Ventures Analyst/ Associate - Enterprise & AI Ventures

plugandplaytechcenter; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Plug and Play is expanding its Enterprise & AI Ventures team and seeks a Research Analyst / Associate to build investment theses, track emerging technologies, and produce high-quality research guiding venture strategy and enterprise needs.

You will engage with startups, scaleups, and enterprise partners, translating findings into actionable insights and supporting dealflow and diligence in a dynamic venture environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in computer science, data science, engineering, mathematics, or related field.
• Ability to evaluate technical products and trends.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience or evidence in venture capital, consulting, banking, product, research, or technical roles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine investment theses and market intelligence for Enterprise & AI.
• Track industry trends, regulatory shifts, and competitive landscapes.
• Profile startups, technologies, and market opportunities in target sectors.
• Support diligence with product analysis, technical reviews, and market sizing.
• Summarize research into data-driven insights for Ventures and enterprise partners.

Skills

Analytical

Research Skills

Ecosystem Networking

Content Writing

Communication

Curiosity

Entrepreneurial Mindset

2–3 yrs exp

Education

Degree in CS/DS/Engineering

Job description

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is one of the most active early-stage venture investors globally. Since 1998, we’ve backed over 2,000 startups - including PayPal, Dropbox, Soundhound, and Lending Club - and today operate across 65 locations and 23 verticals. Our unique model combines venture investing with a global network of 550+ corporate partners to accelerate innovation worldwide.

We are expanding our Enterprise & AI Ventures team and seeking a Research Analyst / Associate who will focus on building investment theses, tracking emerging technologies, and producing high-quality research that guides our venture strategy and helps Enterprises stay ahead of disruption.

What You Will Do

Thesis & Market Intelligence

• Develop and refine investment roadmaps in Enterprise & AI.
• Track industry trends, regulatory shifts, and competitive landscapes.
• Identify and profile the most promising startups and technologies in target markets.

Company & Ecosystem Tracking

• Monitor performance of notable startups, scaleups, and major industry players.
• Track venture investment activity, acquisitions, and partnership trends.
• Maintain internal knowledge bases and market maps to guide sourcing and decision-making.

Enterprise-Driven Insights

• Gather intelligence directly from our enterprise ecosystem through interviews, surveys, and feedback loops.
• Translate enterprise perspectives into reports and buyer-driven insights that inform investment theses and help startups understand customer needs.

Support Investment Process

• Contribute to company diligence: product analysis, technical reviews, market sizing, customer references.
• Summarize research into clear, data-driven insights for the Ventures team and Enterprises.

Strategic Exposure

• Partner with senior team members to align Enterprise needs with startup opportunities.
• Support occasional events, founder introductions, and content initiatives - with research at the core of your contributions.
• Collaborate with the Plug and Play team to understand corporate innovation needs and facilitate targeted introductions between startups and corporate partners.
• Manage dealflow sessions, ensuring relevant startups are presented effectively to corporate partners.

About You

• Analytical & Technical: Degree (or self-taught expertise) in computer science, data science, engineering, mathematics, or related field. Able to evaluate technical products and trends.
• Research-Oriented: You love deep dives, connecting dots, and building structured insights from fragmented information.
• Ecosystem Connector: Comfortable engaging with executives to extract insights, run surveys, and capture the voice of the buyer to enrich your research.
• Content Creator: Skilled at writing clear, engaging, and professional content - from research reports to blog posts and public-facing insights.
• Strong Communicator: Clear, concise writer and presenter; able to tailor insights to investors, executives, and founders.
• Curious & Proactive: You thrive on learning new technologies, experimenting with AI tools, and staying on the cutting edge.
• Experience: 2-3 years in VC, consulting, banking, product, research, or a technical role - or exceptional projects that prove your ability.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Independent thinker, fast learner, and self-starter who thrives in a dynamic, venture environment.