99interns

99interns was a Sydney, Australia based recruitment and intern placement entity, operating primarily in the mid-2010s. Its core mission was to facilitate connections between aspiring students and interns with burgeoning startups and other innovative businesses, aiming to provide invaluable work experience to the next generation of talent. The company addressed a significant need within the Australian startup ecosystem, where new ventures often required flexible talent but faced challenges in navigating internship regulations.

Founded by Dave Michayluk and Yvonne Lee, 99interns differentiated itself by not only matching candidates but also by educating startups on the legal intricacies of hiring interns. They notably collaborated with Fair Work Australia to develop a comprehensive guide titled 'Everything a startup needs to know about interns and internships'. This initiative underscored their commitment to ensuring internships provided a genuine learning environment and were not merely a source of free labour, emphasising that the arrangement must benefit the intern by offering valuable experience.

99interns focused on the principle that an internship should be a developmental opportunity, where interns shadow and learn from experienced professionals, rather than solely managing a specific aspect of a business or replacing a paid employee. This approach helped startups avoid potential legal pitfalls and fostered more meaningful experiences for interns, contributing positively to the perception and practice of internships within the startup community. While the company's official website appears to be no longer active, its historical presence highlights an important contribution to structuring ethical and beneficial internship programs in the Australian startup landscape during its operational period.