Emerging Tech Internship

The Emerging Tech Internship was founded by the Opportunity Machine, UL Lafayette’s Informatics Research Institute, and tech companies to enhance student learning and create new opportunities for technological innovation in the region."The collaboration was facilitated by Opportunity Machine, Acadiana's entrepreneur support organization for tech, research-driven, and innovative startups. Companies such as Keepers and Blue Partner, members of the Opportunity Machine, have leveraged resources, including educational programs, mentorship, and technical student collaborations, to accelerate their growth."

Dr. Henry Chu, Executive Director of the Informatics Research Institute and Professor in the School of Computing and Informatics, said, “The program aims to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem where students, entrepreneurs, and tech companies can thrive and drive regional innovation.”   “This partnership offers our students the opportunity to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom to real-world projects and engage with industry leaders in a meaningful way.”

The internship program is just one of many ways UL Lafayette fosters innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, and it underscores the university’s commitment to providing students with the skills and opportunities needed to excel in today’s competitive job market. Through this collaboration, companies will benefit not only from the fresh perspectives and technical skills of UL Lafayette’s students but benefit from the fresh perspectives and technical skills of UL Lafayette’s students, but it will also help nurture the next generation of tech talent in Louisiana.

The Opportunity Machine’s mission is to support and elevate early-stage technology, research-driven, and innovative startups. Their focus lies in nurturing tech and tech-enabled ventures through specialized business education, targeted mentorship, strategic networking opportunities, and a workspace environment designed to meet high-growth startups’ dynamic needs. Visit opportunitymachine.org for more information.

Interest Form for Summer 2026 Internship

For more information about internship opportunities, please contact

Chris Kimmel
Chief Innovation Officer
Informatics Research Institute
chris.kimmel@louisiana.edu

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Pictured: (L-R) Kelly Hebert, Founder, Dryve, Mark Coniglio and Devin Barras

Dryve, a locally founded navigation app that helps parents find food fast along a particular route, joined forces with UL Lafayette senior computer science students Devin Barras and Mark Coniglio through a new community partnership. 

Kelly Hebert, founder of Dryve, said, “I was impressed by their ability to take what they learned in the classroom and use it in a real-world application. They were both willing to test different solutions to several complex problems until we had results that worked.” “Their ability to dive into an existing codebase, familiarize themselves with a language they hadn't worked with, and quickly become contributors was very impressive.”

She added, “I am honored to have been given the opportunity to work with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette through their partnership with the Opportunity Machine. Dryve app is something that I truly hope will play a vital role in the future of safer navigation, and Devin and Mark’s technical expertise and collaborative spirit have undoubtedly played a pivotal role in the progress of Dryve.”

 

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Keepers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured L-R: Kevin P. Nguyen, Tyler Searle, Austin J. Bryant, Nathaniel L. Agee, Colin E. Dupuis, and Luke Brinkley 

Students spent the summer working on enhancing a mobile artificial intelligence (AI) application for Keepers, a locally founded startup that automates the entire housekeeping process for short-term rental property hosts and managers. Students used AI to help Keepers streamline their all-in-one solution for short-term rental housekeeping operations.

Keepers Founder and CEO Carleena Andrepont said, “Throughout the summer, the students work and drive to make the AI functionality more and more adaptable to real-world situations, especially with how Keepers operates. Each week, we could see the improvements made, and it is truly impressive what the students accomplished in such a short time.”

Their mission is to alleviate hosts' struggles regarding housekeeping for their short-term rentals. Managing housekeeping duties can be time-consuming and challenging, so we’ve developed an innovative platform that automates the entire process. Visit usekeepers.com for more information.