Come join Connecticut Innovations (CI) as Director, Venture Team supporting our Technology Fund!

Please note: This job is only open to Connecticut Innovations employees and venture partners.

Connecticut Innovations (CI)

As Connecticut's strategic venture capital arm and one of the most active investors on the eastern seaboard, CI has a portfolio of 220+ companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology and climate tech. CI meets with hundreds of companies every year, identifying the most promising early-stage companies looking to grow in the state. Every year, CI invests in 20+ new companies, in addition to providing follow-on capital to existing portfolio companies. CI also invests as a Limited Partner in outside venture funds based in CT (17 in the past 6 years).

• CI has invested $700+ million in innovative startups since 1995
• CI's leveraging power is 10X, or $7+ billion

CI announced it invested $45.8 million in 67 companies and venture funds throughout the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. CI's investments also helped to attract an additional $653 million in outside capital into its portfolio companies. The fiscal year generated $43.2 million in proceeds, which will allow CI to invest in more early-stage companies in the future.

Our culture is vibrant, diverse, collaborative, and inclusive. We embrace perspective and have mission alignment on our impact to Connecticut's innovation ecosystem. We host or participate in over 20 ecosystem events per year, and our headquarters at The District in New Haven is a catalyst for partnership and an innovation ecosystem community hub.

Technology Fund

Our Technology Fund has provided more than $140 million to date to Connecticut's promising high-tech companies (140+), with a focus on FinTech, InsurTech, SaaS and PaaS early-stage companies. We have realized over $135 million in proceeds from our investments in this Fund. We have also attracted companies to Connecticut from both coasts and as far away as Europe!

Venture Capital (VC) Director

All Venture Team members play a pivotal role as part of the investment due diligence process and post-investment, as part of scaling the portfolio company. As an organization, we embrace diversity of thought, listen with an open mind, think big and concretely, and invest with the mission in mind.

This is a unique hands-on venture capital experience in an innovative, and collaborative work environment. This opportunity to contribute, add value, and make an economic impact on the State of Connecticut is extraordinary. We seek an elite team member to hit the ground sprinting.

This role will play a key role in executing our investment strategy by researching and cultivating promising investment opportunities and participating in all phases of the investment process including sourcing, due diligence, meetings with management, focused company and industry research, financial modeling, writing investment recommendations. Post-investment team members monitor the portfolio company and support the business on strategic growth initiatives and potentially serve as a board member or observer.

Responsibilities

• Role is a combination of investment origination, deal execution, and portfolio company management
• Prospect for new investment opportunities
• Conduct market, product and competitive analysis on each potential investment
• Develop financial models and valuation assessments; collaborate with internal team members to structure, negotiate and finalize deal terms.
• Prepare reports and proposals regarding potential investments and portfolio companies
• Present investments for approval to CI advisory committees and committees of the CI Board of Directors
• Support portfolio companies by identifying strategic, marketing, and partnership opportunities to accelerate growth and value creation.

Personal Characteristics

• Entrepreneurial mindset, ambitious self-starter with proven ability to work in a collaborative and diverse environment.
• High energy, effort, fun and positive mental attitude are all must-haves.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to work well with autonomy and ambiguity
• Motivated to succeed in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness and ability to move between relatively routine and detail-oriented work, to a higher degree of critical thinking and judgment
• Appropriate combination of self-confidence and humility, a consummate team-player with a history of making teams perform at a higher level
• Motivation, commitment, and dedication to excellence must be exemplified in all prior work and academic history.

Role Requirements

• Hands-on experience with FinTech, InsurTech, SaaS, artificial intelligence, quantum, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing and/or computer vision models and technologies.
• Experience as a founder or early-stage entrepreneur is highly preferred. Startup/growth experience in a venture-backed, tech company is highly valued.
• Master's and/or higher degree in business or computer science. Minimum undergraduate degree in computer science or the equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience in venture capital, private-equity, and/or investment management in tech companies preferred.
• Experience in investment origination, due diligence, deal execution, and portfolio company management preferred.
• Experience in conducting market, product, competitive and valuation analysis in deep-tech companies preferred.
• Knowledge of financial statements, business plans, and legal documentation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

This role will reside at CI's Stamford, CT location (The Village) 1-day a week and work at CI's New Haven, CT location (District | Coworking Space) 2-days a week (Monday and Wednesday each week). Having a Connecticut residency is required for this role.

Connecticut Innovations offers a competitive starting salary, with additional bonus opportunities based on team and individual investment performance, generous paid time off, and a culture that encourages work-life balance.

Connecticut Innovations is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We welcome all candidates to apply regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.