Move Fast and Break Things – My Time at StarterByte
My name is Chris Arendoski, and this semester, I had the opportunity to intern with Starterbyte, a fast-growing tech company that empowers local coffee shops by providing them with branded mobile applications. These apps include features such as loyalty programs, push notifications, mobile payments, and more tools typically only available to big brands like Starbucks or Dunkin’. Working at Starterbyte gave me a first-hand look at what it means to build something meaningful for small businesses, and how a passionate team can bring a vision to life.
What I Learned
Finance was a big focus of my internship. I worked closely with the financial team to develop revenue projections, monitor client subscriptions, and understand how our pricing model impacted scalability. One of my main projects involved updating our revenue model to reflect growth scenarios based on customer acquisition rates and retention. This taught me the importance of building financially sustainable products—especially in the SaaS space where churn and customer lifetime value are crucial metrics.
On the sales side, I joined our efforts in outreach, client communications, and lead qualification. I assisted in creating sales materials tailored to different buyer personas—some shop owners cared most about affordability, others about speed, and many about integrating with platforms like Square. I also shadowed live sales calls where I observed how Starterbyte’s value proposition—speed (launch in 24 hours), low cost, and zero hidden fees—made it especially appealing to small business owners with limited tech experience or budget.
In the go-to-market (GTM) space, I helped conduct competitor research and developed comparison matrices that clearly showed how Starterbyte stacked up against alternatives like Craver, Per Diem, and ChopDawg. These insights helped our marketing and sales teams better position our product during client pitches and investor discussions. I also explored trends in digital loyalty programs and mobile ordering to support future product roadmap ideas.
People Who Inspired Me
Adam Terhaerdt, our CEO and founder, was one of the most inspiring leaders I’ve worked with. His energy and clarity helped the entire team stay focused. He made a point to involve interns in team discussions and encouraged new ideas regardless of title or experience. Kevin and Ana, who led our sales and operations teams, also took time to mentor me. They showed me how to lead with empathy, adapt strategies in real time, and maintain positivity even under pressure.
Kevin Terhaerdt, who led our sales team, was an incredible mentor. He taught me the art of listening—really understanding what the client is saying and tailoring our pitch accordingly. Kevin also helped me get more comfortable with live communication and gave me space to try, fail, and improve.
Oliver Storey, our backend developer, brought a level of calm and technical excellence that really grounded the team. Even though I wasn’t on the development side, I learned so much from watching him troubleshoot issues and collaborate with the frontend team to make sure everything functioned smoothly. His willingness to explain things in a way that made sense to non-developers like me showed real leadership.
Working with Adam, Kevin and Oliver reminded me how essential both soft and technical skills are to a successful product team. They each brought their strengths to the table and made everyone around them better.
What Surprised Me
I came into the internship expecting a behind-the-scenes role—maybe working on spreadsheets or supporting logistics. But I was quickly pulled into cross-functional projects and given real responsibilities. It surprised me how much trust the team placed in interns and how much autonomy we were given. One moment I’ll never forget is presenting a competitive analysis slide during a team strategy meeting—my insights sparked a discussion that actually led to a product tweak.
Another surprise: I loved the hustle. Startups aren’t easy environments they’re fast-paced, often chaotic, and constantly changing. But that challenge taught me to be more resilient, resourceful, and adaptable.
Advice to Future Interns
- Take initiative. If you see something that could be improved, suggest it. Startups value proactivity.
- Ask questions. Everyone is learning as they go, and curiosity shows you’re engaged.
- Document your work. You’ll want a record of your contributions, not just for your resume but for your own growth.
- Actively Listen. There’s so much to absorb from teammates’ conversations and decisions.
What I Gained
From this internship, I gained practical experience in financial modeling, learned how to tailor sales strategies to different customer types, and deepened my understanding of competitive positioning. I now know how to think through product launches, pricing structures, and customer retention strategies—all skills that will serve me whether I work in finance, strategy, or marketing post-grad.
But more than that, I gained confidence. Confidence in my ideas, in my ability to contribute meaningfully to a team, and in my direction as a future professional.
If you’re thinking about interning at a startup especially one with a mission like Starterbyte’s do it. You’ll gain so much more than just a line on your resume. You’ll get experience that’s dynamic, real, and incredibly rewarding.
