Ventures Associate

About the company

Plug and Play is the largest global innovation platform and leading early‑stage investor, bringing together the best startups and the world’s largest corporations. We are early investors in 30+ unicorn startups including PayPal, Honey, and Rappi, and we’ve worked with most of the Fortune 500 enterprises across 20+ industry verticals on technology innovations. Within our platform we focus on various sectors, including a fast‑growing Brand & Retail vertical serving the largest brands and retailers in fashion & apparel, beauty, food & beverage, quick‑service restaurants, entertainment and other industries.

About the role

We are seeking a Ventures Associate for our Brand & Retail vertical, based in Sunnyvale, CA. The associate will make a substantial impact on corporate customers, accelerator programs, and startup investments. The role requires strong analytical and communication skills, financial acumen, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Customer Engagement and Retention
  • Develop trusted relationships with corporate partners and understand their innovation challenges and technology interests.
  • Work with corporate customers on technology needs to deliver startup sourcing, research, and other projects.
  • Collaborate with and host corporate executives in deal‑flow sessions, guiding corporations through startup evaluation.
• Accelerator
  • Conduct bi‑annual sourcing for accelerator programs aligned to commerce and media‑focused technology interests.
  • Speak at and organize accelerator programs.
  • Manage stakeholders—including corporate partners, startups, VCs, and mentors—and continuously improve programs.
• Investments
  • Collaborate with senior Ventures team members to source, evaluate, and execute early‑stage investment opportunities.
  • Prepare and deliver compelling investment proposals to the investment team on a weekly basis.
  • Build a strong network in the VC and startup ecosystem.
• Other duties
  • Support the sales team in growing the corporate customer base.
  • Take on ad‑hoc projects and tasks as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field with strong academic performance.
• Passion for the Brand & Retail industry and excellent customer service orientation.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, both internally and externally.
• Ability and willingness to meet established deadlines and handle multiple projects in a fast‑paced entrepreneurial environment.
• Humility, collaborative spirit, and a performance‑oriented mindset.

Schedule

Attendance policy: 4 days in the office, 1 day remote per week.