Ahead of India AI Impact Summit 2026, 20-year-old founder shares internship hack for AI students

20-year-old founder’s AI internship advice sparks online debate

A 20-year-old startup founder has triggered a fresh conversation on how college students can break into the AI internship ecosystem, just ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. His practical, on-ground advice centred on networking rather than resumes has resonated widely on social media.

In a post on X, the founder, who goes by the handle trickastely, described large tech and startup events as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for students looking to land internships. According to him, simply showing up, speaking to people at stalls, collecting business cards and building genuine connections can open unexpected doors. He said this approach helped him and his friends secure internships earlier at startup-focused events, calling the results “crazy cool”.

IndiaAI Impact Summit is the single best shot for y'all to get Internships. Go to the stalls talk to people take business cards and make genuine connections. Me and my friends used to do it at startup mahakumbh xd and we did get internships crazy cool 💥

— trickastley (@tr1ckastley) February 13, 2026

The suggestion quickly sparked discussion online. Several users echoed the sentiment, saying such summits had previously given them exposure to real-world opportunities and a clearer sense of the startup and tech landscape. One user recalled how attending Startup Mahakumbh broadened their perspective and said the upcoming AI summit could be even more impactful for students.

Others shared older but similar experiences. One user said that during their undergraduate years, they would physically visit offices and hand resumes directly to employees, sometimes even striking up conversations in elevators and claimed the method worked. This prompted questions from younger users on whether traditional resumes still matter in such scenarios.

Responding to one such query, the original poster clarified his approach: no printed resumes, no cold emails. Instead, he advised students to collect business cards at events and follow up later on WhatsApp. “That’s how I got my first internship,” he said, reinforcing the importance of personal connections over formal applications.

AI summit in New Delhi

The discussion comes as anticipation builds around the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, a major platform expected to bring together policymakers, AI startups, global tech firms, investors, researchers and students. The summit aims to showcase India’s growing role in artificial intelligence, focusing on innovation, regulation, real-world applications and talent development. With dozens of stalls, demos and networking sessions planned, the event is being seen as a key meeting ground for young aspirants and industry leaders alike.