Alumni Ventures Group is a fast-growing organization with 100 employees across the country and a widespread, engaged community of 500,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters. We are disrupting financial services by bringing smart, simple venture investing to 15 million accredited investors who were largely shut out of this asset class until now.
Our headquarters in Manchester, NH provides back-office support and resources to our fund teams in Boston, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Austin, TX. On an annual basis, these teams raise funds from their respective alumni communities to invest in a diversified portfolio of promising start-ups. Our key competitive advantage as an investor is the combined scale and connectivity of our vast network, which provides capital, sources deals, and assists our portfolio companies. AVG has successfully launched over 25 venture funds. We are private, for-profit, and not part of any school.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
Towerview Ventures is AVG’s fund for alumni of Duke University. As AVG and Towerview Ventures continue to grow, we are seeking to increase the investing capabilities of the fund through the addition of a Partner who will drive the deal sourcing and investment selection process at Towerview and work closely with the Managing Partner to support the overall growth of the fund, including portfolio monitoring and contributing to the fund’s capital raising capabilities. The Partner at Towerview will drive enhanced deal quality and co-investing opportunities with AVG sibling funds, increase sourcing efficiencies, and will accelerate the fund’s syndication capacity.
As a Partner, you will work and report directly to Towerview’s Managing Partner. This is a full-time position and while given the current public health crisis, AVG is currently in a remote work status, this position is intended to be based in our New York office when we are not in a remote default and will require some travel as defined by the iTeam Board for the successful execution of your responsibilities.
Compensation
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- Base Salary
- Competitive Benefits
- Equity in AVG
- Carried Interest
- Equity in AVG
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Role / Responsibilities
- Work closely with Towerview’s Managing Partner to develop Towerview Ventures to its greatest potential, including investing and fundraising capabilities, and its relationships with sibling funds and other AVG departments
- Support the engagement and expansion of AVG and Towerview’s network of potential investors and portfolio companies
- Provide insight and recommendations for improvements to our approach, process, products, and services
- Educate deal sources, companies, and entrepreneurs about AVG’s process
- Identify top-tier deal resources and conduct outreach to VCs, entrepreneurs, incubators, and additional entities to help cement consistent deal flow for the fund and AVG
- Direct and manage the fund’s investment pipeline and management of deal opportunities
- Manage due diligence, helping research and evaluate each company and as a potential investment
- Along with the Managing Partner, manage the Investment Committee relationship:
- Recruit IC members
- Present companies to IC
- Run AVG’s Turbo approval process
- Orchestrate IC meetings (responding to IC, CIO and LP questions, etc.)
- Actively seek, identify, and gain approval to conduct high-quality syndications from portfolio company management, its Board of Directors, and AVG’s Syndication Committee, with a goal of having Towerview regularly participate in Syndications
- Leverage AVG’s Portfolio Services where appropriate, work to develop relationships and further opportunities with important companies across the Towerview Ventures’ portfolio
- Meet or exceed regular, periodic goals as established in collaboration with AVG’s functional departments (Office of Investments, Office of the CEO, Community), including:
- Effectively utilize the resources available via AVG corporate, both human (e.g., Venture Fellows, Interns, HQ functional departments) and operational (e.g., Deal Portal, HubSpot)
- Work directly with portfolio companies to develop a strong relationship to facilitate future investment opportunities
- Build and support Venture Clubs
- Help fundraise the annual fund through outreach, growing prospects, investors, and AUM and nurture the investor base to deliver a satisfying experience
- In coordination with the Managing Partner, support investor relations and conduct potential investor outreach as required
- Be an exceptional teammate and partner for the fund, your sister funds, and colleagues
- Adhere to AVG policies and procedures regarding conduct, job performance, information management, and administrative functions, communicating appropriately regarding any need for exceptions
REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- MBA preferred and either an undergraduate degree from either Duke University or an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business is preferred
- 5+ years of relevant venture capital investing experience across various sectors and stages
- Successful tenure working in a startup, highly entrepreneurial environment
- Experience with sales, capital raising or business development
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
- Significant connections to and influence in the venture investing ecosystem. Ready and able to engage a network of venture and startup professionals who can provide you and Towerview Ventures access to a high number of exceptional investing opportunities
- Strong ties to a number of academic and incubator communities at the leading edge of the startup scene
- Demonstrated interest in emerging technologies and innovation, as evidenced by a professional track record of meaningful involvement in the startup space and with opportunities in cutting-edge technology o Experience advising, consulting, and valuing emerging companies and/or new technologies
- Ability to quickly garner credibility, respect, and trust from strangers and establish mutually beneficial relationships
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, balanced by ability to get and communicate big picture
- Experience successfully managing multiple, complex projects at the same time
- Excellent work ethic and professional demeanor
- Strong writer and communicator, excellent listener
- Effective salesperson (for purposes of investing and fundraising) and spokesperson for Towerview and AVG
- Strong teamwork with HQ teams to achieve goals, compliance, and open communication
Investing
- Track record of investing, including significant venture deals sourced from a personal, professional network of venture and startup connections
o Knowledge of current events and trends impacting the venture investing ecosystem o Exceptional financial and venture acumen: - Demonstrated ability to evaluate venture investing opportunities
- Strong research and analytical skills, particularly venture investing
- Experience in company research and due diligence preparation
- Familiarity with deal structures and closing processes (able to read, analyze, and assess term sheets)
- High level of gravitas and understanding of how the venture community functions and AVG’s place within it
- Domain expertise in one or more tech/startup sectors
Teamwork
- Track record of being able to build productive professional relationships
- Self-starter and independent manager, but good team player and personnel manager
- Smart, creative thinker and problem-solver, fast learner, with demonstrated initiative
- Experience communicating and collaborating with HQ/other teams to achieve goals, compliance, and open communication
- Able and willing to support the mentorship of junior team members
Fundraising and Community Building
- Relationship development/management skills with a comfort and desire to regularly interact with potential community members
- Capable of building meaningful relationships with UHNW and HNW individuals
- Ability to build strong influence and connections within the Harvard alumni community and university ecosystems
- Support fundraising by taking prospective investor calls
- Organize and share appropriate materials with prospective and existing investors
- Work closely with the fundraising team to helpfully answer questions and follow up
IF interested, please apply here.
