Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
- The Ventures Manager is responsible for providing hands-on mentorship, training, and strategic support to program beneficiaries, ensuring they successfully navigate the journey from ideation to venture creation.
- The role focuses on entrepreneurial development, business registration, mentorship facilitation, and stakeholder engagement, aligning with Innov8 Hub’s mission of fostering innovation and sustainable business growth.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Mentorship & Program Beneficiary Support
- Provide close mentorship and hands-on guidance to program beneficiaries, supporting them through the various stages of venture creation.
- Assist startups and entrepreneurs in developing viable business models, refining their value propositions, and preparing for market entry.
- Track and evaluate beneficiary progress, providing recommendations to enhance their growth trajectory.
Training & Capacity Building
- Design and facilitate entrepreneurship training sessions, workshops, and business development seminars.
- Deliver training sessions to enhance program beneficiaries’ knowledge of business fundamentals, financial literacy, and investment readiness.
- Support beneficiaries in business registration processes, ensuring legal compliance and formalization.
Mentorship Ecosystem Development
- Strengthen the mentorship ecosystem by identifying, engaging, and coordinating industry experts, mentors, and advisors who can provide specialized guidance to program participants.
- Establish a structured mentorship framework that connects beneficiaries with relevant industry professionals.
- Organize mentorship sessions, office hours, and networking events to facilitate industry linkages.
Industry & Stakeholder Engagement
- Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders, including investors, accelerators, incubators, and government agencies.
- Leverage stakeholder relationships to create experiential learning opportunities for program beneficiaries.
- Represent Innov8 Hub in ecosystem-building activities, such as pitch events, innovation summits, and panel discussions.
Market Research & Business Growth Support
- Conduct market research and industry analysis to provide insights that support the business development needs of program beneficiaries.
- Identify trends, emerging sectors, and opportunities that align with the growth objectives of program participants.
- Develop and recommend strategies for scaling startups, including funding opportunities, market entry plans, and partnership development.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
- Work closely with the Head of Programs & Ventures to establish performance metrics and tracking mechanisms to assess program impact.
- Provide regular reports on startup progress, challenges, and key interventions, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
- Continuously refine entrepreneurial support frameworks to enhance program effectiveness.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
Educational Background:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Innovation Management, or a related field.
Experience:
- 5+ years of experience in venture building, startup development, entrepreneurship support, or business consulting.
- Experience working with incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs, or venture capital firms is highly preferred.
- Proven track record in mentorship, training facilitation, and business growth advisory.
Key Skills & Competencies:
- Strong mentorship and coaching skills with the ability to guide early-stage entrepreneurs.
- Excellent business acumen, including knowledge of business modeling, financial planning, and investment readiness.
- Networking and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to connect with industry leaders, investors, and policymakers.
- Analytical and research skills to assess market trends and provide strategic insights.
- Training and facilitation expertise, with experience developing capacity-building programs.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic innovation ecosystem.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & REPORTING STRUCTURE
- The Ventures Manager reports directly to the Head of Programs & Ventures.
- Works closely with program beneficiaries, mentors, industry stakeholders, and internal program teams.
- May be required to travel for networking events, stakeholder meetings, and startup support
- initiatives.