Investment Associate

Meraki Talent; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Meraki Talent is partnering with a leading LMM private equity firm in the SF Bay Area to recruit into its 2026 Associate class. The role targets individuals who are curious, analytical, and driven to build a long-term investing career in private equity.

You will contribute to sourcing, execution, and portfolio management, advancing growth and value creation for portfolio companies. The position emphasizes rigorous due diligence, modeling, and collaborative teamwork across senior staff, with

Qualifications

• 2+ years of relevant experience at top firms within investment banking or private/growth equity.
• Strong financial modeling, analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the confidence to engage founders and executives.
• Collaborative mindset with humility, integrity and a strong work ethic.
• Undergraduate degree and/or MBA from a leading academic institution.

Responsibilities

• Source and evaluate new investment opportunities by developing market theses and mapping software/sub-sectors.
• Conduct due diligence across financial, market and operational dimensions with detailed modeling and valuation analysis.
• Drive workstreams through the transaction process, coordinating advisors and preparing materials for Investment Committee.
• Structure transactions, negotiate deal terms, and support closing and post-close integration.
• Partner with portfolio management to monitor performance and advance organic growth and M&A initiatives.

Skills

Financial modeling

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaborative mindset

Strong work ethic

Education

Undergraduate degree

MBA

Job description

Meraki Talent are working with a LMM PE firm based in the SF Bay Area. The firm invests in founder-led technology and tech-enabled services businesses within the U.S. middle market. With flexible capital and a collaborative, founder-aligned approach, they support management teams in accelerating growth and building category-leading platforms.

The firm are looking for individuals to join its 2026 Associate class within the investment team. They are looking for active contributors in sourcing, execution, and portfolio management. The role is designed for candidates who are intellectually curious, analytical, and driven to build a long-term investing career in private equity.

Key Responsibilities

• Source and evaluate new investment opportunities by developing proprietary market theses, mapping sub-sectors within software and tech-enabled services, and cultivating relationships with founders and executives
• Conduct comprehensive due diligence across financial, market, and operational dimensions, including detailed modeling, valuation analysis, and assessment of key growth drivers and risks
• Drive critical workstreams throughout the transaction process, coordinating third-party advisors, synthesizing diligence findings, and contributing to Investment Committee discussion materials
• Collaborate with senior team members to structure transactions, negotiate deal terms, and support closing and post-close integration efforts
• Partner with portfolio company management teams to monitor performance and advance strategic and operational initiatives, including organic growth projects and M&A opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience at top firms within investment banking or private/growth equity
• Strong financial modeling, analytical, and critical thinking skills; able to evaluate complex businesses with varying degrees of operational maturity and data quality
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the confidence to engage founders and executives directly
• Collaborative mindset with humility, integrity, and a strong work ethic
• Undergraduate degree and/or MBA from a leading academic institution