The StepUp Ventures - Incubation & Ventures Manager (3-6 yrs)

About The StepUp Ventures:

The StepUp Ventures is a leading startup incubator and accelerator, empowering early-stage entrepreneurs with mentorship, market access, and funding opportunities. Through our incubation programs and investment partnerships, we help founders scale their ventures successfully. We also facilitate funding of up to - 1 Crore through our sister concern fund and other investment partners.

Role Overview:

As the Incubation & Ventures Manager, you will be responsible for managing startup incubation and investment initiatives, ensuring that promising startups receive the support, mentorship, and funding required to scale. You will work closely with startup founders, investors, corporate partners, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem to build and execute programs that accelerate innovation and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Startup Incubation & Program Management:

1. Lead and manage incubation & acceleration programs-from scouting and onboarding startups to structuring their growth journeys.

2. Design and implement coaching, mentoring, and investor engagement frameworks to support founders at various growth stages (ideation, acceleration, investment, and scale-up).

3. Evaluate applications based on creativity, innovation, scalability, and investment potential.

4. Engage with ecosystem stakeholders (academia, industry, investors, and policymakers) to create partnerships that benefit startups.

5. Organize investor demo days, workshops, and networking events to showcase startups and attract funding.

6. Track startup progress, milestones, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure measurable impact.

7. Identify and support fundraising strategies for incubated startups, assisting with pitch decks, financial modelling, and investor matchmaking.

Venture Investments & Deal Flow Management:

8. Source and evaluate high-potential investment opportunities, building a strong deal pipeline for The StepUp Ventures' investment partners.

9. Conduct financial, business, and market due diligence, assisting startups in preparing for funding rounds.

10. Manage relationships with investors, venture capital firms, and angel networks to ensure access to funding opportunities for startups.

11. Participate in deal structuring, negotiation, and execution of investments, working alongside investment committees.

12. Conduct research and stakeholder interviews to build comprehensive investment memos for internal and external investment committees.

13. Present investment memos and key insights to the investment committee, ensuring a well-informed decision-making process.

14. Support portfolio startups post-investment-guiding them on growth strategies, governance, and investor relations.

Strategic & Operational Leadership:

15. Develop and execute community engagement strategies involving investors, mentors, corporates, and experts.

16. Represent The StepUp Ventures at startup ecosystem events, conferences, and forums, positioning us as a leading player in the startup support space.

17. Lead operational excellence by managing internal processes and ensuring seamless execution of incubation and investment programs.

18. Continuously analyse market trends, industry insights, and sector developments to identify new opportunities for The StepUp Ventures.

19. Collaborate with marketing teams to enhance visibility, promote incubated startups, and amplify our impact.

Who You Are?

- A startup ecosystem player - You've worked in incubators, accelerators, venture capital, or startup operations and understand what it takes to grow a business.

- An investment-savvy professional - You have experience in VC, PE, investment banking, or startup fundraising and can assess businesses for investment readiness.

- A natural networker - You can build strong relationships with founders, investors, corporate partners, and ecosystem enablers.

- A research-driven strategist - You are comfortable conducting market research, stakeholder interviews, and financial analysis to prepare detailed investment reports.

- A results-driven operator - You take initiative, adapt quickly, and are always looking for ways to optimize processes.

- A passionate mentor - You enjoy working closely with startups, guiding them through their growth journey.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience:

- 3-6 years of experience in startup incubation, venture capital, investment banking, or entrepreneurship.

- Strong financial & analytical skills - ability to evaluate business models, conduct due diligence, and support fundraising activities.

- Exposure to accelerator/incubator programs, venture investments, or corporate innovation ecosystems.

- Proven ability to engage with founders, investors, and mentors to drive startup success.

- Experience in conducting stakeholder interviews, research, and writing investment memos.

- Bachelor's/Master's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or related fields from a top-tier institution.

- CFA Level 1 cleared or relevant investment certifications (preferred but not mandatory).

Why Join Us?

- Be at the forefront of the Indian startup ecosystem, working with top-tier startups, investors, and mentors.

- Shape the future of innovation and entrepreneurship through high-impact programs and investments.

- Work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where your contributions directly impact startup success.

- Competitive salary with growth opportunities based on performance.

How to Apply?

If you are excited about driving startup success through incubation and investments, we would love to hear from you!

Send your resume and a brief statement of interest to raja.singh@thestepupventures.com with the subject: Application - Incubation & Ventures Manager