AI & Operations – Internship

Help shape the future of maritime innovation.

About PortXL

PortXL is the world’s first port & maritime accelerator, founded in 2015 and based in Rotterdam. We bridge the gap between ambitious start-ups and scale-ups and the established maritime industry, working alongside corporate partners, investors and ecosystem leaders to make maritime climate-positive. We search, match and accelerate the newest technologies from around the world. Our home is the Innovation Dock at RDM Campus: an inspiring hub where shipbuilding history meets the future of shipping, energy, logistics and ports.

What You’ll Be Doing

As our AI & Operations intern, you will work at the intersection of emerging technology and organisational excellence. You will help PortXL leverage AI tools to scale its scouting, matching and communication workflows while also keeping the daily operations of a fast-moving accelerator running smoothly. One of the real challenges of this role is finding smart, creative ways to optimise processes and implement AI with only limited financial resources available. Resourcefulness and a hands-on mindset are essential.

• Explore, test and implement AI tools that improve how PortXL scouts start-ups, manages data and communicates with its network;
• Help automate repetitive workflows using tools such as Make, Zapier, Notion AI, Airtable or similar platforms;
• Identify creative, low-cost solutions to operational challenges — getting maximum impact from minimal tooling;
• Analyse and improve internal processes to boost efficiency across the team;
• Support the development of data pipelines or dashboards that provide operational insight;
• Document and standardise processes so that knowledge is captured and easily shared;
• Work on ad hoc operational and innovation projects alongside the PortXL team;
• Stay on top of developments in applied AI, particularly relevant to the maritime and innovation sector.

We Offer

• An energetic, mission-driven team with a shared ambition to transform the maritime industry;
• Access to an international network of start-ups, scale-ups and maritime innovators;
• Involvement with our corporate partners, including the Port of Rotterdam, City of Rotterdam and the Ministry of Defense;
• Room to discover your interests, think creatively and take real ownership;
• An inspiring workspace at the Innovation Dock, RDM Campus, Rotterdam;
• Opportunities to attend maritime events, demo days and ecosystem gatherings;
• Personal and professional development;
• Compensation: €575 per month based on 36 hours per week. Part-time is possible with a minimum of 24 hours per week; our preference is 32–36 hours. A minimum of 3 days per week from the office;
• Duration: minimum 5 months, with a preference for 6–7 months.

What You Bring

• Currently enrolled in the later phases of your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, for example in Business Informatics, Computer Science, Innovation Management, AI or a related field;
• More important than your exact field of study: you have a hands-on drive to build and improve — you love experimenting with AI tools, automating the tedious and making systems work smarter with limited means;
• Structured thinker who can translate complex processes into clear, workable systems;
• Experience with tools like Notion, Airtable, Make, Zapier, Python or similar is a strong plus;
• Comfortable working resourcefully — you know how to deliver results without a big budget;
• Entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, solutions-oriented and comfortable with ambiguity;
• Good written and spoken English.