Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced a major push to train and hire the next generation of Internet builders, setting a goal to onboard 1,111 interns in 2026. In addition, U.S. university students will gain free, one-year access to Cloudflare’s developer tools, providing hands-on experience with cutting-edge serverless technology.
The initiative comes at a time when AI adoption and market disruptions are reshaping entry-level hiring. A Stanford study found employment for 22-to-25-year-olds in roles most exposed to AI, like software engineering and customer service, has dropped up to 13% since 2022. Internship postings in tech have also declined by 30% since 2023, according to Handshake.
“We have always believed times of great transition can also be moments of great opportunity,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. “While many companies see AI as a way to replace jobs, we see this next generation as a way to bring the best uses of AI into Cloudflare. There’s a lot we can learn from interns who grew up building with AI as a first-class tool.”
Programs to Empower Emerging Talent
Cloudflare is launching several initiatives designed to provide students and early-career tech professionals with practical experience:
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The 1.1.1.1 Internship Program: Named after Cloudflare’s public DNS resolver, the program will hire interns across hubs in Austin, San Francisco, New York, Bengaluru, Lisbon, and London. Interns will work on live projects impacting millions of Internet users, from securing networks to building serverless applications.
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Free Developer Tools for Students: U.S. students with a valid .edu email will receive one year of free access to Cloudflare Workers, enabling them to deploy code and experiment with serverless applications at no cost.
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Shared Office Spaces for Startups: Starting January 2026, approved startups can work from Cloudflare offices in select cities to collaborate, connect with users, and gain mentorship from Cloudflare teams.
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Cloudflare for Startups Program: Over the past year, Cloudflare has provided $370 million in credits to 4,000 startups, supporting rapid scaling and growth. Eligible startups can access up to $250,000 in credits for security, performance, and developer tools.
Preparing for a Shifting Job Market
With AI increasingly handling routine tasks, Cloudflare’s internship and student programs aim to ensure the next generation has the skills and experience necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. By combining mentorship, hands-on projects, and access to real developer tools, Cloudflare is creating a pipeline of talent capable of shaping the Internet of tomorrow.
Students and startups interested in participating can apply through Cloudflare’s dedicated pages for internships, Workers access, and startup programs.
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