Senior Associate, Consumer AI

SENIOR ASSOCIATE PARTNER (AI IN CONSUMER, GAMING &, INTERACTIVE MEDIA, & CONSUMER AI)

SUMMARY
Our client is a global venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovation across consumer, gaming, enterprise, fintech, and healthcare in the enterprise, healthcare and consumer sectors. The firm currently manages over $25 billion of committed capital and invests globally. Over the past two decades, the team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build 400+ companies globally. The team’s investment professionals and advisors sit in Menlo ParkSilicon Valley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, London, Berlin, Paris, Israel, Singapore, India, and China. The firm has pioneered AI/ML investing over the past 15 years (70+ AI/ML portfolio companies and $1B+ deployed in AI/ML) and decades of experience investing in leading global consumer & gaming , and artificial intelligence startups. 

ROLE 
Our client is hiring an investor to join its consumer technology team, with a specific focus on AI applications across consumer, gaming, and interactive media and consumer AI. The firm is looking for someone with a demonstrated passion for technology and a keen eye for consumer markets and trends. As a key member of the consumer investment team, you will actively participate in all stages of the investment process and have a seat at the table in making investment decisions. By joining this firm, you will receive best-in-class mentorship in the business of venture capital and gain an inside look into how technology is transforming every global industry. The firm is looking for someone who shows the potential to grow with the firm and have a long, successful career in venture capital. In a success case, candidates will eventually win competitive deals and lead investments for the firm. This may be sooner or later, depending on a candidate’s experience level. Candidates will receive support and mentorship from more experienced partners as they make this transition. Prior investment experience is not necessary, but helpful. Regardless of your background, our client’s partners will invest the time and energy to help you hone your investing skills.

KNOWLEDGE. The ideal candidate has a blended background with expertise in AI, gaming, and consumer/media. They will be expected to develop original theses in sectors and sub-sectors, map the ecosystem and relevant startups, and assess their fit for the fund in initial meetings. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This role will involve:

• Sourcing and research: Identify high potential startups and help the firm understand emerging consumer sectors and trends, with a specific focus on gaming, interactive media and consumer AI.
• Managing deal pipeline: Prioritize the firm’s significant deal flow and allocate resources to the most exciting and impactful opportunities.
• Due diligence: Conduct due diligence and perform analyses on investment opportunities, including administering surveys, parsing data requests, building financial models, talking to customers, and conducting reference checks.
• Networking and community building: Attend industry events and help grow the firm’s network of founders/executives by creating new opportunities for the community to come together.
• Building a professional identity: Eventually establish your own personal brand and contribute to thought leadership in the startup community. The firm is open to different modalities: podcasts, newsletters, communities, original research, etc. Whatever is authentic to you!

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 5 years of operating or investing experience. Ideally, you have spent those years inside of a fast-growing consumer technology startup, in which you have made meaningful contributions which are recognized by your colleagues. More prior experience may lead to faster demonstration of the abilities that will lead to future promotion.
• Familiarity with startup finance methodologies (e.g. cohort analysis, unit economics, growth funnels) and an understanding of the mechanics of typical consumer business models.
• Graduated from university with a stellar academic track record.
• While our client is looking for candidates who can go deep on technical topics, they are even more focused on finding someone who can empathize with founders and spend spare time scouting, meeting, and enticing startups and founders.
• The ideal candidate is natively outbound and commercially minded.
• An MBA or graduate degree is not required, but may be helpful. 

LOCATION. Preference for San Francisco (ideal location), Los Angeles, or New York. 

PREVIOUS INVESTING EXPERIENCE. Not required, but preferred.

TIMING: Immediate