Inside a Startup Internship: Voices from Our Interns

At LiSTie, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators. As part of this mission, we launched our internship program in the fall of 2024, offering motivated students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at the forefront of cutting-edge technology development.

In this feature, we spoke with one of our current interns, Ms. O, who brings a fresh perspective to our R&D team through her strong technical background and creative mindset.

A First Step into the World of Technology and Entrepreneurship

“I’ve always been interested in startups and launching businesses, and I wanted to gain hands-on experience in that field,” says Ms. O. Her encounter with a book on Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI) during her second year of high school sparked her deeper interest in the world of technology.

Roots of Her Passion for Technology

From a young age, Ms. O was surrounded by technology. Influenced by her father, who works in engine design, she grew up in an environment where innovation was close at hand. “The idea of creating something through technology,” she says, “has shaped my current academic and career path.”

Lessons from the Startup Field

Through her internship at LiSTie, Ms. O has gained a clearer picture of what working in a startup is really like.“I had imagined that the procedures for experiments and tasks would already be well-defined. But in reality, I joined from the stage of building the equipment itself. That kind of involvement from the ground up is an incredibly valuable opportunity.”

What left the strongest impression was LiSTie’s dedication to long-term goals such as nuclear fusion, while staying grounded in day-to-day development.“When I first learned about the ultimate goal, I felt excited by the enormous potential.”

Looking Ahead

Through her internship, Ms. O identified three key insights:

1. The importance of having a clear vision—and being able to communicate it.

2. The need for a strong foundation, including networks and funding.

3. The unique value of startups: building something from scratch.

   
   

A Message to Future Interns

“Since most of the work hasn’t been standardized yet, this is a place where you can think for yourself and ask, ‘Why?’ instead of just doing what you’re told. There’s a lot of technical language, so if you have experience in research or engineering, you’ll probably find it especially rewarding.”

This interview was conducted on October 23, 2024.