About NewsBreak
Founded in 2015, NewsBreak is the Content Intelligence platform shaping the future content economy. With over 40 million monthly active users, our flagship platform delivers highly personalized local news and information powered by advanced AI, recommendation systems, and adtech. Recognized by Fast Company as #32 on the Top Workplaces for Innovators, we're proud to be Great Place to Work® certified and home to a dynamic team of technologists, product innovators, and business leaders who are passionate about solving meaningful challenges at scale. Together, we reached unicorn status in 2021, and we remain committed to continuing this high-growth trajectory with the right team to fulfill our mission: building the infrastructure layer for content intelligence. If you're inspired to dream big, innovate fast, and make a difference, we'd love to hear from you! For more information, visit www.newsbreak.com/about
About Nearby.ai
Nearby.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 Role
This 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 End
Market 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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