Ventures Associate

Plug and Play is the ultimate innovation platform, bringing together the best startups and the world’s largest corporations. We are on a mission to bring the benefits of Silicon Valley to all four corners of the world. Our vision is to make innovation open to anyone, anywhere.

We’re an exceptional team with backgrounds in technology and entrepreneurship and we’re growing rapidly to deliver on our mission. We’re actively seeking a Ventures Associate  to champion the Plug and Play business model and drive portfolio growth in Animal Health and AgTech verticals. An ideal candidate has a passion for understanding how startups scale and is driven to take an active role in building out our ecosystem and investment portfolio.

The Venture Associate role is a key position on the Ventures Team. Associates are responsible for sourcing relevant startups and supporting deal teams on new investments. Associates also work with corporate partners on their technology needs and support overall program management.

Essential Job Functions (not limited to):

Sourcing New Startups

• Source startups for the respective vertical program
• Attend calls or meetings with relevant companies
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local VCs, universities, corporations, etc.
• Actively network with startup founders at industry events and conferences

Ventures’ Program Management

• Schedule and facilitate deal flow meetings between startups and corporate partners
• Curate startup lists for corporate partners based on their technology interests
• Maintain relationships with industry partners
• Perform additional operational work for Plug and Play Ventures as needed

Diligence/Investment Research

• Support the deal team on investment opportunities
• Conduct high-level research; analyze the market, examine industry trends, track competitive landscape, interact with financial models, etc.

Technical & Job level skills required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Health or related fields is required
• Advanced problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically, analytically, and creatively
• Highly organized, shown to meet tight deadlines along with consistent accuracy and attention to detail
• Proficiency in Google Docs, MS Office, CRMs, project management tools, etc.
• Intermediate spreadsheet experience (formulas, dashboards, charts, pivots, and analysis)

Soft Skills:

• Self-motivated and driven; proven to work independently, prioritize work, and achieve results
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to communicate with C-Suite executives
• Collaborative, diplomatic, and can cross-functionally partner with stakeholders across multiple offices
• Experience in/comfort with a role with a degree of ambiguity, requiring proactive analysis and action
• Strong desire to learn continually and grow professionally, driven to master the products they’re supporting/offering