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About Nearby.aiNearby.ai is a home services platform that connects homeowners with trusted local service providers — plumbers, electricians, cleaners, landscapers, HVAC technicians, and more. We're building the merchant network that makes that matching possible, and we're looking for a high-potential MBA intern ready to operate at the level of a founder — not shadow one.
About the RoleThis is a flagship early-talent initiative at Nearby.ai: an MBA-level Business Development & Strategy internship built for someone who wants the real thing — full ownership of a merchant-acquisition initiative end-to-end, from market research and territory strategy through self-sourced execution to a final strategic recommendation delivered directly to leadership.There is no script, no shadow assignment, and no busywork. You'll operate with the autonomy of a strategy consultant and the accountability of a founder — defining your own market thesis, building your own pipeline, and being judged on business outcomes: partners signed, pipeline built, and insight generated that shapes how Nearby.ai grows.
What You'll Own, End to EndMarket and Territory Strategy
- Independently map the local service-provider landscape in an assigned category or geography (e.g., HVAC in a specific metro): merchant density, acquisition channels, and competitive platforms (Angi, Thumbtack, Yelp, etc.)
- Build your own scoring framework to size the opportunity and decide which merchant categories or neighborhoods to go after first
Self-Sourced Outreach and Pipeline Development
- Build your own target list and figure out the smartest way to reach each one
- Introduce Nearby.ai and pitch the value proposition to local business owners, handling objections yourself
- Build and maintain a pipeline in a CRM or spreadsheet with real discipline: stage, next step, expected close
- Treat outreach as a live experiment — test channels, messaging, and timing, and double down on what the data says is working
Analysis and Business Case Development
- Analyze outreach and conversion data to identify what's working and quantify results (contacts made, response rates, conversion rates)
- Turn merchant feedback into structured insight that could shape Nearby.ai's value proposition or onboarding process
- Build a rigorous business case (expected partners signed, revenue impact) to justify where the company should focus next
Solutioning and Partnership Development
- Independently draft outreach scripts, pitch decks, and partnership proposals tailored to each merchant type
- Lead onboarding conversations through to close
- Recommend improvements to the onboarding process based on what you hear from merchants
Reporting and Recommendations
- Report weekly on outreach metrics and pipeline, framed as insights and next steps for leadership — not just raw counts
- Deliver a capstone presentation directly to company leadership: your market analysis, results, and a recommended go-forward strategy for merchant acquisition
You're a Strong Fit If You Have
- Currently pursuing an MBA (or equivalent graduate business program) from a top-tier program, ideally with prior experience in SaaS, agentic services, marketing, sales, BD or a startup
- Strong business acumen, critical thinking, and structured problem-solving skills
- Comfortable being fully self-directed — you build the plan, not just execute someone else's
- A passion for data-driven decision-making; genuinely comfortable working in spreadsheets and analysis
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to pick up the phone, knock on a door, and negotiate directly with business owners
- High tolerance for ambiguity and rejection — energized by 0-to-1, hands-on work, and comfortable inventing your own approach as you go
Details
- Type: Internship, 20–40 hrs/week
- Duration: 3–6 months
- Location: Remote
- Compensation: Paid, $40-60 hourly
Why Join Nearby.ai
- Own a real merchant-acquisition initiative from research through close, with direct visibility to leadership — a level of end-to-end ownership rarely given to an intern
- Operate with the rigor and stakes of a strategy engagement, at an early-stage company where your work directly moves the business
- Walk away with a portfolio of quantified business impact (partners signed, pipeline built, a strategy recommendation delivered to leadership) — built for post-MBA BD, strategy, or general management roles
- Potential to convert to a full-time role based on performance
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