Job Description
Vanguard Ventures is seeking a visionary Entrepreneur in Residence to join our San Francisco office. In this dynamic role, you will evaluate emerging market opportunities, incubate disruptive startup ideas, and collaborate with our portfolio companies to accelerate growth. You will work closely with our investment team to identify trends, conduct due diligence, and contribute to the strategic direction of our fund. This is a unique opportunity to experiment with new concepts, build valuable networks, and position yourself for your next venture.
As an EIR, you are expected to bring a founder's mindset and operational expertise to the table. You will lead market analysis, develop prototypes, and potentially spin out a company backed by Vanguard Ventures. The role offers a blend of entrepreneurship and venture capital exposure, ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
Responsibility
- Identify, evaluate, and validate high-potential business opportunities in technology and innovation sectors.
- Conduct deep market research, competitive analysis, and financial modeling to assess viability.
- Collaborate with portfolio companies to refine strategy, product-market fit, and go-to-market plans.
- Develop and test initial product concepts or minimal viable products (MVPs).
- Represent Vanguard Ventures at industry events, conferences, and within the startup ecosystem.
- Prepare and present investment memoranda to the investment committee.
- Mentor founders and act as a bridge between our firm and the entrepreneurial community.
- Contribute to sourcing and evaluating potential investment opportunities.
Qualification
- Proven track record as a founder or early-stage startup executive (CEO, CTO, COO).
- Experience in building, launching, and scaling technology products or services.
- Strong analytical skills with ability to perform complex financial and strategic analysis.
- Deep understanding of venture capital, startup fundraising, and company building.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a network in the tech ecosystem.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred.
- Ability to thrive in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment and manage multiple projects.
- Passion for innovation and emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, healthtech, climate, etc.).