Partner

Zinc has built a successful venture builder ecosystem since 2017, focusing on bringing talent together to build and grow ventures through its mission driven approach, focusing on two main missions around Health of People and Health of Planet. Zinc also works closely with dozens of academics and researchers through science commercialisation programming, and direct investment capability into early stage IP-led companies. Our vision is to build impact from the ground up, focusing on companies at inception stage, whether starting up or spinning-out from an established ecosystem, such as a university. We provide several forms of capital to build and grow ventures and enable them to succeed. This includes human capital, social capital, intellectual capital and financial capital.

As we continue to build out our capabilities of our current fund we’re looking for a Venture Partner (2 days per week) to support and accelerate the Discovery and Validation of products and commercial propositions for the early-stage startups across our Build and Grow phases, to help them develop their propositions and secure their next round of investment.

The Venture Partner will be responsible for engaging with founders by by joining their team meeting on a weekly basis, and spending additional time working with them to fulfill their objectives - introductions, research, review of docs, etc. You will meet with the wider Build and Grow teams on a bi-weekly basis to share your perceptions of key blockers to your startups and how the platform can best support them to progress.  Your goal will be to support, guide and challenge their plans and approach to generate early stage validation of their product development plan and commercial roadmap. You will also be expected to contribute to wider workshops and sessions across Zinc, and provide some office hours for startups that you’re not directly partnered with.

This role will require you to bring your experience, knowledge and network as a founder, operator or investor in medtech, pharma, life sciences, to the Founders. This role reports to the Healthcare Investments MD at Zinc.

Time commitment - Starting asap, 2 days per week, spent meeting with the teams in the Zinc office, contributing to team meetings, and to wider sessions.

Key Outcomes

1.For Build stage teams, successfully getting first tranche of investment from Zinc; for Grow teams, successfully raising their next round of investment.

2.Validation of product roadmap by completing product milestones.

3.Validation of commercial roadmap by securing commercial partners, pilots, letters of intent, or revenue.

4.Development of clear fundraising strategy and obtaining non-dilutive investment eg through grants.

5.Build on relationships with key stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to connect and support the startup’s growth and success.

6.Providing input and support to Zinc about improvements to its platform of support.

Relevant experience  

• You have spent at least 5 years as an investor in a venture capital fund that deploys investment into medtech or life science startups.

OR

• You are a startup founder or operator within the medtech and life science focus and have raised at least £10m or a Series-A from VCs.

Superpowers

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You have the ability to build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• A passion for Zinc's mission of improving people’s health through innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Strong experience in building 0-1 tech products and companies.
• Proven experience of being able to coach and challenge founders to drive the best out of them.
• In depth knowledge of the medtech and life science sector, business models and development strategies.
• Track record of building and/or investing in these types of startups.
• The ability to work collaboratively with individuals and teams to achieve shared goals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and address key business challenges.

Please email natalie@zinc.vc if you’re interested in finding out more.

Please submit your CV and cover letter below, and we will be in touch.

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