My plan was never to move into venture capital. I loved being an entrepreneur. Founding and scaling HelloFresh was the best (and hardest!) thing I have ever done.
But after a number of years abroad, racking up more air miles than I care to remember, and meeting the love of my life – my now husband Mattias – I felt it was time to head home to Sweden.
My plans were to take a few months off, then start a new company, but that changed when I met Marta, PJ and Hans from the Northzone team. They blew me away, completely changing my perception of what a VC fund could be.
Firstly, as an entrepreneur, I felt like they really got me. Secondly, they had an openness and doer culture that chimed with me, part of the fund’s Scandinavian DNA, but also a global mindset and huge vision. I spoke to their portfolio companies, who gave nothing but glowing reviews. I joined them the next day. And I’m yet to take that holiday!
Joining as an operator, Northzone has given me the opportunity to learn, and hone the craft of VC investing, being promoted from Investment Manager through the ranks to Partner. Now we are looking for a brilliant person with a passion for entrepreneurship to join us to define their own journey in VC.
The right candidate is probably someone who already lives and breathes entrepreneurship and startup culture. You’ll have a natural curiosity to throw yourself into learning about industries, the discipline to dive deep into company analysis, and a hunger for meeting new people.
Venture capital is about getting comfortable with risk. You will work harder than you’ve ever done (unless you’re an entrepreneur!), but what you’ll get in return is a very steep learning curve, and a broad spectrum of experience fast, from deal sourcing and ecosystem development, to portfolio support and engaging with our investors.
It’s definitely not a 9-5 role, but it’s a perfect opportunity for the right person. We are one of Europe’s most established funds, and we are just getting started. Our team is a mix of ambition and experience, having seen multiple economic cycles, and knowing that you always have to keep moving forward. It’s a team that challenges you, but you will have fun on the way. To see what really sets us apart though, you should check out our portfolio. The entrepreneurs we work with are our best reference.
What’s the key piece of advice I would have given myself when joining Northzone? That VC is a long game, and every interaction counts. The best deals are won through relationships built over years. And of course – it’s the role of a lifetime, grab it with both hands and run with it.
If you’re interested, send me an email with your CV and why you’re perfect for Northzone.
The general details of the role and how to apply are included below.
Northzone is seeking a new investment professional for its Stockholm office. The role holder will work directly with the firm’s partners and the broader investment team.
About Northzone
Northzone is an early stage technology venture capital firm based in London, with offices in Stockholm, Berlin, Oslo, and New York. For over 20 years, we have been chosen by exceptional entrepreneurs as a long-term partner for growth. We are early stage investors in Spotify, iZettle, Klarna, NA-KD, Avito, and over 100 others, with over €1bn under management and are one of Europe’s top performing venture capital funds.
Responsibilities
-Lead deep dive research and develop subject matter expertise in key focus area
-Represent Northzone in the Nordic startup community, including meetups, hackathons, and demo days
-Assist in various administrative activities across Northzone, including investor reports, events, and other logistics
-Source new investments for target sectors and markets
-Lead due diligence for new investments
-Provide various support for our portfolio
Qualifications
-At least two to five+ years of experience at a technology startup, VC or PE firm, investment banking, or management consulting
-Demonstrable curiosity in the global startup ecosystem
-Existing connections to the Nordic tech community
-Strong communications skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver management presentations and public speaking
-Self-starter, capable of sourcing and executing projects independently
-Completed undergraduate or graduate degree (or, at least, a really interesting story for why you dropped out)
-Right to work in Sweden
Application
Please send a short email with your CV, highlighting why you’re interested in the role to me at jessica@northzone.com.
Investment roles are heavily sought after and I anticipate a high volume of submissions. I will respond to all qualified applications, but please bear with me.
