At Next Play, we’re passionate about creating immersive experiences that help people learn about sports. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for a motivated Business Development Intern to help us expand our partnerships, drive user acquisition, and contribute to key strategic initiatives.
As a Business Development Intern, you will be responsible for identifying growth opportunities, building relationships with potential partners, and analyzing market trends to support our expansion efforts. This role offers hands-on experience in business strategy, sales, and partnerships within the youth sports industry. There are a lot of different types of projects to work on, and you can choose which projects and responsibilities you want to specialize in.
Responsibilities
- Partnership Research: Identify potential partnerships with youth sports teams, influencers, media companies, and brands.
- Outreach & Relationship Building: Assist in outreach efforts to secure collaborations that drive user acquisition and brand awareness.
- Lead Generation: Build and manage a pipeline of potential business partners, sponsors, and affiliates.
- Outreach: Conduct outreach through emails, LinkedIn, and networking events to generate new opportunities.
- Pitch Deck Development: Assist in developing pitch decks and proposals for prospective partners.
- Market Analysis: Analyze industry trends, competitor strategies, and emerging opportunities in the sports gaming market.
- Strategic Insights: Provide insights and recommendations for business development initiatives.
- Competitive Tracking: Track key market developments and assess their impact on Next Play’s growth strategy.
- Performance Analysis: Assist in tracking and analyzing partnership performance metrics.
- Marketing Content: Support the creation of engaging marketing materials—including pictures, videos, flyers, one-pagers, and social media content—to promote events, partnerships, and product features. Work closely with the marketing and design teams to maintain brand consistency and maximize reach.
- Marketing Alignment: Work with the marketing team to align business development efforts with brand positioning.
- Revenue Strategy: Contribute to brainstorming sessions for new revenue opportunities and business expansion strategies.
Requirements and skills
- Strong interest in business development, sales, or partnerships, preferably within youth sports, EdTech, sports, or entertainment.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to research and analyze market trends to identify growth opportunities.
- Self-motivated, proactive, and eager to learn in a fast-paced startup environment.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides); experience with CRM tools (HubSpot, Salesforce) is a plus.
- Passion for sports and gaming is a strong advantage.
Why Join Us?
- Hands-on Experience: Gain real-world exposure to business development, partnerships, and sales in a fast-growing startup.
- Networking Opportunities: Work directly with leadership and industry professionals to expand your network.
- Growth Potential: High-performing interns could transition into a full-time role with salary, commission, equity, and benefits.
- Impactful Work: Contribute to a startup where your ideas and work have a direct influence on the company’s success.
- Flexible Schedule: The internship offers flexible scheduling, allowing you to select the months and times that work best for you.
We currently make games and learning modules for sports such as football, baseball, basketball, soccer, ice hockey, tennis, volleyball, golf, flag football, pickleball, softball, lacrosse, futsal, padel, swimming, diving, yoga, cycling, cricket, rugby, handball, ultimate frisbee, badminton, table tennis, field hockey, water polo, track and field, cross country, cheerleading, gymnastics, wrestling, martial arts, fencing, archery, bowling, squash, surf, skateboarding, snowboarding, curling, kayaking, rowing, rock climbing, and dance.
Working for a startup is a lot of fun. You will learn a lot and be able to have a big impact on the growth strategy for the company. If you’re ready to bring your creativity to Next Play Games and help us connect with partners in a fun and meaningful way, please send your resume and let us know why you’re excited about this opportunity.