Voice, captain of innovateHer.io, and a charted star in the galaxy of career development, inspiring sailors with her journey from pandemic-era intern chronicler to global voice in tech.

As our superstar NYC Captain Rezwan declared: “Expectations? Broken. Energy? Through. The. Roof.”

Logbook note: The seas ahead look bright. Wherever we dock next, one thing remains true — IRL > URL, always.

— Manny, Captain of the Intern Ship 🚢

UPCOMING EVENTS 📣

😎🌞 The Intern Ship Games - This Sunday!


This is not your average field day. On Sunday, August 17 at Rengstorff Park, we’re bringing together bright young minds from 80+ top companies—think Google, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, JPMorgan, Salesforce, and more—for a day of epic challenges, cash prizes, and connection. Compete (or cheer!) across 5 fun tracks—Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Creativity, and Unity—while enjoying food, music, surprise challenges, and the chance to meet your next co-founder, teammate, or best friend. Whether you’re job hunting, building your network, or just here for the vibes, this is your shot to be part of something unforgettable. It’s this Sunday—don’t miss the boat!

🤖 AI Startup Career Fair — August 22, San Francisco

Tired of sending applications into the void? Skip the portals and “Dear Hiring Manager” emails—this is your shot to meet founders, hiring managers, and startups that are actually hiring in engineering, growth, ops, sales, and more. Whether you’re a student after your first internship, a new grad chasing your first big role, or a pro ready for the next leap, you’ll have direct, face-to-face conversations with the people who can greenlight your application on the spot. Plus, larger sponsors will be taking the mic to pitch what they’re building (and why you should join). August 22, 12–3 PM at 222 2nd St — bring your resume, your curiosity, and your A-game.

🚿CS Major Showers World Record — August 30, San Francisco

We’re co-hosting a truly unique and silly Guinness World Record attempt with Jia Chen and Patricia Tani — the duo behind the viral “400 CS majors touch grass” stunt. This time, we’re going bigger: 1,000 CS majors… taking a shower. 🚿

📅 When: August 30, 2025
📍 Where: San Francisco
Expect pool noodle battle royales, memes, and maximum chaos.

ATTENTION: OPPORTUNITY INCOMING 📣

Your Quest Starts Here: Deadline to Join Supercell’s AI Lab is August 24th!

Manny recently visited the Supercell offices—home of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale. As a lifelong gamer (and Clash clan founder for nearly a decade), this was a bucket-list moment for him. Even better, he got a sneak peek at their AI Innovation Lab, where the next wave of gaming ideas is taking shape—think:

  • 🎮 AI-powered open world RPGs

  • 💌 Dating sims with AI companions

  • 📱 Social platforms built for Gen AI content

  • ✨ Entirely new genres yet to be imagined

🚀 The Program at a Glance

  • Location: San Francisco, CA

  • Dates: September 22 – December 2

  • Length: 11 weeks, ending in invite-only Demo Day

  • Batch Size: Max 20 people (teams of 1–3)

🕹 Who They’re Looking For

Relentless dreamers and fearless builders with:

  • A clear vision and project (or a pitch that sells it)

  • The skills to execute with your team

  • U.S. work authorization & availability in SF for the program

🛠 Why It’s a Big Deal

  • Tailored 11-week accelerator

  • World-class gaming mentors

  • Uncapped resources + hacker house in SF

  • Office space at Supercell HQ

  • Hardware/software provided

  • You keep 100% ownership of your project

🌟 Proven Track Record

In the pilot batch, 7 of 16 participants went on to work directly with Supercell. This is your chance to join that legacy.

🔗 Apply by August 24th: Supercell AI Lab
Spaces are limited and the deadline is coming fast—don’t sleep on this one.

OFFLINE IS THE NEW ONLINE 😎

Your Feelings Are Your Superpower at Work (and in Networking)

We’ve all been told to “keep emotions out of it.” Stay cool, stay sharp, never let ‘em see you sweat.
But in real life—whether you’re at work, a networking mixer, or a casual coffee with someone new—emotions run the show.

Marc Brackett, Ph.D., founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, has spent over 20 years studying how feelings shape performance, trust, and connection. His advice: don’t leave your feelings at the door—learn to work with them.

Understanding Your Emotions (Since No One Teaches Us This)

Your emotions aren’t random; they’re data. They signal what matters, what’s working, and what’s not. The goal isn’t to suppress them—it’s to understand and manage them so they help you connect, not create distance.

Here’s a breakdown, inspired by Kaylah Wilton’s simple, powerful definitions:

  • Anger → Energy with a purpose. It shows up when your values, boundaries, or sense of justice are challenged. Use it to fuel positive change.

  • Guilt → A sign your actions don’t match your values. Let it guide you back into alignment, not punish you.

  • Frustration → Feeling stuck between effort and outcome. Signals something needs to change—your approach or your expectations.

  • Boredom → Unused creative energy. Your brain is craving something meaningful.

  • Jealousy → Often about feeling you can’t have something, not that you want what someone else has. Instead of comparing, ask what’s actually stopping you.

  • Overthinking → Your brain’s attempt to control uncertainty. Trust that you can handle what comes instead of burning energy trying to control it all.

  • Grief → Love with nowhere to go. Let yourself feel it—pushing it away only makes it heavier.

  • Fear → Your mind’s way of trying to protect you. Learn to tell the difference between real danger and the discomfort that leads to growth.

  • Sadness → Your mind slowing down to process what’s happened. Feeling it isn’t weakness—it’s healing.

  • Loneliness → A craving for connection. A nudge to reach out to those who make you feel seen and understood.

  • Disappointment → Something didn’t meet your expectations. Adjust—don’t shut down.

MENTOR SHIP 💎

🧠 Your Human Edge: The Skills AI Can’t Touch (and How to Future-Proof Your Career)

The age of AI isn’t about competing with machines — it’s about doubling down on the skills that make us irreplaceably human while also learning how to work with AI.

1. “Power Skills” Are Your Superpower

Communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence (EQ) are now more in-demand than even AI literacy or coding. Nearly 70% of executives say they hire for these first.

And it’s not just theory — jobs that rely on empathy, judgment, and personal interaction score highest on the AI-resistance scale:

  • Lawyers (100/100)

  • Doctors & medical pros (93/100)

  • HR managers & recruiters (87/100)

  • Therapists, coaches, and negotiators

Intern Ship twist: This is why our events lean into conversation starters, side quests, and shared experiences — it’s networking practice in disguise.

2. AI Literacy: Friend, Not Foe

Workers with AI skills are now earning a 56% wage premium (up from 25% last year). AI-exposed industries are seeing wages rise 2x faster than others, and revenue per employee jump 3x higher.

The takeaway?

WELLNESS MATTERS 💮

Gen Z’s Secret Sleep Struggle — and 6 Unconventional Fixes

Yes, Gen Z Gets Insomnia (and Often More Than Older Adults)

We tend to think of insomnia as a problem for older adults, but research says otherwise. In fact, over one-third (35%) of Gen Z report experiencing insomnia — a higher rate than Millennials (28%), Gen X (26%), and Boomers (18%). Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z say stress or anxiety keeps them up at night, and late-night scrolling doesn’t help — 93% admit to staying up past bedtime because of social media.

This isn’t just about feeling groggy in class or at work. Chronic insomnia in young people has been linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, and even long-term health issues. One study found severe insomnia symptoms were tied to an increased risk of stroke in adults under 50 — showing sleep loss can have serious consequences much earlier than we might think.

Unconventional Sleep Hacks That Actually Helped People

TikTok creator Helen shared a set of offbeat but psychiatrist-approved tips that helped her fall asleep faster — and they’re worth trying:

  1. Wear sunglasses indoors for an hour before bed
    – Mimics a “fake sunset” to signal your brain it’s time to wind down.

  2. Cool head + warm feet = sleepy brain
    – Open a window for cool air on your face, while using a hot water bottle or socks to warm your feet.

  3. Tense & release
    – Clench all muscles for 10 seconds, then fully relax. Repeat three times to release tension.

  4. Blink rapidly for 60 seconds
    – Tires your eyes and helps nudge your brain into sleep mode.

  5. Prep tomorrow, tonight
    – If you have an early start, set out clothes, meds, lunch, and your bag before bed to cut bedtime stress.

Bonus Hack: Try Cognitive Shuffling
Shared by another TikTok creator ([insert TikTok link here]), cognitive shuffling is a mental trick that mimics the random, dream-like thinking patterns your brain enters as you fall asleep.

  • Choose a neutral word like “lamp” or “rest.”

  • For each letter, think of unrelated, harmless words or images (R → rabbit, rainbow; E → Eiffel Tower, egg…) and visualize each briefly before moving on.

  • Keep going until your thoughts naturally start drifting and sleep takes over.

Extra Sleep Tips for Gen Z & Young Adults

  • Set a tech curfew: Avoid screens 30–60 minutes before bed, or at least use blue-light filters.

  • Anchor your wake-up time: Keep a consistent wake-up schedule, even on weekends.

  • Mind your caffeine: Stop coffee, tea, or energy drinks at least six hours before bed.

  • Do a “worry dump”: Jot down tasks or thoughts so your brain isn’t running in circles.

  • Get morning light: Bright daylight in the morning helps regulate your circadian rhythm.

Bottom line: Insomnia isn’t just an “older person” problem — Gen Z is feeling it now, and the health stakes are real. The good news? Even small, quirky changes to your pre-bed routine can help your brain shift gears and make quality sleep a nightly habit.

SOMETHING FOR FUNSIES💀

Work Emails Though

@snuge007

Me who has never worked in the corporate world lol #worklife #workfromhome

SOMETHING FOR THE SOUL🎶

Minimal Vibes for Work & Design ✏️ Quiet Flow

HELP US IMPROVE INTERN SHIP
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