DIEZ | UAE National

Tasks & Responsibilities

Assist the Head of Programs on the management of the Acceleration Programs, including educational and training content development and delivery. This involves working closely with startups to help them grow and succeed. Assist the Program team and VC team on collaborating with startups, mentors, investors, and stakeholders.

Program Operations

• Assist in end-to-end program execution (application, onboarding, scheduling, events, workshops, sessions, pitch events and demo day).
• Maintain program timelines, calendars, documentation, and communications.
• Coordinate logistics and communications with startups, mentors, guest speakers, and partners.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with experts / mentors and participate in all program preparation and execution, ensuring alignment with the Sandbox program's objectives.
• Identifying and selecting promising startups that are a good fit for the program.
• Ensure seamless day-to-day operations and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
• Support in the development and implementation of strategies to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the program.
• Providing mentoring, coaching, and other support to startups to help them refine their products and services and develop successful business models.
• Manage the application funnel and organize selection rounds. Formulate an opinion on each application, create and maintain a shortlist of applications, and participate to screening calls.
• Track key milestones and timelines across cohorts. Monitor startup engagement and proactively identify opportunities for value-add support.
• Implement and ensure the successful delivery of the accelerator programs, including but not limited to curriculum adaptation, program planning, budget management, marketing, and recruiting startups and mentors. Optimizing operations for startup engagement and satisfaction.
• Serve as a reliable point of contact for program participants, addressing inquiries and providing guidance as needed.

Startup Sourcing & Selection

• Research and identify promising early-stage startups aligned with our investment thesis.
• Support the application review process and due diligence efforts.
• Analyze startup traction, market potential, and founder fit.
• Assist in preparing investment memos or internal summaries.

Portfolio & Performance Tracking

• Track cohort progress and collect key metrics (growth, fundraising, milestones).
• Support in preparing reports and insights for internal teams and LPs.
• Help maintain CRM and database tools (e.g., Airtable, Salesforce, Affinity).

Investment Review and Due Diligence

• Conduct comprehensive evaluations of startup investment opportunities, including market analysis, competitive landscape assessment, and financial modeling.
• Perform due diligence on potential investment targets, reviewing business plans, financial statements, and legal documents to assess viability and risk.
• Collaborate with the investment team to develop investment theses, make investment recommendations, and negotiate deal terms.
• Maintain accurate records of investment opportunities, due diligence findings, and investment decisions.

Relationship Management

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with startup founders, industry experts, investors, and other stakeholders within the startup ecosystem.
• Act as a liaison between startups and investors, facilitating communications and fostering collaboration, where applicable.
• Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and networking functions to promote the startup program and identify potential investment opportunities.

Qualifications

Education

• BA from an accredited college or university in business administration, finance, accounting, and/or minimum 3 years relevant experience in business development, marketing, project management, or any related entrepreneurial field.

Experience & Skills

• Demonstrated interest and experience in technology, startups, entrepreneurship, venture capital, etc.
• Adaptable in high pressure, fast-paced, flexible, and fluid environment.
• Strong communication skills. English language required (advanced).
• Accountable to deliverables.
• Experience with startup incubator and accelerator programs, workshops, training is preferred.
• Experience in creating content for innovation programs, workshops, and training.
• Self-starter with entrepreneurial vision, critical thinking.
• Innovative and creative mindset, very organized, good presentation skills.
• Proactive in taking the initiative; solution orientated.
• Accustomed to working with multiple cultures.
• Thorough understanding of business growth stages, requirements, and challenges.