Venture Associate

Next176; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 750 000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking venture company in Johannesburg is seeking a Venture Associate. This role involves identifying business opportunities, driving innovation, and managing projects effectively. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree and have proven experience in venture development or business strategy. This position requires strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills, alongside a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation in the business landscape.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in venture development, business strategy, or entrepreneurship.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Solid understanding of business models and financial analysis.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong project management skills to prioritize tasks.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate potential business opportunities through market research.
• Conduct in‐depth market research and signal validation.
• Manage research and validation initiatives with timelines.
• Collaborate with cross‐functional teams for business strategies.
• Prepare regular reports and communicate key insights.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Creative thinking

Leadership capabilities

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Finance, or a related field

Job description

Johannesburg, South Africa | Posted on 16/11/2023

Job Description

Job Purpose: Reporting to the Venture Architect, the Venture Associate will support a team and partners in developing and driving the successful implementation of a new venture in an identified target ecosystem, creating new product offerings and channels that create value for Next176.

Position Overview: We are seeking a visionary and strategic-minded Venture Associate to join our team. In this role, you will work closely with entrepreneurs, internal teams, and external partners to develop and execute innovative venture strategies. As a Venture Associate, you will combine your business acumen, industry expertise, and creative thinking to design and shape the future of our ventures. The ideal candidate should have a strong entrepreneurial mindset, a deep understanding of business strategy, and a passion for driving innovation and growth.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate potential business opportunities: conduct market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, technologies, and market gaps; assess viability, profitability, and scalability of new ventures; collaborate with entrepreneurs and internal teams to identify market opportunities and assess feasibility.
• Market research and signal validation: conduct in‑depth market research, competitor analysis, and customer insights; analyse industry landscapes, competitive environments and customer behaviour; identify potential ideas to take through the venture building validation process; develop hypotheses and research; provide insights to support decision‑making; assess risks and opportunities associated with potential ventures.
• Project management: manage research and validation initiatives, coordinate timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams: assist in implementation of business strategies and go‑to‑market plans; work with venture architects & product teams to support the build of prototypes and products ensuring alignment with research findings.
• Reporting: prepare regular reports and updates for the Venture Architect and other stakeholders; communicate key insights and findings effectively to support decision‑making.
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams, including product managers, designers, marketers, and engineers, to align venture strategies and execute on business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Finance, or a related field.
• Proven experience in venture development, business strategy, or entrepreneurship.
• Strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills, with the ability to assess market trends, identify opportunities, and make strategic decisions.
• Solid understanding of business models, financial analysis, and investment principles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and entrepreneurs.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to think creatively, challenge the status quo, and propose innovative solutions.
• Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities, with the ability to inspire and guide entrepreneurs.
• Passion for entrepreneurship, startups, and driving innovation in the business landscape.
• Familiarity with venture capital, startup ecosystem, and emerging technologies is desirable.