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Venture Catalyst Director

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About the role:

Scalable startups are a key component of a thriving economy. The Venture Catalyst Director plays a pivotal role in helping entrepreneurship drive future job growth in Central Oregon by executing the plans and programs of EDCO’s “Start” initiative, an integral part of the Central Oregon Innovation Hub.

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The ideal candidate has:

  • Real-world founder experience as an entrepreneur of a scalable business, or very senior executive experience, with at least one successful exit.
  • Startup equity investing experience in the Seed through Series A space, from due diligence through closing. Institutional, Angel and/or Corporate Venture Capital experience preferred.
  • A sincere passion for helping startups grow into successful companies.
  • Thorough understanding of debt financing, including the options that are available at different stages of growth.

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Key responsibilities:

Building the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem (an environment where new businesses can succeed at a much higher rate) includes:

  • Preparing startups and early-stage companies to successfully compete for debt/equity funding (pitch coaching &
  • refinement, business plan/strategy review, etc.), navigating competing priorities to help align them with resources
  • Connecting startups with professional expertise and technical assistance as needed (referring and coaching)
  • Working with Director of Events to managing and oversee events for entrepreneurs (Central Oregon PubTalk, Bend
  • Venture Conference, etc.) which includes, but is not limited to, identifying/securing keynote presenters and pitching
  • companies, identifying and supporting the BVC LLC Fund Manager(s), pitch coaching, and facilitating due diligence
  • meetings while achieving both EDCO financial objectives and early-stage company objectives (exposure, coaching,
  • etc.).
  • Working with and managing the relationship with the Bend Venture Conference Fund Manager.
  • Securing outreach resources for recruiting companies to apply to the Bend Venture Conference.
  • Tracking both effort and results of the “Start” initiative in periodic KPI reports via EDCO’s CRM.
  • Working with the Director of Marketing & Communications to promote startup successes and increase visibility of
  • young companies.
  • Identifying and securing funding sources to help sustain and grow the “Start” initiative.
  • Maintaining and growing a network with other institutions, organizations and individuals that support startups.

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Immediate supervisor:

CEO

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To apply:

For confidential consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume to Karen Turner, karen.turner@expresspros.com, Managing Director of Specialized Recruiting Group, an Express Employment Professionals company. Be sure to include information on a similar role/project that shows how you could be successful in this position.

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