VC Associate @ Stepstone in Baltimore, MD

We are global private markets specialists delivering tailored investment solutions, advisory services, and impactful, data driven insights to the world’s investors. Leveraging the power of our platform and our peerless intelligence across sectors, strategies, and geographies, we help identify the advantages and the answers our clients need to succeed.

Position Overview

StepStone is hiring a Strategic Partnerships Associate, Venture Capital to help drive commercial outcomes for our portfolio companies by building and managing relationships across industries. This is a hands-on role for someone with 2–3 years of experience in business development, go-to-market strategy, or consulting, with a strong interest in startups and enterprise innovation. You’ll sit at the intersection of venture capital, emerging technology, and the Fortune 1000—playing a critical role in helping our portfolio companies win customers, partners, and strategic visibility. This role offers exposure to a wide range of industries and technologies, and the opportunity to work directly with founders, investment professionals, and senior corporate decision-makers. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and energized by working with both high-growth startups and senior corporate stakeholders.

Job Description/Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute outreach strategies to connect portfolio companies with relevant corporate partners across sectors including healthcare, technology, industrials, consumer, and defense
• Build and maintain relationships with innovation, strategy, and business unit leaders at Fortune 1000 companies
• Partner closely with founders to understand their commercial priorities and identify warm introductions that support their go-to-market efforts
• Conduct market research and account planning to identify high-value corporate targets and decision-makers
• Track business development activity, coordinate follow-ups, and manage reporting to investment and platform teams
• Play an active role in planning and executing firm-hosted events, briefings, and roundtables to strengthen our corporate network

Desired Qualifications:

• 2–3 years of experience in business development, sales support, consulting, or a go-to-market role—ideally within a startup, VC-backed company, or fast-paced B2B environment
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders (founders, investors, and corporates)
• Demonstrated ability to research industries, identify relevant corporate contacts, and prepare tailored outreach strategies
• Comfort engaging with external partners (e.g., Fortune 500, strategic buyers, tech alliances) in a professional and polished manner
• Analytical thinker with the ability to synthesize market trends and translate company needs into commercial opportunities
• Team-oriented, low ego, and eager to learn; thrives in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment

Salary Range – $100,000 – $110,000

The salary range is an estimate of pay for this position.  Actual pay may vary depending on job-related factors that can include location, education, skill, and experience.  The salary range does not include any benefits or other forms of possible compensation that may be available to employees.

#LI-Hybrid