About 500 Startups MENA
500 Startups began investing in the MENA region in 2012. Since that time we’ve made over 180 investments through our 500 Falcons fund and seed accelerator program, establishing the pre imminent early stage fund in the MENA region. In 2021, we’re launching the next phase of 500 Startups in MENA, launching a regional headquarters in Riyadh, continuing our prestigious seed accelerator and educational programs and continuing to invest across stages in the very best founders in the region. We’re looking for best-in-class investment professionals to join our upcoming investment and operations team and create lasting impact for MENA founders. We are connected to a fantastic global team and network of funds spread across over 20 countries and investing in nearly 80 countries. We put founder first, always. We’re a FAST, passionate, curious and values-driven team who truly live and love what we do. We hope you will join us.
This role will report to the General Partner.
Key responsibilities
- Maintain and expand a network of relevant relationships to include VCs, financial institutions, industry authorities/organizations and others to efficiently identify and originate early stage opportunities.
- Source early stage investment opportunities. Curate and find promising investment opportunities in their by developing relationships with entrepreneurs.
- Bring and sharpen an investment point of view on categories and companies. Why would we invest in a company? What creates the opportunity for an outsized return in a space? What market technology trends are creating disruptions and therefore investing opportunities?
- Lead comprehensive diligence on investment opportunities. Develop and provide detailed analysis of the company’s market, people, domain, products, technologies, go-to-market plan, competitive position, and anything else relevant to making an investment decision.
- Deepen and expand a subject matter expert network. Continuously grow amp; nurture the firm’s network of subject matter experts.
- Participate in relevant industry conferences and events/meetings. They will regularly attend and participate in relevant industry events to learn, extract, and share deal flow and insight with the rest of the firm.
- Actively help with the management investments through life-cycle. Help startups leverage the broader network to help with technology, business development, fund-raising, hiring top talent and exits.
Requirements
- Desire to work within a values-centric, founder-first venture capital firm
- Degree in business, computer science, or engineering; MBA preferred
- Significant exposure to equity investing within a Corporate VC or at an institutional VC
- Working in a startup or having startup experience is a plus
- Technical know-how to structure and negotiate deal terms
- High Financial acumen and deep financial analysis skills with the demonstrable ability to quickly analyze and value target opportunities
- Demonstrated analytical and operational capabilities - an ability to diligence complex companies, developed through experiences we value: leading complex research, incubating or founding new companies, de-risking hypotheses, or otherwise operating in a relevant technology platform company.
- The ability to gather, learn, and synthesize and effectively present or communicate (verbal/written) complex information.
- Desire and proven ability to explore and uncover new domains and technologies quickly.
- Leadership experience with high-growth startup companies that successfully raised a post-seed equity round a plus
- Genuine intellectual curiosity.
- Excellent attention to detail and follow through.
- Ability to balance multiple projects and work on tight deadlines.
- A natural user and connoisseur of the latest apps for business and / or personal productivity.
- Upbeat, optimistic attitude.
- Comfort with ambiguity, as well as an ability to thrive in a fluid and fast paced environment.