We are building a team focused on investments in the deeptech space, predominantly at Seed and Series A. Our aim is to give a variety of talented deeptech founders and companies a platform to flourish and to bring their technology to change the world.

The team aims to close up to ten new investments per year and to manage our existing 20+ deeptech portfolio companies to become £bn+ companies on our journey to become the most active and most successful deeptech investor in Europe.

The Investment manager will need to contribute to sourcing and execution of new investments and take board seats on portfolio companies.

Our ideal candidate will have experience from and passion for technology first, IP-rich businesses. In particular we are interested in investors or operators with expertise or experience in backing  ground breaking future technology solutions such as robotics, quantum computing, semiconductors, applied materials, AI/ML solutions for various industries.

What you’ll do

Finding new opportunities

• You will use your own and our existing networks, as well as building new networks, to find 50+ great deeptech investment opportunities per year
• You will help to drive inbound interest from deeptech start-ups by:
• Speaking at events or being on panels 4-6 times per year
• Releasing 4-6 blogs per year on topics you’ve researched

Leading new investments

You will lead 3-6 investments per year, taking responsibility of all aspects of the deal process including:

• Leading due diligence, managing advisors, conducting site visits and expert interviews, assessing market opportunity and evaluating financial forecasts

You will

• Recommend and own valuation and ideal round structure, prepare internal briefing and IC documents
• Present and sell new opportunities internally to the investment team and Investment Committee
• Negotiate and win deals

Portfolio / board work and fund

• You will take on board positions for the investments you lead and potentially other deeptech companies in the Octopus Portfolio;
• You will attend 4-10 board meetings per company, per year and draw on your own and the Octopus teams’ network to support portfolio companies where possible
• You will build close working relationships with founding teams of portfolio companies
• Where necessary you will manage complex situations within the portfolio including: performance management, follow-on funding rounds and exit

Your Skills and Experience

In this role you will bring the following essential skills and experience:

• Finding and investing in start-ups as part of a fund or as an Angel
• Working with start-up companies as an investor or as an experienced Operator in a deeptech focused start-up
• A strong passion and interest in deeptech
• A strong passion for tech investing and knowledge of the VC ecosystem

You may also bring the following highly beneficial but non-essential experience:

• Worked in a Venture Capital firm, accelerator or incubator
• Experience as a Board Director or Observer
• Experience coaching or managing junior team members

What you’ll get from us:

• A diverse group of 70+ colleagues who live and work by a strong set of shared values: – one team, be bold, be straightforward and be helpful
• The space to see opportunities, pick up and run with things and bring others along on the journey
• The opportunity to ‘geek out’ and learn about exciting new technologies and companies with a likeminded curious and passionate team
• A platform to build your skills and experience as a VC investor and to build your personal brand in the European VC ecosystem