Internship Spotlight: Conn Gains Startup Experience at NextCorps
October 14, 2026
Brennan Conn, a junior marketing major, spent his summer working with Rochester-area startups, gaining hands-on experience and applying his Fisher coursework through his internship at NextCorps.
No two days looked the same for Conn this summer during his internship with NextCorps, a Rochester-based nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs throughout the Finger Lakes region. The organization provides resources and support to help startup businesses launch, grow, and expand. Conn worked with eight to 10 Rochester-area startups, taking on projects ranging from marketing and research to development and testing.
Conn during the 2026 Fisher Flight Program in Charlotte, NC.
“Basically, whatever a founder needed that week, I jumped in,” he said.The variety of projects gave Conn the opportunity to apply concepts he learned at Fisher to real-world business practices. He found that coursework from his business and marketing courses were useful to determine an effective way to communicate research findings to the intended audience. Each startup also brought different challenges and needs to the table, which encouraged him to go beyond his comfort zone and learn the value of both adaptability and flexibility.
“Every startup had different needs, so I was consistently working on projects that forced me to learn new skills,” he explained.
Beyond professional skills, the firsthand look at the challenges and successes entrepreneurs face influenced him to continue his pursuit of his own startup ventures.
For students preparing for internships, Conn encourages them to step out of their comfort zone and into new opportunities that may seem unfamiliar. “Say yes to projects even when you don’t know how to do them yet, then figure it out as you go,” he said. “Ask a lot of questions, too. People are more willing to help you than you’d expect.”
The summer also gave Conn a greater appreciation for Rochester’s startup community. He encourages students to pursue opportunities to get more involved. “I’m grateful to the team and clients at NextCorps for trusting me with work from day one,” he emphasized.
This article was written by Olivia Bennett, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Internship Spotlight: Conn Gains Startup Experience at NextCorps2026-10-14T09:30:00-04:00Brennan Conn, a junior marketing major, spent his summer working with Rochester-area startups, gaining hands-on experience and applying his Fisher coursework through his internship at NextCorps.No two days looked the same for Conn this summer during his internship with NextCorps, a Rochester-based nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs throughout the Finger Lakes region. The organization provides resources and support to help startup businesses launch, grow, and expand. Conn worked with eight to 10 Rochester-area startups, taking on projects ranging from marketing and research to development and testing.
Conn during the 2026 Fisher Flight Program in Charlotte, NC.
“Basically, whatever a founder needed that week, I jumped in,” he said.The variety of projects gave Conn the opportunity to apply concepts he learned at Fisher to real-world business practices. He found that coursework from his business and marketing courses were useful to determine an effective way to communicate research findings to the intended audience. Each startup also brought different challenges and needs to the table, which encouraged him to go beyond his comfort zone and learn the value of both adaptability and flexibility.
“Every startup had different needs, so I was consistently working on projects that forced me to learn new skills,” he explained.
Beyond professional skills, the firsthand look at the challenges and successes entrepreneurs face influenced him to continue his pursuit of his own startup ventures.
For students preparing for internships, Conn encourages them to step out of their comfort zone and into new opportunities that may seem unfamiliar. “Say yes to projects even when you don’t know how to do them yet, then figure it out as you go,” he said. “Ask a lot of questions, too. People are more willing to help you than you’d expect.”
The summer also gave Conn a greater appreciation for Rochester’s startup community. He encourages students to pursue opportunities to get more involved. “I’m grateful to the team and clients at NextCorps for trusting me with work from day one,” he emphasized.
This article was written by Olivia Bennett, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2026-2027 academic year.
