Entrepreneur in Residence

The Role

The Build Program EIR plays a key role in helping FFA’s achieve its vision of being the best partner for early-stage entrepreneurs in Africa and is integral to our ability to increase the likelihood of success for our founders. With a deep network of partners and market-relevant experience as an operator, the EIR brings an important perspective to our team, supporting the ventures in our Build Program with the definition, articulation, and execution of their commercial strategy, playing a role that is equal parts mentor and partner. 

The Build Program EIR works closely with the founders in our Build Program throughout the earliest stages of their journey, helping them to define a strategy and then supporting them in its execution. As an important strategic advisor, you will bring a strong point of view about what it takes for a startup to build a successful foundation - particularly at the most nascent stages - and an approach to helping founders prioritise opportunities and needs. You will also leverage an understanding of the commercial and investment landscape, working with founders to develop the early signals and evidence of success needed to enable future growth  and providing the support necessary to help them realize their commercial objectives.

The Build Program EIR reports to and collaborates extensively with the Chief Venture Architect, but works as an integrated member of project teams on each venture, collaborating with our multidisciplinary teams to ensure delivery of our support in coordinated and comprehensive

Responsibilities Include

Supporting entrepreneurs in designing and executing a strategy for achieving their vision and mission, providing them with hands-on execution and operations support in the earliest stages of their venture’s development  Working closely with ventures to diagnose strategic needs and identify solutions to key risk, roadblocks and challenges Collaborating with our Growth team to identify key metrics for each venture and strategies for achieving early traction Collaborating with our Investment team to support the creation of an investment narrative and funding strategy for all ventures Collaborating with our Commercial Partnerships team to develop a business development and partnership strategy Supporting founders in executing on their commercial and investment strategies, leveraging your networks and relationships to unlock unfair competitive advantage and increase speed to market Supporting founders in commercial discussions and with potential clients, partners, and investors.  Developing a network of investors and partners aligned to supporting the Build Program’s portfolio of ventures

Required Skills and Experience

Knowledge of the challenges faced by early-stage startups, either as a founder, employee, or advisor A deep understanding of what makes a great venture and what good looks like at different stages of a venture’s maturity Experience advising startups across a range of sectors, geographies, and business models  A demonstrated track-record of helping founders move their businesses further, faster Exposure to and knowledge of a range of disciplines core to the support FFA provides, including product, design, growth, business development, and investment. Experience working with multidisciplinary teams to deliver product or programs to market Networks and relationships within the broader ecosystem of African startup enablers that our founders rely on Ability to quickly context switch and create detailed, process-oriented approaches to managing multiple streams of work