ACCELERATE YOUR GROWTH WITH FULLY-SUBSIDIZED INTERNSHIPS

Canada’s smartest students are waiting to work for you

Join the Level UP program: Fully-subsidized, short-term student talent for Canadian employers.

Introducing a new way to grow your business
Level UP Projects are fully-subsidized, 80-hour internships that can be completed fully online or hybrid.
Easily Turn Your Business Challenges Into Projects
Access our template library for inspiration, or browse to see what other employers are looking for. We make it easy for you to convert your business challenge into off-the-shelf 80-hour projects.
Access Student Talent from Top-Tier Universities & Colleges
Get access to a quality network of the top talent at leading Canadian universities and colleges. Work on unlimited online or hybrid project(s) with students anywhere in Canada.
Just Mark Projects as Complete to Issue Compensation
Your student collaborator will receive a $1,400 stipend for each project completed, paid directly by Riipen. All you have to do is mark the project complete.
Hear from the 27,300+ employers accelerating their business growth with student talent
Business owners like you are taking advantage of this fully-subsidized program
to work with skilled, enthusiastic students.
CEO Anthony Marotta of Pequish Food Company found his next new hires through Level UP.
Christina Morrow of Wicked Rose loved being able to access talent across the country.
Amelia Merrick of Community Futures Fraser Fort George appreciated being able to reach more people with subsidized help.
Most Canadian employers are already eligible to participate in Level UP
If your organization meets the following criteria, you could match
with your first Level UP student intern in just a few days.

You must be:

✅ A registered Canadian business or non-profit organization.

    You can't be:

    ❌ A member of the House of Commons or the Senate;
    ❌ Part of an organization that engages in partisan political activities, and/or a federal, provincial, territorial and municipal government.

      Click here for full eligibility requirements and Terms & Conditions.

      What does a Level UP project look like?
      Up to 80 hours | Completed over 2-8 weeks | Flexible start & end dates | Student collaborators receive a $1,400 stipend

      Here are some recently completed projects
      by Level UP student collaborators:

      Wicked Rose - Overseas Manufacturing Analysis For Women's Martial Arts Activewear Brand
      Wicked Rose is a woman-owned manufacturing company located in Vancouver, BC, that creates high-quality, environmentally conscious, and ethically made activewear for women in martial arts.
      Barks of Love - From Grant Writing to Revamping a Children's Program
      Barks of Love is the only non-profit canine rescue program in Orange County, California, committed to matching dogs with ideal foster families that will give them the best chance at permanent, loving homes.
      NEL-i - Biomethanization and RNG Production Technologies Assessment
      NEL-i is a group of entrepreneurs from the digital technology, engineering, finance, cleantech, education, marketing and communications sectors, whose role is to support its partners in transitioning and integrating into the new economy.
      Level UP projects run on Riipen:
      A powerful, easy-to-use experience management platform
      Riipen brings students, educators, and employers together to create real, measurable ROI.

      Turn Challenges into Scoped Projects with Useful Templates

      Turn your business challenges into fully-scoped projects with defined deliverables. Not sure how to get started? Look for inspiration from other employers, or use a convenient pre-built project template.

      Popular project areas include: Communications, Digital & Social Media Marketing, Market Research, Sales Strategy, Product Launch, Graphic Design, Website Development

      Reach Students Across Canada

      Post your project on the Level UP portal to share it with post-secondary students across Canada. In one move, you’ll reach a deep, diverse pool of talent with the domain expertise and drive you’re looking for. You might even find your next hire.

      Browse Student Applications
      & Match with Talent

      Review applications and match with enterprising students from a wide variety of disciplines and schools. With the latest knowledge in their areas of study, they can give your business or nonprofit the edge it needs to grow.

      Track Project Progress
      & Stay on Track

      Track project progress and get reminders on major project milestones through the Level UP portal. Keep track of important documents and communications all in one place.

      Collaborate from Anywhere

      Struggling with a lack of local talent? All Level UP projects can be completed 100% remotely. Riipen supports Google Meet and Zoom integration, so you can work with students anywhere in Canada

      Hire the Latest & Greatest Generation

      Level UP is your chance to work with soon-to-be graduates who can bring new ideas and useful skills to your business. Evaluate your collaborators through fully-subsidized Level UP project work and hire the best-fit students as part of your team.

      Level UP in the News
      Read the latest stories from across the country.
      Mindshare Learning Moment Podcast
      ‍‍
      "This Week in Canadian EdTech: Leading Innovation in Education"

      Interview: Dana Stephenson (CEO, Riipen)

      WATCH PODCAST
      Canadian SME Business Magazine
      "The future of internships is Remote"

      READ FULL ARTICLE
      The Hamilton Spectator
      "OpEd: Students need new tools to thrive"

      The pandemic has disrupted the campus-to-industry talent pipeline, Dana Stephenson writes.

      READ FULL ARTICLE
      Global News 980 CKNW Radio
      "Innovative program for students and employers receives another round of federal funding"

      Interview: Dana Stephenson (CEO, Riipen)

      LISTEN HERE
      Techcouver
      "Vancouver’s Riipen Connects Student Talent to Opportunity with Level UP Program"

      READ FULL ARTICLE
      George Brown College
      "More than 3,000 George Brown College students have gained real-world remote work experience with Riipen"

      READ FULL ARTICLE

      Find & work with talented students
      anywhere in Canada

      Ready to get started?
      Confirm your eligibility and post your project.
      Helpful support when you need it
      Ask questions, share feedback, and more.
      Frequently Asked Questions
      Other employers are asking…
      What does a Level UP project need to include?
      Projects should provide 80 hours of work per student participating. Each project must be completed within 2-8 weeks. For more information on how to create and submit a project for Level UP, you can consult this article.
      How many projects can I submit and how many students can I take on?
      Currently, there are no limitations to the amount of projects an employer can submit, and the number of students they can take on. Employers are required to provide a minimum of 5 hours of mentorship to each student. That being said, we ask that you are mindful of the amount of students you accept to work on your project.
      What if my project requires more than 80 hours of work?
      If this is the case, we suggest taking on more than 1 student on the same project. For example, if your project requires 160 hours of work, 2 students would be needed to complete your project. Additionally, you are able to separate 1 project into 2 phases. This will allow you to work with the same student on more than 1 project.
      What are the Terms and Conditions for the program and what is the three strike system?
      In an effort to create a good Level UP experience for all parties, we have updated our Terms and Conditions, which can be found here. Please take a moment to read through them. We've also created a three strike system. This means that if any Level UP user goes against the Terms and Conditions, they will receive a strike. You will be notified via e-mail when/if you've received a strike. If you receive three strikes, you will be removed from the program and will no longer be able to participate.
      What if I want to hire a student collaborator?
      You wouldn’t be the first! Many employers go on to hire their Level UP student collaborators directly.
      read the full FAQ

      Grow your business with Level UP

      Sign up for your free employer account today
      and jump right into working with the top student talent in Canada.

      Level UP is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiatives program