Entrepreneur in Residence, Techstars Founder Catalyst sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker

Entrepreneur in Residence,
Techstars Founder Catalyst sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker

We are looking for an experienced, empathetic Entrepreneur in Residence with an engaging approach to help guide our Founder Catalyst participants through our upcoming fall/winter program. As an EIR for our Founder Catalyst Program, you will help shape the next amazing batch of early-stage startups as they grow from pre-accelerator to accelerator level companies. You will have the opportunity to work with the incredible Techstars network of team members, mentors, and advisors who are coming alongside startups with incredible potential. You will play an integral part in executing Techstars in-person events, preparing founders to thrive during their development, and participating in engagements with the local and broader startup community.

It’s a chance to build on your experience, broaden your network, pour into eager founders, and get exposure to some of the greatest teams and partners in the country.

Role and Responsibilities

An EIR’s main responsibilities consist of:

• Work alongside the program lead and broader team to help the 20 startups in our fall/winter cohort with their businesses. This assistance could include customer discovery and development, business model, marketing and go to market strategy, product/market fit, financials, pitch coaching, and more.
• Meet regularly with all program participants, identifying and documenting needs, road-blocks, and success stories, giving valuable input as an experienced founder, asking inspiring questions, making introductions, or acting as a general support.
• Help connect founders to the mentors in our program mentor pool during the program. Help facilitate consistent founder/mentor relationships during the cohort. 
• Assist with masterclasses and pitch feedback as-needed, (facilitation, moderation, pitch analysis and counsel, etcetera). 
• Attend and contribute to in-person events during the program, including Kick-off, Founder Retreat, and the End of Program Showcase.
• Other activities or deliverables that the Program Manager may identify in support of the overall success of the program.
  
  This is a part-time, 3 month contract position. This is a hybrid, primarily virtual position, with up to 20% travel required. Programming will take place on Eastern Time; therefore anyone applying for this position must be available during those time frames.

When looking for the ideal EIR for a Founder Catalyst Program, we believe that an existing depth of experience in and connection to the world of tech entrepreneurship, startups, and venture capital is critical. The candidate should be able to make an immediate contribution to the startup companies in the program with little to no learning curve or training based on their own experience as a founder. This is a great short-term transitional role for an entrepreneur who has had a recent exit, is "between startups", or is semi-retired but still desires to make an impact in the startup ecosystem. This is an opportunity to provide value, continue learning, and broaden one’s network.

This program is subject matter agnostic and will include founders from a variety of fields and backgrounds. Program participants may be building companies in AI, Healthcare, Fintech, Sports technology, E-commerce, Business Services, Sustainability, or a variety of other fields. Our EIR must be interested in supporting diverse and traditionally underserved founders.

Given the importance of startup mentorship and the importance of building trust with our founders in this position, we aim to target EIR candidates such as: 

• Founders or executives from successful, preferably VC-backed, tech startups.
• Angel or early-stage investors with previous entrepreneur and or operating experience, as well as interest in deepening their exposure to mentorship and portfolio development.
• Lead and or active mentors of Techstars or other top tier accelerators.
• Local startup mentors, advisors, or board members.
• Individuals with a passion and interest in supporting diverse and underserved founders. 

What we look for in an excellent EIR profile:

• Proven relevant experience as a founder or investor working directly with tech startups in a leadership, operational, advisory, or investment capacity.
• A strong professional network of individuals (investors, mentors, founders) with the background, experience and passion needed to help startups drive toward success.
• Operational experience, preferably in a high-growth technology company or startup.
• A high-level of understanding or experience in raising capital and or experience helping their company navigate toward an exit. 
• Team-player mentality with a desire to pitch in and help founders level up.
• An understanding of the challenges diverse and underserved founders face. 
• A #givefirst attitude toward their community and the individuals they interact with and a passion for helping startups become successful businesses.

Why Do It?

We think it’s important that the folks who apply are in it for the right reason. For the most part, that reason has a lot to do with the last bullet point above. The Techstars network and all of our programs were founded around the idea of giving first without expecting a known direct return, and ideal candidates for this position believe that to their core. We strive to be better for founders, and, part of that, is supporting them with incredible team members who can make a significant impact in their success.

Why else?

• You get to work closely with the next wave of talented entrepreneurs on a regular basis and see the impact that you have on their business as an integral advisor.
• You get to interact with and learn from an amazing team of Techstars staff dedicated to the success of the program; you’ll learn about our globally proven playbook, format, and winning curriculum.
• Personal/Portfolio development - you’ll gain experience and exposure to an amazing network, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to coaching a group of hungry, early-stage startups passionate about building successful companies.
• You’ll become part of the Techstars Network and act as a representative of our global brand.

About Techstars

Techstars is the most active pre-seed investor in the world having invested through its accelerators in more than 4,000 companies. Founded in 2006, Techstars believes that entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to invest in an unprecedented number of startups per year enabling more capital to flow to more entrepreneurs around the world. We do this by operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, as well as by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. www.techstars.com

Techstars is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental handicaps or disabilities, marital status, Veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity nor any other basis prohibited by law.

Last updated on Aug 21, 2024