5 ways remote work with project-based internships benefit employers
Discover why remote work, such as project-based internships, are more valuable than ever for corporations, small businesses, and nonprofits.
Updated: January 2026
While 2025 saw organizations such as Amazon and Starbucks shift away from remote work arrangements, some employers found tremendous value in remote internships and partnering with platforms like Riipen. We foster virtual environments for project-based internships, providing a measurable impact for both employers and students. Read on to learn about their experiences and discover how a remote internship program can help your organization meet its goals.
Project-based internships focus on deliverables.
Traditionally, internships have been time- or role-based, like a summer internship or one that provides administrative support for a specific department. In contrast, project-based internships fill a capacity gap by assigning skilled individuals to complete one or more project deliverables that a manager desperately needs but lacks the internal bandwidth to address.
Take Fiona Wallace, for example. As the President of Nutrition Opportunities Worldwide, she knew that to grow her small business, she needed to build an organic social media presence. But with everything else on her plate, she didn’t have the in-house resources to deal with the project. So she hired remote work interns, and they delivered in a big way. Her LinkedIn followers increased by 3,000 people in a matter of a few months. “This has benefited my business by increasing brand awareness with key stakeholders, which resulted in a new contract of $25K that I do not think I would have obtained without my social media presence,” she said.
Remote interns can save organizations money.
Oftentimes, nonprofits, public sector organizations, and small businesses lack the resources to hire the talent they need. But by hiring remote interns through subsidized programs like Riipen’s Advance Ontario, Level Up, or Future Path, they can address business problems at a fraction of the cost, as our programs are partially funded by the Government of Canada.
Allennials at Work Inc. was one such organization. Employer Clair Kim was able to bring in remote interns, giving the small business “an opportunity to engage the new generation of tech talent in an area I don't have any expertise at no cost,” Kim explained. “The students already had real-world experience to draw on and shared their portfolio and successes. They had good suggestions, and I was able to get a bunch of work done that would have cost me around 5K when all is said and done.”
Companies gain new ideas.
Student interns bring more than just their skills to a role; they bring unique perspectives. This can be especially valuable to companies catering to younger customers like Gen Z. Why not bring in students who can speak to your audience?
That was the case for Mosa, an eco-friendly small business in Canada. Co-founder Prishita Agarwal hired a team of remote interns to engage their target audience. “[The interns] brought fresh perspectives and new ideas that we never imagined,” she explained. “From increasing our social media following by 60% to improving our website’s user experience, the impact they’ve had on our business is undeniable.”
Employers onboard talent more quickly.
Recruiting and onboarding employees can be a time-consuming process. In a world where time is money, being able to bring in new talent and get them working on projects quickly is the key to success. Remote, project-based internships fill the bill.
High-quality platforms like Riipen connect employers with highly motivated and skilled students, either through academic institutions or directly. Employers specify the skills required for a project, and then select interns to do the work. Small business Wouessi Digital successfully used this approach for web development, digital marketing, AI, and sales support projects. It reduced their recruitment time by 40% and increased the project completion rate to 90%.
Businesses build a future talent pipeline.
Internships have long been a proving ground for future employees. So, when you introduce remote work into the picture (especially when it's project-based), employers are given a low-cost opportunity to work with talented students eager to help their business thrive. And when you work with Riipen, questions like:
- Can the individual work independently?
- Can they meet the project deliverables on time?
- Do they have good communication skills?
- Are they talented and skilled?
are easily answered, as our various project-based programs ensure that you match with highly qualified and motivated students across the board.
According to the CFO/COO of a specialty retail company that employed remote interns, our remote work and project-based programs provided them with the opportunity to find new hires from a pool of talent they may not have been aware of before.
If these examples have piqued your interest in remote, project-based internships, Riipen can help. Our experiential learning platform connects employers with students through real-world, project-based opportunities.
Connect with our team and get started today!
You may also like
