Playground Global is run by successful entrepreneurs who conceived, built, and scaled successful technology companies before becoming venture capitalists. Playground invests in early-stage, deep-tech startups. Our team has the technical skills and passion for digging in deep with entrepreneurs, helping them solve technical challenges to execute their visions. 

We are seeking an Operating Partner, Technology. Our ideal candidate is someone who will be pivotal in guiding and supporting our deep tech portfolio companies (across next-gen computing, AI and automation, logistics and infrastructure, and energy transition), ensuring teams have achieved the necessary business development milestones and customer traction before fundraising, ensuring an optimal outcome for the portfolio company.

You will create relevant commercial, strategic, and knowledge-sharing opportunities/connectivity on commercial positioning, market expansion, industry trends, and perspectives of leading investors and decision-makers.

Responsibilities

Networking:

• Cultivate relationships with later-stage investors, including Venture, Growth, Cross-over, and Secondary investors.

• Cultivate relationships within the IPO ecosystem, including advisors, bankers, research entities, and investor networks.

• Foster senior executive relationships, including but not limited to CFOs and independent board members.

Advisory Support:

• Inform portfolio companies on trends and strategic priorities of key customer verticals.

• Synthesize complex and often disparate qualitative and quantitative data sources to build a narrative around company performance.

Fundraising:

• Collect market intelligence and perform ongoing research on deal activity in Playground Global’s key sectors.

• Develop a comprehensive fundraising playbook to help Portfolio Companies understand the capital-raising process.

• Establish yourself as a trusted advisor to Playground Portfolio Companies, offering strategic guidance throughout their funding journeys.

• Provide expert counsel on the entire funding lifecycle, from initial stages to subsequent rounds. Help identify lead investors and coordinate with Playground's IR team to connect appropriate LPs as follow-on investors.

Building Strategic Relationships:

• Support the facilitation of relevant commercial or strategic introductions amongst portfolio companies, network relationships, and prospects.

• Advise Portfolio Companies on M&A activities, including potential suitable partners and investment strategies.

• Foster strategic relationships for successful M&A and IPO.

Cross-team Collaboration:

• Offer strategic guidance to the investment team, contributing insights on potential investments and M&A opportunities.

• Collaborate closely with the marketing team to develop and deliver Playground's unique perspective on your area of expertise.

• Strategize with Playground Investor Relations to identify suitable Limited Partners (LPs) for potential direct investment.

• You will collaborate closely with the Operating Partner of Capital Formation and the equivalent leadership of the Operating Partner of Life Sciences Fundraising.

Qualifications

• You have a strong network and the ability to build and maintain connectivity with investors, acquirers, and advisors. 

• You possess strong written and verbal communication. You are an independent executor with strong collaboration skills and solid project management skills among both internal and external constituents. You are passionate about dreaming up new creative ways to be a champion for the success of Playground Global companies.

• You have 10 years of relevant experience showcasing expertise in leading capital-raising efforts from initial outreach through due diligence, valuation, and structuring for technology companies. Ideal experience can be derived from investment banking, corporate development, or venture capital backgrounds.

• You can think creatively and devise innovative deal approaches and solutions to address complex challenges.

The job is based in Palo Alto, California, and is not eligible for remote status. 

The annual base salary range is $300,000 to $400,000. This range represents the low and high end of this California-based position's anticipated base salary range. The base salary will depend on numerous factors such as experience, knowledge, and skills.

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About Playground Global:

Playground Global is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments, with a focus on science and engineering companies driving emerging technologies. Our initial investments range from $1M to $20M, providing crucial support to visionary startups at the forefront of innovation, including artificial intelligence, automation, next-generation computing, quantum technologies, aerospace, biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and robotics.

At Playground, we’re committed to racial equity, social justice, and equal opportunity. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.