Innovation Starts Here: Meet the 2026–2027 BizzNEST Cohort
What happens when first-generation professionals are given the chance to do real work, build relationships with professionals, and see themselves as capable of a career they once thought was out of reach?
That’s what BizzNEST is built around.
For 12 months, Associates work alongside experienced professionals on real projects for real clients. They build skills, take on responsibility, receive feedback, and learn how to navigate professional environments, all while building the relationships and confidence that can open doors long after their time at Digital NEST ends. They gain access to professional networks, mentorship, and opportunities to build the kind of experience employers are looking for.
Welcoming the 2026–2027 Cohort
BizzNEST continues to evolve with the needs of young people, our organization, and the professional landscape around us. To better reflect the changing demands of today’s workplace, we are expanding our focus areas this year by adding Human Resources and Instructor Associate roles. As a nonprofit, one of our greatest strengths is our ability to remain nimble and responsive. We are constantly iterating and evolving the BizzNEST program, aligning our training directly with shifts we see across the professional landscape and the interests of our youth.
This year’s cohort will work across disciplines including:
- UI/UX Design, Web Design, and Graphic Design
- Software Development & Data
- Digital Marketing & Content Creation
- Human Resources
- Instructor Associate roles specializing in Digital Marketing, UI/UX Design, and IT
Learning Through Work That Matters
Last year, software development associates partnered with the Modesto Children’s Museum to create an immersive interactive experience that combined storytelling, design, and emerging technology. Marketing associates teamed up with the International Fresh Produce Association on the I’d Bite That social media campaign to drive fruit and vegetable engagement among young adults.
This year, associates will continue working on projects that challenge them to think creatively, communicate clearly, and solve problems for nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and other clients. It’s an experience that changes how a young person sees their own future.
One recent BizzNEST alum shared:
“Working at BizzNEST, I gained professional and essential skills that allowed me to have the confidence to apply to jobs I didn’t ever imagine I would be able to.”
For another alum, the experience helped turn uncertainty into tangible career momentum:
“Digital NEST helped in a time when I was facing a lot of uncertainty in my career with landing a job. They set me up in ways that added to my resume and portfolio, where I finally started landing interviews for other employers.”
Those outcomes are about more than a stronger resume. They’re about having the confidence to walk into a room, talk about your work, ask questions, and believe you belong there.
The Power of Social Capital
Career readiness isn’t only about what you know.
It’s also about who knows you, who can vouch for your work, who gives you feedback, and who helps you see opportunities you may not have found on your own.
That’s the social capital associates build at BizzNEST.
Associates work in collaborative teams, learn from instructors and mentors, work directly with clients, and build relationships with peers who are navigating many of the same challenges.
One alum described that experience this way:
“The supportive and collaborative environment, along with my amazing peers, made every project a learning experience. My time at BizzNEST shaped both my professional skills and my confidence, and I’m truly grateful for the mentorship and teamwork I experienced there.”
Another shared:
“From coffee runs, receiving and implementing feedback, seeing projects come to life, and believing I can sit at the table with other professionals, Digital NEST is truly an experience I will carry close to me.”
BizzNEST helps young people build a professional network before they have years of experience. They have people to learn from, people to collaborate with, and people who can help them recognize their own potential.
Where BizzNEST Can Lead
Last year, 63% of BizzNEST Associates secured full-time employment, internships, or continued into higher education in less than 12 months.
Today, BizzNEST alumni are building careers and gaining experience at organizations including Adobe, IBM, GoFundMe, Paystand, CrunchLabs, ALLDATA, Trinchero Winery, Action Council, and more.
Recent alumni include:
- Rene – Software Developer Intern at Trinchero Winery
- Jackeline – Software Engineering Intern at GoFundMe
- Thalia – Graphic Design Intern at ALLDATA
- Sam – Marketing Coordinator at Chic Event Planning
- Elizabeth – Communications Coordinator at Action Council
And for many Associates, the biggest outcome isn’t one specific job title. It’s realizing that they can pursue opportunities they once didn’t think were meant for them.
As one alum put it:
“Interning at Digital NEST gave me hands-on experience with a team. I’m heading into a software engineering internship at GoFundMe feeling prepared, and that’s because of the work I did here.”
You Can Help Future Innovators
The next young person walking through our doors is a future software engineer, designer, marketer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, or community leader.
With your generosity, our centers remain equipped with industry-standard technology, professional software, mentorship, and paid opportunities that support our BizzNEST associates.
Here’s how you can be part of that journey:
- Hire BizzNEST for software development, UX/UI design, digital marketing, video production, or creative services.
- Host an Internship: Introduce emerging talent to your industry.
- Invest in Our Youth. Make a one-time gift, become a NEST donor, or donate stocks and securities; there are many ways to support our youth and our work.
- Be a Mentor: Fill out this form.
With 83 cents of every dollar going directly to youth programming, your investment creates opportunity where it’s needed most.
Because when young people have access to the experience, relationships, and support they need to build a career, they don’t just change their own lives. They strengthen the communities they call home.
