Direct Placements Intern

The Problem

36 million businesses in America need insurance—it's not optional. 77% are underinsured. 40% have no coverage at all. The distribution system failed them: too slow, too opaque, too confusing.

Over 90% of commercial insurance is still human-led. We're building the inverse: 90%+ AI-led, pushing toward the higher 90s. Not by patching legacy workflows—by building AI that makes humans more effective, improves the customer experience, and eliminates friction at every step.

We're adding ~1,000 customers per month. We've grown 100x since last year. We're looking to do even more this year—and that's why we're hiring.

This isn't a coffee-fetching internship. You'll do real work on a real team at one of the fastest-growing AI companies in YC's portfolio.

The Thesis

Harper is a YC-backed AI startup that's raised over $46M from top-tier investors. Our office in downtown San Francisco is high-energy, in-person, and surrounded by people who care deeply about the craft of building. By the end of the summer, you'll have built operational skills and judgment that take most people years to develop—and you'll understand how a hyper-growth AI company actually runs from the inside.

Strong performers can pivot into full-time roles on our sales, ops, or specialist teams. This is a foot in the door, not a dead end.

The Role

You'll sit on our Instant Quote (IQ) team—one of the core operating teams at Harper. You'll work side-by-side with our placements specialists to turn inbound requests into completed work, fast. The volume is real and the bar is high. Every quote has a small puzzle inside it, and the best people on this team notice when a number doesn't add up.

No prior insurance experience required. We'll teach you everything.

What You'll Do

• Work directly with placements specialists — Identify which carriers and portals fit each inbound request

• Operate across 10+ external portals — Next, Chubb, Coterie, Amwins, Hiscox, and more; submit and pull back work at speed

• Review outputs for accuracy — Pricing, classifications, coverages; hand them off cleanly to the rest of the team

• Flag exceptions — Anything that looks off goes to your team lead so we can escalate it the right way

• Move at startup pace — The volume is real, the bar is high, and you'll be expected to keep up

You Might Be a Fit If...

• You're sharp, detail-oriented, and curious—you notice when a number doesn't add up

• You're comfortable on a computer all day: spreadsheets, portals, email, internal tools

• You ask good questions early instead of guessing

• You're reliable and on-time—showing up at 7 AM and putting in a real day matters

• You want to learn fast and are willing to work for it

Who Should Apply

• High school juniors and seniors looking for a serious summer role at a YC company (and an excellent resume line for college apps). Work permit / BAMR paperwork required for under-18 applicants—we'll help you navigate it.

• College students (any year) home for the summer or looking for a structured in-office role

• Recent grads who want a foot in the door at a YC AI startup

• Career changers looking for an entry point into AI, fintech, or YC-backed companies

You do NOT need prior industry experience. We hire for sharpness, work ethic, and attitude—and we train the rest.

Compensation

• Pay: $20/hour, paid weekly

• Location: San Francisco, in-office

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, ~7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

• Type: Internship / part-time / full-time (summer hires welcome)

• Start date: Immediate

Benefits

• Free meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you stay late)

• Ubers home covered for late shifts

• Real mentorship from operators across sales, ops, engineering, and product

• Reference letters and resume support for college and next-job applications

The Process

1. Application screen — We review daily and most candidates hear back within 48 hours

2. Phone screen — Short conversation to assess fit

3. On-site work trial — One day with the team, doing real work

To Apply

Send your resume. If you have a friend, sibling, or classmate who'd be a great fit—share this posting with them. Many of our best hires come through referrals.

Harper is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.