Entrepreneur job description

The Engine is seeking an Entrepreneur In Residence to help nurture its growing climate portfolio, diligence potential future climate-related investments, and dive into potential executive or founding roles at early-stage climate firms. This individual will provide experienced, thoughtful advice and mentorship to Engine portfolio company founders, contribute to diligence activities for potential new companies, and with success, have opportunities to join founding teams developing transformational climate technologies.

We believe that by building a team that is diverse across many dimensions -- race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, educational background, thought process, and more -- we will be able to identify and support the best Tough Tech companies in the world as they solve big global challenges.

Position Responsibilities:Work alongside, coach, and mentor teams within The Engine portfolio, particularly those teams in the climate change and advanced manufacturing verticals Leverage existing personal network across industry to help portfolio companies accelerate and achieve milestones, and support the Engine team in evaluating potential investment opportunities in climate sectors Create opportunities and programming that benefits portfolio companies across the Engine portfolio, and proto-founders in the broader climate-tech research enterprise Work collaboratively and closely across the entirety of the Engine team Embraces and thrives in doing work in a highly collaborative context, in a flat organization with a team of teams-approach

Skills, Experience, and CapabilitiesStrong alignment with The Engine's mission to enable Tough Tech entrepreneurs to create world-changing companies Leadership experience in energy, industrials, materials science and/or climate sciences sectors Experience leading the development novel technology and scaling it up through manufacturing and commercial deployment Experience interfacing with investors Ability to operate as a generalist with specific functional domain expertise or have experience in more than one functional domain Execution-driven ability to work in a fast paced environment; high achiever; low ego Collaborative, generous but can succeed as an individual contributor Open and clear communicator; can give and receive feedback

The Engine, launched by MIT, invests in early-stage companies solving the world's biggest problems through a convergence of breakthrough science, engineering, and leadership We accelerate the path to market for Tough Tech companies through the combination of capital, infrastructure, and network. Since opening its doors in June 2017, The Engine has committed resources to 28 companies and created an unprecedented framework for bringing tough tech from the lab to the commercial world. We also operate a 30,000 square foot facility of office, labs, and machine shop at our headquarters in Cambridge, MA.

The Engine Fund Invests long-term capital in startups that need time to make an impact. We develop founders from technical pioneers to company leaders by providing them with capital, entrepreneurial knowledge, expertise, inspiration, and guidance.

The Engine Network Facilitates the creation of long-term mutually beneficial relationships between founders, startups, corporates, government, venture capital, among others.

The Engine Infrastructure Provides access to specialized labs, equipment, tools and space, both on-site and through a network of partner facilities, necessary to build transformative technologies economically and efficiently.
We offer:
-A mission-driven work environment and team, and the opportunity to work with world-class Tough Tech founders
-Competitive compensation, based on experience
-Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
-401k matching
The Engine deeply values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Innovation Works, Inc. - Job Description

Job Description: Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), Hardware/Robotics

Overview of Position:

The EIR role is highly visible within the startup community - both in Pittsburgh and globally. The EIR will lead the Startup Studio in the newly formed Robotics Factory. This position is responsible to identify industry segments and recruit potential commercial partners to explore the development and formation of new startups as part of the Robotics Factory. S/he will work closely with the Pittsburgh Robotics Network and will build relationships with key groups and leading individuals in the commercial, research and startup community, with a specific focus on identifying new robotics opportunities. S/he is a key part of the Hardware/Robotics group, including as an operational team member of the group's programs to support the Innovation Works' robotics portfolio.

Primary Responsibilities:

Industry Engagement

* Act as primary relationship owner to commercial and industrial end-users to identify industry needs and opportunities. Work directly with the PRN to recruit companies to participate in industry workshops.
* Identify, evaluate and select pre-launch entrepreneurs for entry in a multi-week program designed to validate, modify, or abandon startup ideas quickly, or pivot to a successful idea.
* Create and lead pre-launch programming which will immerse entrepreneurs in all the operational and business aspects of their target industry while enabling rapid feedback and idea generation with fellow entrepreneurs, industry experts and mentors.
* Work direclty with entrepreneurs to create their new enterprise and provide assistance with funding, launch, and rollout plans.
* Work with CEO, founders/senior management of portfolio companies and represent Innovation Works as Board of Directors Observer as appropriate.
* Leverage IW resources and networks for benefit of pre-formation companies. Identify opportunities that can be beneficial for companies (e.g. events, competitions, investor or corporate visits)
* Maintain and enhance the alumni/portfolio network by building community among the entrepreneurs.

Investment Strategy and Management

* Lead decisions on recommendation for seed funding for Studio graduates, (including market due diligence), presenting to IW Investment Committee and BOD for approval. Work with company to define milestones for investments.
* Thought leadership and current market knowledge of one (or more) key robotics sectors of focus for team (e.g. Manufacturing, construction, agriculture, warehousing, etc. )) - e.g. market trends, investment landscape, key metrics
* Support overall team recruiting strategy and efforts and execute recruiting plans for key sector(s) of leadership - including nurturing key relationships, participating in office hours and attending priority community events
* Support Studio and accelerator investment process, including reviewing applications and participating in interviews.
* Ensure completion of Administrative (and CRM systems) requirements including state reporting, final client reporting, client surveys and site visits.

Programs

* Participate in Robotics Factory accelerator program including, but not limited to: content creation, leading sessions, mentor accelerator and portfolio companies, provide constructive feedback on progress and help identify gaps and nurture relationships with potential customers. funders and partners, and attending events.
* Support IW and hardware/robotics sector strategy for programs and other scalable methods to benefit companies in portfolio. Programs may include programming, content development, or networking events for portfolio companies.
* Contribute to programs including content creation, leading sessions, attending events.

Partner and Network Relationships

* Build IW networks for benefit of hardware/robotics product portfolio companies. Examples include investor, corporate, manufacturing, mentor and digital networks.
* Build new and nurture existing relationships with key partners, especially in hardware/robotics sector(s) of focus - including community, university, and economic development.
* Represent Innovation Works, hardware / robotics group and accelerators at community and partner events, through attendance, participating and speaking.
* Work closely with Pittsburgh Robotics Network to promote the Pittsburgh ecosystem and support regular industry workshops. Represent Innovation Works at national conferences or other forums convening robotics, hardware or technology development leaders

Internal Collaboration

* Work collaboratively with internal partners (e.g. Investment Committee, Legal Counsel) to execute on seed investments including legal due diligence
* Deliver against team and individual performance against KPI's around network development and engagement with companies
* Represent hardware / robotics group within Innovation Works and work effectively in a collegial, cross-functional organization. In particular, work with teammates within Hardware/Robotics Group and in other Industry Groups (software, life sciences) to ensure appropriate level of consistency across our programs - including shared learnings on investments and company engagement

Qualifications and Requirements:

* Bachelor's degree in a technical field, minimum 10-15 years of experience
* Prior experience working in a robotics or advanced technology startup company with demonstrated success in business development and/or deploying technical solution into a new market.
* Strong interpersonal skills, leadership, teamwork, verbal and written communications are a must.
* Demonstrated ability to simultaneously handle time-sensitive issues for a diverse set of portfolio companies.
* Ability to drive results (both individually and collaboratively in an organization)
* Needs to be flexible and adaptable in a fast moving environment.
* Ability to think strategically and execute tactically.
* Comfort communicating with substance in a transparent, direct manner.
* Needs to be able to balance advocacy for companies with representing IW investment interests
* The highest level of integrity and the ability to maintain confidential information are a must.

Preferred:

* Prior experience as a founder or founding team member working in a robotics or advanced technology startup company is strongly desired.
* Domain and industry expertise in at least robotics domain such as autonomy, factory automation, AI, computer vision, etc.
* Advanced degree in business or technical field incudling product and/or business development
* Online presence and passion for entrepreneurial/startup community is important. Demonstrated ability with building community and partnerships is a strong plus.
* Fluent in modern productivity tools such as Google Apps and/or MSOffice suite, Slack and Salesforce, are important. Individuals should be comfortable using various social networks to promote the Robotics Factory, Innovation Works, its companies and to engage with the startup community.

Complete other duties and projects as assigned.

Innovation Works provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.