Co-Managing Director, Deeptech Ventures (Environment/Climate Focus)

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 recently launched a new business unit focused on IP and knowledge related venture building - Zinc Deeptech Ventures. Zinc Deeptech Ventures supports academic commercialisation programs, and investing into businesses being built outside of Zinc, as well as supporting Zinc's traditional talent-driven venture building approach, all aligning to Zinc's core missions.

Our vision is that IP, knowledge and talent 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 taking an active and hands-on approach to building the right ecosystem of management teams, partners and capital we can help take deeptech assets to the next level and make them ready for follow-on funding.

This is a new business unit, with a newly appointed Managing Director with a background in Venture Building in Life Sciences and Healthcare. We’re looking for a complimenary Co-Managing Director with a background in Venture Capital in Deep Tech with a focus on Climate/Environment/Energy. 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, and a PhD in chemical, physical or environmental sciences. You enjoy researching new technologies and motivated by building teams to commercialise IP and knowledge, at scale.

The new Co-Managing Director will support the formation of strategy and plan for the business, working closely with the executive team, work closely on existing venture building and science commercialisation programs, and execute on a deeptech investment thesis, as well as support fundraising future funding and revenue generating opportunities.

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 and science commercialisation activities, including taking a hands on approach with individual Founders and ventures as their dedicated Venture Partner, helping source talent, build commercial roadmaps and help navigate the Zinc ecosystem of support for the ventures.
• Secure funding and help develop a sustainable business model for the business unit.
• Drive and support design and delivery of individual and cohort programmes, and monitor, evaluate and improve the program to maximize results and impact.

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, with a climate/environment angle.
• PhD in chemical, physical or environmental sciences or equivalent focus area.
• Passion for funding strong deeptech opportunities and ability to select high value technologies and startups from an existing opportunity pipeline and network.
• Strong understanding of academics who are looking to spin out ventures, working with IP/tech transfer offices, and other VCs in the value chain.
• A ‘founder’ mentality, and thrive in building new programmes and products from scratch. Experience working with startups. Hands on approach.
• Experience building partnerships with funders/LPs, including existing networks.

• 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 (health, climate, etc)
• Work directly with talented and highly motivated founders and new technologies.
• Grow an 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 organisation with an enormous sense of urgency to experiment and solve hard problems at scale.

This is a full-time role, based in London. A competitive starting salary will be offered, with the potential for carried interest.

We will process applications on a rolling basis.