Venture Capital Associate

Come join Connecticut Innovations - Venture Capital for Biotech, IT, and More Connecticut Innovations!!!!

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 has invested $675 million in innovative startups since 1995.
• CI’s leveraging power is 10X, or $6.7 billion.

CI invested $48.7 million in 81 companies and venture funds in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. CI’s investments also attracted an additional $1.1 billion in outside capital into its portfolio companies. This fiscal year generated $35 million in cash proceeds through company exits, which includes acquisitions and IPOs, 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.

Connecticut Technology & AIQ Funds

Our Technology Fund has provided more than $100 million to date to Connecticut’s promising high-tech companies, with a focus on FinTech, InsurTech, SaaS and PaaS early-stage companies. We have attracted companies to Connecticut from both coasts and as far away as Europe!

In February 2025, we launched our $50 million Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing (AIQ) Fund to support the State of Connecticut and its $100 million in funding of key capital investments in artificial intelligence and quantum computing in partnership with University of Connecticut (UConn) and Yale University. The AIQ Fund will work closely with QuantumCT - Leading the Next Quantum Revolution and other organizations across the State of Connecticut.

Durational Venture Capital (VC) Associate

A CI VC Associate plays a key role in executing our investment strategy by researching promising technology markets. They also participate in all phases of the investment process including due diligence, meetings with management, focused company and industry research, financial modeling, writing investment recommendations, and supporting CI portfolio companies as board observers.

We are currently seeking a VC Associate to join and assist our Technology and AIQ Funds Venture Team for a period of 2 to 3 years and help develop and manage an active high-tech portfolio. Candidates should be self-starting, curious, flexible and have knowledge of financial statements, business plans and other financial and legal documents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or the equivalent
• MBA or master’s degree
• Work experience in market research, management consulting, venture capital or investment management
• Work experience supporting artificial intelligence, quantum, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing and/or computer vision models and technologies
• Experience as a Founder or working in a startup preferred, but not required

Responsibilities

• Representing CI at industry events, source investment prospects, develop relationships with potential co-investors
• Screening and analysis of potential investments
• Conducting due diligence and competitive analysis
• Financial modeling and valuation analysis, collaborating with and supporting other members of the CI Venture team.
• Preparing reports and proposals regarding potential investments and portfolio companies
• Drafting term sheets
• Reviewing legal documents related to financings and other matters
• Presenting investments for approval to CI advisory committees and committees of the CI Board of Directors
• Assisting in identifying strategic, marketing and partnering opportunities for portfolio companies
• Participate in meetings and calls related to due diligence, industry research, and investment negotiations

Skills & Competencies

• A seeker and learner mentality, with a passion for and knowledge of the deep-tech technologies
• High personal passion for a fast-developing innovation ecosystem
• Detailed, action-oriented person who takes initiative to follow-up on items.
• Project management and organization skills to solicit and follow up on meetings.
• Communicate comfortably with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to synthesize data into a compelling story.
• Sufficient understanding/comfort of technology to recognize the business opportunities it unlocks

Connecticut Innovations reserves the right to underfill this position at the level of Investment Analyst if deemed necessary.

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.