Welcome to the Cortado Innovation Studio¶
A Letter to Parents & Guardians¶
Dear Parent or Guardian,
We’re thrilled your student is considering applying to the Cortado Group Innovation Studio, a 12-week educational internship designed to introduce high school and college students to the world of technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI).
This letter provides a quick overview of the program, what your student can expect, and how we're ensuring a safe, enriching, and legally compliant experience for all participants.
📚 What Is the Innovation Studio?¶
The Innovation Studio is a structured learning experience, not a traditional job. Students participate in workshops, hands-on labs, and team projects while learning skills such as:
- Python programming
- Databases & SQL
- AI and ChatGPT prompt design
- Agile teamwork
- Software quality testing
- Business strategy and product design
By the end of the program, your student will have a professional portfolio, real experience using industry tools, and mentorship from experienced software engineers.
💵 Is This a Paid Internship?¶
No — the internship is unpaid, by design. Why?
Because U.S. labor law requires unpaid internships to focus solely on education and student benefit. This program is not about getting free labor — it’s about teaching. In fact, our entire program is built to comply with federal labor rules (specifically the “Primary Beneficiary Test” under the Fair Labor Standards Act).
Your student will not be doing work that replaces paid employees or generates profit for the company. Instead, they’ll be learning, practicing, and preparing for their next step — whether that’s college or a future job.
🏫 Does the Program Count for School Credit?¶
We’re working directly with local schools and colleges to ensure the Studio can count for academic credit. If your student’s school approves the program, they may be eligible to receive internship credit or elective hours. We’ll help coordinate any required paperwork.
🧑🏫 Supervision and Support¶
Your student won’t be left to figure things out alone. Each cohort is guided by a Program Manager and mentors who lead daily sessions, provide one-on-one support, and review all student work. All activities take place in a safe, supervised virtual environment, using industry-standard tools with appropriate content filters.
🤖 What Will My Student Get Out of This?¶
By the end of the program, your student will walk away with:
- A professional GitHub portfolio of code and project work
- In-demand technical skills in AI, Python, databases, and more
- Hands-on experience working in a team environment
- Confidence presenting ideas and solving real-world problems
- A Certificate of Completion from Cortado Group
- A strong head start in tech — even before college begins
🗓️ Key Details¶
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Format: Remote (online) with optional in-person Demo Day
- Hours: 12–20 hours/week, flexible around school schedules
- Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors and college undergraduates
- Cost: Free to participate
- Compensation: Unpaid, educational internship
✉️ Questions?¶
We’d be happy to speak with you directly. You’re welcome to contact us at:
David Russell
Director, Innovation Studio
📧 david.russell@cortadogroup.com
Thank you for supporting your student in their pursuit of real-world skills, mentorship, and personal growth. We’re excited to build the next generation of innovators — and your student could be one of them.
Sincerely,
The Cortado Group Innovation Studio Team