TDF Ventures is a $150 million early-stage venture capital firm with a focus on technology startups across the United States. We have backed successful companies like Virtustream, EdgeConneX, IEX Group, and Cyan, to name a few. Our current areas of interest include machine learning/AI, enterprise software, cybersecurity, fintech, and satellite / space technology. TDF Ventures has offices in Washington DC and San Francisco.
We are currently seeking an Associate to join our team in Washington DC in 2019 (start date flexible).
We focus on early stage venture investing with a majority of our investments at the Series A or Seed stage. The firm has two unique features. First, all of the Partners have significant operating backgrounds. We feel this provides a portfolio company with relevant experience, contacts and empathy. As a result, we frequently lead investment rounds and spend significant time working on operating issues with our portfolio. Second, we have a permanent base of capital and therefore a long-term investment horizon. We aren’t required to invest or seek liquidity at a certain pace. We can spend more time on portfolio companies because we don’t disappear for prolonged fund raising. As long as a company continues to grow value at above market rates we can continue to invest. We find both features of our firm closely align with portfolio company management.
Job Description
We’re offering a unique education in two areas that will likely be the foundation for your professional growth:
- The world of early stage investing: finding, evaluating and funding unique start-ups
- The operating role of an entrepreneur: facing unique challenges while building and growing companies
Few positions offer this dual view into the world of building great companies. We envision it as a 3-4 year position, after which the Associate will seek operating experience at a level where he or she could be considered as a candidate for Partner in the firm. In exceptional circumstances, an Associate might be asked to continue at the firm in a more senior role, but this should not be the expectation from the onset.
The Associate will be responsible for identifying, qualifying, and analyzing new investment opportunities as well as providing operational support to portfolio companies. The ideal candidate must be a person with a passion for start-ups who gets energized by speaking daily with startup CEOs, learning about new technology and markets, and building a wide network.
The position requires strong communication skills and analytical capabilities, creativity, and drive. An understanding of the startup ecosystem and venture capital industry are pluses.
Expectations, role, and responsibilities:
- Be comfortable speaking daily with CEOs of technology startups and other industry experts
- Generate high quality deal flow by proactively identifying investment opportunities
- Form well-defended opinions on markets, sectors, and companies based on analyses and market intuition
- Perform due diligence on potential investments
- Drive portfolio company analyses and/or operational projects
Candidates may come from a mix of backgrounds, but most likely have spent a few years gaining both operating experience within a growth company as well as working in traditional management consulting or investment banking/private equity. We find that an educational background in a quantitative or technical field to be a big advantage. MBA not required.
How to apply:
Success in this industry requires a great network, so we’d ask that you use yours to find a warm introduction to someone at our firm and send us an email with why you want to work with TDF Ventures.
If a warm intro is not possible for you, please submit resume via this link on AngelList and we will still be happy to review your application. Creating an account on AngelList can be done with one click and only requires entering full name and email.
