Venture Commercialization Lead

Boisei; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 113,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4% matching 401k

Health care reimbursement

Job summary

boisei labs in State College, PA seeks a Venture Commercialization Lead to drive the commercial engine behind our mission-driven studio. You’ll move early-stage concepts from idea to pilots, build sales and marketing pipelines, secure pilot customers, validate concepts, and forge strategic partnerships that give ventures momentum.

You’ll partner with product teams to test prototypes, define hand-off processes, and develop shared services for ventures.

Qualifications

• Interest in 'tech for good' initiatives.
• Early-stage business development or go-to-market experience.
• Entrepreneurial experience is a strong plus.
• Strong research and interviewing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and external representation.
• Ability to work in the US without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage the initial sales and marketing pipelines to secure pilot customers and early users.
• Identify and manage external vendors and partners to support go-to-market launches.
• Establish hand-off processes for launched ventures to maintain customer/partner relationships.
• Refine brand strategy and development for new and existing ventures.
• Collaborate with product to test prototypes and MVPs in the market.

Skills

Sales & business development

Market research

External-facing communication

Job description

Venture Commercialization Lead

boisei labs — Venture Studio

Location: State College, PA

Compensation: $125,000+ base salary (full compensation will be discussed), plus benefits

Reports to: Managing Partner

Overview

boisei labs is looking for a Venture Commercialization Lead to serve as the commercial engine behind our 'tech for good' venture studio - the person who takes early-stage concepts from idea to real customers, users, and traction. You will be responsible for brand identities, build the first sales and marketing pipelines, secure pilot customers, validate business concepts with the market, and forge partnerships and early‑adopter networks that give new ventures their initial momentum.

You’ll partner closely with our product team to test prototypes and MVPs in the market, and you’ll help prioritize what we build based on real business value. As ventures find their footing, you’ll establish clean hand‑off processes, so those customer and partner relationships continue to thrive as the venture flies the studio nest to stand on its own.

This is a builder’s role for someone who thrives in ambiguity and enjoys being externally facing. You’ll move fluidly between market research, business development, and hands‑on go‑to‑market execution across multiple ventures at a time. You will develop shared services and tools for ventures that are developed within boisei, and you’ll apply modified commercialization playbooks to future ventures as they are built and launched.

Importantly, you will collaborate with the Board of Ethics and leadership team to ensure ventures have outsized social / environmental returns. You will be expected to contribute broadly and flexibly to the Company’s 'tech for good' mission and to proactively take on any and all work to help build and scale ventures.

About boisei labs

boisei labs is a venture studio focused on building ambitious 'tech for good' companies with innovations that drive social good, green tech, and other meaningful impacts. We create multiple ventures in parallel across ideation, development, launch, and growth phases.

Our team works fast, embraces (healthy) startup culture, and continually pushes new ideas forward — backed by an unusual advantage: we have capital in hand, no outside investors to constrain timelines, and deep connections across Penn State and the broader innovation ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Go‑to‑Market & Customer Acquisition

• Build and manage the initial infrastructure, including sales and marketing pipelines, needed to secure pilot customers and early users.

• Identify and manage external vendors and partners to support go‑to‑market launches.

• Establish clear processes to hand off a launched venture’s customer and partner relationships, ensuring ongoing success beyond launch.

• Refine brand strategy and development for new and existing ventures.

Market Validation & Research

• Test early-stage business concepts through market research, including industry and user interviews.

• Define participant personas for new ventures and determine how to get in front of these audiences.

• Identify and evaluate emerging opportunities and market trends to inform the direction of boisei labs and boisei investments.

Partnerships & Early‑Adopter Networks

• Build relationships with potential partner businesses. Primarily virtual, with in‑person and regional meetings where they help move key opportunities forward.

• Develop relationships with prospective users of new 'tech for good' ventures to build a strong network of early adopters.

Product Collaboration

• Partner with the product team to test prototypes and MVPs with the market.

• Help prioritize technology development based on business value and real market signals.

Who This Role Is For

This role is best suited for someone who is:

• Curious and quick to pick up new ideas, paired with the persistence to dig deep and uncover new insight.

• A demonstrated self-starter who can navigate ambiguous, novel work — ideally shaped by past entrepreneurial experience.

• Grounded in social science principles and skilled at uncovering underlying business needs.

• A natural networker with early‑stage business development experience.

• Highly comfortable in external-facing roles, demonstrated through past sales, public speaking, or similar experience.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest and commitment to 'tech for good' initiatives.

• Early‑stage business development, sales, or go‑to‑market experience, ideally within startups or a venture‑building environment.

• A track record of operating independently in ambiguous, fast‑moving settings; prior entrepreneurial experience is a strong plus.

• Strong research and interviewing skills, with an understanding of social science principles and how to translate them into business insight.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with genuine comfort representing a venture externally.

• Ability to work in the US without sponsorship.

Why join us?

• Competitive benefits like 4% matching 401k and health care reimbursement.

• Pathways to accelerated career advancement

• You will have the opportunity to work across multiple industries and venture concepts.

• We are a supportive small and highly collaborative team.

• A uniquely mission‑driven environment grounded in meaningful societal and environmental impact.