Community & Ecosystem Manager

17Tech Oy; Helsinki; Hybrid; EUR 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Close exposure to venture capital

Ownership over initiatives

Hybrid Espoo/Otaniemi location

Opportunities to scale into leadership

Job summary

17Tech Oy in Espoo/Otaniemi, Finland, is seeking an entrepreneurial Community & Ecosystem Manager to help build Europe’s defence technology ecosystem. The role offers flexibility as full-time or part-time, with potential growth from part-time to full-time as 17Tech develops.

You’ll work directly with the founding team, investors, and experts across Europe, owning initiatives and shaping the ecosystem from an early stage. Strong communication and proactive mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial mindset and proactive approach.
• Interest in startups, venture capital, technology and European defence.

Responsibilities

• Build and grow the 17Tech community, including accelerator companies, alumni, mentors and partners.
• Create and manage networks connecting founders, investors, defence professionals and academics.
• Organise events, founder sessions and networking activities to foster collaboration.
• Develop partnerships with technology providers, universities and other organisations.

Skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Strong communicator

Relationship-building

Outreach & networking

Startups & VC interest

Tools

AI tools

Automation

CRM systems

Slack/Discord

Google Workspace

No-code tools

Job description

Community & Ecosystem Manager

17Tech | Espoo / Otaniemi, Finland | Full-time or Part-time

Help build Europe's next-generation defence technology ecosystem.

17Tech is building a new generation of European defence technology companies. But our ambition goes beyond individual startups: we want to build one of Europe's strongest and most connected defence technology ecosystems.

We're looking for an entrepreneurial, highly proactive Community & Ecosystem Manager to help make this happen.

This is an opportunity to work directly with the 17Tech founding team, ambitious founders, investors, defence professionals and experts across Europe. You'll have real ownership, plenty of room to experiment and the opportunity to build something from the ground up.

The position can be full-time or part-time. We are also open to someone starting part-time and growing into a full-time role as 17Tech develops.

What you'll do

Build the 17Tech community

• Develop and grow the 17Tech Family of accelerator companies, alumni, mentors and partners.
• Connect founders, investors, defence professionals, experts and academics.
• Organise events, founder sessions and networking activities.
• Create an active community where people genuinely help each other.

Build networks and partnerships

• Identify and connect experts who can help startups with fundraising, customers, procurement, engineering, manufacturing, hiring and more.
• Develop partnerships with technology providers, universities and other relevant organisations.
• Build a talent network connecting great people with 17Tech companies.

Build the infrastructure

• Develop community platforms, CRM systems and communication channels.
• Use AI, automation and digital tools to make the ecosystem more scalable and effective.
• Experiment with new ways to engage and create value for the community.

Who we're looking for

We're more interested in your mindset and capabilities than your exact degree or CV.

• Entrepreneurial, curious and extremely proactive.
• Strong communicator and natural relationship-builder.
• Comfortable reaching out to new people and building relationships.
• Interested in startups, venture capital, technology and European defence.
• Organised, independent and good at making things happen.
• Commercially minded, with a bias towards action.

Experience in startups, VC, consulting, technology, accelerators or community building is a plus. You could be finishing your Master's degree, have a few years of professional experience or be looking for your next entrepreneurial challenge.

Tech-savvy is a must.We particularly value familiarity with AI tools, automation, CRM systems, Slack/Discord, Google Workspace and no-code tools. You don't need to be a developer, but you should love finding smarter ways to work.

What you'll get

• Work directly with the 17Tech founding team.
• Unusually close exposure to venture capital, startup investing and accelerator building.
• Build relationships across Europe's defence, technology and investment ecosystems.
• Real ownership and the freedom to build your own initiatives.
• The opportunity to shape a growing organisation and its community from an early stage.
• Potential to grow into a leadership role as 17Tech scales.

Practicalities

• Commitment: Full-time or part-time (flexible).
• Location: Espoo / Otaniemi, hybrid.
• Some travel and participation in 17Tech events and ecosystem activities.

The person we're looking for

Smart. Curious. Entrepreneurial. Tech-savvy. Socially confident. Someone who gets things done.

We don't care about having the perfect CV. We care about finding someone genuinely excited about helping build a European defence technology ecosystem that can stand on its own feet.

Security & Eligibility

Due to the nature of 17Tech's activities and its involvement in the defence technology ecosystem, this position is open exclusively to citizens of NATO member countries.

17Tech – Building Europe's sovereign defence technology ecosystem.