Dallas-based software company HighLevel plans to launch an eight-week paid internship program designed to teach students how to build and scale their own SaaS agencies.

HighLevel develops an AI-powered business operating system used by more than 2 million businesses worldwide. The HighLevel Summer Internship will give students hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, technology, and real-world business growth next summer, the company said.

“AI isn’t taking opportunities away—it’s changing what opportunity looks like,” said Wesley Williams, HighLevel’s vice president of marketing. “We’re teaching students how to stop competing with AI and start creating with it. Through our internship program, they’re using technology to make an immediate impact on small businesses that need their help the most.”

Applications to open in January

Applications for the inaugural cohort open in January, and spots are limited.

According to HighLevel, interns will acquire real customers, generate revenue, and master tools reshaping the future of work—AI and automation. Rather than study theory, students will put AI into practice by helping small businesses grow while earning both a salary and income from their ventures.

All-in-one platform launched in 2018

Launched in 2018, HighLevel was founded by Shaun Clark, Varun Vairavan, and Robin Alex with a mission to help marketing agencies grow and scale. The founders saw a gap in the market: agencies were forced to rely on a patchwork of disconnected tools for CRM, automation, messaging, and client management. By creating an “all-in-one platform,” they aimed to simplify operations, improve client retention, and make it easier for agencies to manage growth.

HighLevel said that its ability to white-label the platform helped accelerate adoption. As its community expanded, the company added AI-powered features, a marketplace, certification programs, and workshops, fueling rapid growth and positioning it among the world’s most widely used software platforms for marketing agencies.

The summer internship, HighLevel said, reflects that same spirit of entrepreneurship—this time, focused on preparing students for the future of AI-driven business.

HighLevel said the program stands out for its focus on practical business training and hands-on experience. Interns will join a company that has grown to more than 1,800 employees and 110,000 customers in just a few years. They’ll use AI tools to build real businesses, gain experience acquiring and onboarding customers, and get paid while developing sustainable, tech-enabled ventures.

The initiative builds on HighLevel’s platform model, which the company said has helped “SaaSpreneurs” generate more than $1.8 billion in business revenue and $9.7 billion in total customer revenue to date.

“The job market isn’t what it used to be,” said Sarah Robertson, manager of HighLevel’s internship program. “For years, students were told that good grades, a college degree, and hard work would guarantee success. Yet we’ve watched entrepreneurs, creators, and influencers achieve incredible results outside that traditional path.”

Robertson said the program is designed to give students entrepreneurial confidence and the tools to launch real businesses—skills she believes are essential in today’s changing economy. “This shift has opened the door for new pathways, and entrepreneurship is leading the way,” she said. “This program puts that success back in the hands of the individual, equipping students to think like entrepreneurs, build real businesses, and develop the foundation to become successful business owners in any field.”

HighLevel said it views the internship as both a workforce development initiative and a training ground for the next generation of AI-driven entrepreneurs. The company was recently named a finalist for The Innovates Awards 2026, presented by D CEO and Dallas Innovates. HighLevel also ranked No. 17 on the fifth annual Inc. Regionals: Southwest list earlier this year.

Last year, co-founders Clark,Vairavan, and Alex were named Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Southwest Award winners.

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.