Senior VC Associate @ Maersk in Copenhagen, Denmark

Maersk; København; On-site; DKK 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

VC Stack is seeking a Senior Associate – Investments and Partnerships in Copenhagen. You will be responsible for fostering relationships with startups, evaluating potential partnerships, and managing our investment portfolio.

The ideal candidate has 5-8 years of experience in venture capital or corporate innovation, strong strategic thinking skills, and a robust network within the startup ecosystem. Join us in redefining logistics and maritime decarbonization.

Qualifications

• 5-8+ years of experience in startup engagement or venture capital.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships.
• Strong network within the startup ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Identify and build relationships with startups, venture capital firms, and other players.
• Continuously monitor the startup landscape for emerging trends.
• Nurture relationships with our investment portfolio companies.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Financial modelling

Project management

Job description

Are you ready to embark on a journey with A.P. Moller – Maersk, an industry leader within integrated logistics responsible for moving 20% of global trade every year? Maersk Growth is the venture arm of A.P. Moller – Maersk which both invests in and partners with startups to digitize, democratize and decarbonize logistics. We are on a mission to redefine the future of logistics and maritime decarbonization, and we need an exceptional Senior Associate – Investments and Partnerships to join our dynamic team.

• At Maersk Growth, partner with cutting-edge startups and scaleups, to unlock and fast-track the next generation of supply chain innovation, pushing the frontier of new technology and business models within logistics.

• Join us on our ambitious quest to achieve Net-Zero emissions. We’re investing in startups making a real impact in the Decarbonisation and Energy Transition space. New venture investments will be added to the strong portfolio of 40+ companies which we continue to partner and collaborate with.

• We operate as Maersk’s global vehicle for external innovation, supporting the business-led process of identifying and testing innovative approaches to close capability gaps and deliver on our strategy. To successfully accelerate our transformation, we will drive PoCs and corporate startup partnerships and collaborations through a Venture Client model.

We offer

This is an exciting career opportunity in an international, challenging and high paced environment. As a key player within our Ecosystem Engagement team, your mission will be to foster and strengthen relationships with the startup ecosystem, and you will be instrumental in:

• Understanding targeted ecosystems and ensure access to relevant start-ups for Maersk to invest in or collaborate with.

• Connecting start-ups to APMMs business innovation needs through a collaborative effort with the Strategic Business Innovation team.

• Enabling and protecting the value of our current investment portfolio through commercial and operational collaborations, follow on investments, and board seats.

Key responsibilities

• Partnership Development: Identify, build and leverage relationships with startups, venture capital firms, incubators, accelerators, and other key players in the ecosystem. Evaluate potential partnerships and opportunities for collaboration. Focus on establishing good relations and collaboration with the startup ecosystem to bring external innovation and growth to Maersk.

• Scouting and Evaluation of startups: Continuously monitor the startup landscape, identify emerging trends, technologies, and disruptive solutions that can enhance and decarbonise our logistics operations. Conduct thorough evaluations and due diligence to assess the potential impact and value creation potential for Maersk. Once startups have been identified, engaging with them to develop and enable relationships with the right stakeholders in Growth and in the core business.

• Portfolio Management: Nurture and maintain strong relationships with the startups we have invested in and our co-investors. Act as the main point of contact for a subset of our portfolio companies, addressing their needs, and facilitating collaboration with relevant internal stakeholders. Take on existing engagements in the form of Board Director or Board Observer positions where relevant.

• Supporting investments within Decarbonisation and Energy Transition globally covering the full investment cycle from scouting to deal structuring to execution and nurture for strategic value.

• Maintaining and building relationships with investors in the Supply chain and Climate Tech ecosystems to ensure access to their portfolio companies, exchange ideas on recent innovations in the logistics space, and help build Maersk’s brand as an innovation-led company.

• Events and Community Building: Organize and participate in relevant events, workshops, roundtables, networking sessions and conferences such as Manifest, WebSummit, Slush, LogiMAT, TechBBQ, etc. to source ideas (market trends, technology themes) and to develop relationships with startups and ecosystem players. Contribute to building a vibrant startup community both internally and externally.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders in our Energy Transition (ET) and Fleet Management Technology (FMT) departments, as well as with our Strategic Business Innovation team. Our ET and FMT teams will be your key stakeholders, and you will work with them to understand their needs and support their initiatives. Through joint conversations with the Maersk product and technology leaders, ensure a good understanding of business needs, customer pain-points and concerns of frontline colleagues to identify relevant startups for collaboration.

• Thought Leadership: Stay up to date with industry trends, technology advancements, and startup ecosystem developments. Share insights and knowledge with Strategic Insights and internally, promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you must be able to fast acquire an understanding of the ecosystem, emerging trends and credibly interact with relevant startups and strategic partners. Additionally, you have sufficient seniority to get access to critical founders/ecosystem players.

Furthermore, we are looking for someone who has

• Proven experience (5-8+ years) within startup engagement, venture capital, corporate innovation, or a similar role. This could be through experience in corporate development at a tech company, leading VC, investment bank, or private equity firm or previous experience of working in or with startups, and ideally with expertise when it comes to startup coaching and board member experience.

• Demonstrated experience working with hard tech and/or climate solutions, or a strong desire to develop a deep understanding of the space.

• An understanding of the venture capital market and early stage financings, as well as various business models, and market and industry trends affecting the collaboration and productivity sector.

• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with a track record of developing and maintaining strategic partnerships. The ideal candidate comes with a strong network of connections within the startup ecosystem or a drive and dedication to building this network.

• Ability to think strategically, solve complex problems, and make data-driven decisions.

• Proven project management skills, with the ability to drive initiatives from ideation to execution.

• Financial modelling skills and an ability to build out P&L and Cash Flow statements and valuations would be a strength. Candidate should also have a basic understanding of what type of synergies are available to a strategic investor and help apply a rationale for calculating these.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.

• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

A strong understanding of the supply chain and logistics industry, decarbonisation and the transition to green fuels and the current opportunities and challenges within these areas would be appreciated.

We encourage all relevant applicants to apply – we know that diversity makes for the best teams, problem-solving and creative thinking. We are dedicated to adding new perspectives and experiences to the team and believe in mindset, drive, and attitude more than on-paper experience.

Ready to ignite innovation in global trade with us? Apply today and be part of a team that’s shaping the future of logistics!

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

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