Co-Managing Director, Deeptech Ventures
Zinc Ventures Limited, United Kingdom
Job Description
Background:
Zinc has built a successful venture builder ecosystem since 2017, focusing on bringing talent together to build and grow ventures through its mission driven approach. Having worked closely with dozens of academics and researchers, and having validated a gap in the early stage, deep tech ventures market, Zinc has launched a new business unit focused on IP and knowledge related venture building - Zinc Deeptech Ventures.
Our vision is that IP and knowledge can be better unlocked and built into commercial ventures to achieve great impact and solve some of the most important societal issues globally. We believe that by building the right ecosystem of management teams, partners and capital we can help take these assets to the next level and make them investment-ready to launch in the world. The deeptech team is focusing on ventures being spun out of academic and industry institutions as well as independent deeptech developers to build up as successful startups and enterprises, while still aligning to the core of Zinc, its mission-driven venture building.
This is a new business unit, with a newly appointed Managing Director with a background in Venture Building. We’re looking for a Co-Managing Director with a background in Venture Capital in Deep Tech. You are likely someone who has spent at least 5+ years in the investment team of a venture capital fund investing in deeptech as a Principal or Associate Partner. You enjoy researching new technologies and motivated by building teams to commercialise IP and knowledge, at scale.
This will be an opportunity for you to build a business and team from the ground up, working in a small hands-on team, but with the support of the larger Zinc operation.
The new Co-Managing Director will support the formation of strategy and plan for the business, working closely with the executive team, and help hire and onboard new team members, as well as working closely with the existing and new ventures, designing, implementing and growing the program of venture building activities. The current deeptech ventures are based on the Healthy Ageing Catalyst grant funding program in partnership with UKRI, and the business and programs will build on this work but extend well beyond in terms of mission focus (e.g climate, mental health) and geographies (we have a global scope).
Requirements
The successful candidate will:
- Co-lead this new business unit, moving from proposition-development and testing through to launch, iteration and scale.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with deep tech originators (universities, corporates) to drive sourcing and assess investment opportunities, as well as other key stakeholders such as funders.
- Oversee venture building implementation of the knowledge-led venture builder within Zinc.
- Secure funding and develop a sustainable business model for the business unit.
- Design and deliver individual and cohort programmes, including working with the ventures very closely in a hands-on capacity where necessary, helping source talent for the ventures and helping navigate the Zinc ecosystem of support with the ventures.
- Monitor, evaluate and improve the program to maximize results.
We’re looking for people who have:
- A VC background of at least 5+ years with previous experience of raising and allocating capital as a Principal or Associate Partner focused on Deeptech.
- Passion for funding strong deeptech opportunities and ability to select high value technologies and startups.
- Strong understanding of academics who are looking to spin out ventures, working with IP/tech transfer offices, and other VCs (for follow-on funding).
- A ‘founder’ mentality, and thrive in building new programmes and products from scratch. Experience working with startups.
- Experience building partnerships with funders/LPs.
- Expertise in designing and running programs for startups.
- Excellent operational/project management skills to work successfully in fast-paced, agile environments and tight deadlines.
Benefits
This is an exciting opportunity to work with our mission-led, interdisciplinary, established and growing team, to build on our track record and momentum, and help to grow a new, ambitious agenda at Zinc. This role will provide the opportunity to:
- Disrupt the current system and have real impact in the Zinc mission areas (healthy aging, climate, etc)
- Work directly with talented and highly motivated founders and new technologies.
- Grow a new, exciting initiative within Zinc that has huge potential for scale and impact.
- Engage with leading experts in technology, business, design and research.
- Be part of an evidence-based and high-growth commercial organisati