Munich Re Ventures invests in and partners with innovative companies to develop growth opportunities for Munich Re, including its subsidiaries Hartford Steam Boiler and ERGO Group. Munich Re is the world’s largest reinsurance company, with a global platform spanning all aspects of primary insurance and reinsurance.
Munich Re Ventures is responsible for corporate venture capital activities that deliver both strategic and financial value through minority investments and business partnerships. Our current areas of focus include the Internet of Things, Cyber Security, InsurTech, Autonomous Vehicles/Mobility, AI, Digital Health and more. We are active investors who frequently lead rounds and our syndicate partners include top tier venture capital and corporate venture capital firms.
Internally, the team works hand-in-hand with leaders in the Businesses, Engineering, Product Development, Innovation & IT to develop and execute on investment and partnership strategies. Externally, the team works with venture capital firms, incubators / accelerators, universities, entrepreneurs, and other corporations to develop technologies, companies and management teams that help us to strategically grow and transform the business.
The Role: Investment Principal
The Investment Principal will be a member of the investment team, with previous experience in corporate venture capital or venture capital, and will have responsibility for end-to-end sourcing, negotiation and execution of deals, as well as post-close oversight of on-going relationships. In addition, as a member of the MRV team, this role will help to develop key strategic themes with Munich Re businesses. The position is located in San Francisco, with frequent travel within the US and Europe.
The Investment Principal will:
- Partner internally with the Businesses & functional areas to understand and inform their strategy, evaluate specific opportunities, gain business sponsorship, and identify specific activities to deliver strategic value.
- Develop strategic themes and actionable investment thesis in areas of strategic relevance to Munich Re, in collaboration with the MRV team and businesses.
- Network externally to generate deal flow and relationships for Munich Re.
- Conduct due diligence on specific opportunities to assess attractiveness and structure relationship.
- Lead negotiation, structuring, and execution of investments and partnerships
- Communicate investment / partnership goals for each opportunity to Managing Director & Investment Committee.
- Assist in preparation of review materials and Investment Memos for MRV governing bodies, including the Investment Committee.
- Oversee on-going relationships with portfolio companies to enhance strategic and financial value for both Munich Re and the portfolio companies, including serving as a Board Observer.
- Negotiate and communicate successfully with entrepreneurs, management teams, syndicate partners, and other stakeholders, including attorneys, advisors, consultants, and Board Members.
- Represent Munich Re at various corporate venture capital, investment, and innovation conferences and topical industry events.
- Lead internal MRV events, i.e., Town Halls, portfolio reviews, and presentations to stakeholders across the company.
- Develop key internal people to be effective partners for evaluation of opportunities, including sharing information on trends, conferences, and companies.
The Person: Successful Candidate
The successful candidate will be one part strategist, one part venture capitalist, and all parts master communicator and networker.
- Strategic Vision & Passion for Creating the Future: To be effective in this role requires gaining an understanding of Munich Re’s global insurance and reinsurance businesses, including business models, drivers of economic value, the insurance value chain, competition, risk transfer mechanisms and products, and regulatory environment. Individuals must be able to then build upon this knowledge to envision alternative futures and growth strategies for Munich Re and specific tactical paths to getting there, based on emerging trends, market dynamics, and evolving customer needs and partner opportunities.
- Intellectual Curiosity: This role requires an innate and insatiable intellectual curiosity about business, technology, and business models. Active and constant monitoring and engagement with the innovation ecosystem is essential.
- Experienced, Methodical Venture Capitalist & Business Developer: Candidates must have requisite financial and investment skills for the venture capital and business development processes, including due diligence, financial analysis, valuation, negotiation, contracts, term sheets LOIs, equity and debt mechanisms, standard terms and deal structures.
- Superb Communicator & Relentless Networker: The position requires a high level of communication, influence and interpersonal skills in order to network, navigate, negotiate, influence, and execute internally with cross-functional teams and externally with multiple stakeholders and partners. The ability to develop and leverage internal and external global relationships and networks is essential.
- Focused, Persuasive Decision Maker: Of paramount importance in this role is the ability to drive oneself and other parties towards decisions, including participating actively with appropriate courage and candor to accelerate decision making. Clarity and precision in communication is important, tempered by openness and adaptability. This includes maintaining a rational view of specific opportunities and advocating for the development of a broad portfolio.
- Disciplined Adaptable Tactician: This role requires strong execution and follow-through in emergent and uncertain situations. The ability to be adaptable and problem solve in the face of evolving internal and external stakeholder agendas and changing priorities is critical.
Requirements and Qualifications:
- 5 + years of experience, including 3+ years in corporate venture capital or venture capital
- MBA preferred
- Knowledge and fluency in emerging technology and business models in sectors relevant to Munich Re
- Superior oral, written and visual communication skills
- Superior proactive networking and relationship development skills
- Proven teamwork skills both as a leader and cross-functional team member
- Self motivated with high initiative
- Willing to travel up to 40% of the time including internationally
If interested, please apply here.
