Investment Associate - SC Launch Program in Charleston, South Carolina at SCRA

Position Description:

The Investment Associate is responsible for managing the early stages of our investment activities including sourcing new investment opportunities, initial engagement with applicants, and shepherding the Member Companies through the investment process. This position will lead many of the initial due diligence and assessment activities of the applicant companies and will work closely with SC Launch member companies to ensure alignment with Member Company’s deployment strategy and SC Launch’s various support elements. Investment Associate’s will be expected to execute SC Launch’s operational process while working closely with the other SC Launch team members, including regional Investment Managers.

Essential Functions:

• Assists the team in sourcing new investment opportunities that can generate actionable deal flow consistent with SC Launch’s investment mandate.
• Represents SCRA and SC Launch at relevant events and support regional startup ecosystems.
• Evaluates investment opportunities by assessing company management, analyzing market and financial data, develop capital modeling scenarios, conducting initial diligence calls, and preparing initial investment memos.
• Ensures delivery of all relevant program materials and support elements to client companies as each stage of the process.
• Reviews pitch decks and conduct initial screening calls with entrepreneurs.
• Assists with due diligence activities as assigned.
• Ensures relevant company data on member companies is accurately captured and presented.
• Manages tracking of existing portfolio and investment metrics.
• Work closely with company management to develop relevant company milestones and utilize relevant resources and grant programs to assist company to achieve these results.
• Reviews client company milestones for investment readiness and recommends actions leading to preparation for internal and external grant awards and possible direct investments from SC Launch, Inc., including preparation for companies entering investment due diligence, term sheet negotiations and funding, review of company financials, forecasts, valuations, and capitalization tables.
• Recommends Acceleration Grant funding to top candidates for SC Launch, Inc. Investments.
• Assists with monthly and quarterly meeting preparation for SC Launch Inc.
• Supports entrepreneurs in the pre-funding and post-funding stages for grant investments.
• Participate on due diligence teams for potential SC Launch Inc. equity investments.
• Participate in strategic planning on future funds including fund-raising strategies with the investment managers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, general studies, technology, and/or science with an advanced degree preferred.
• 5 years or more experience in business, corporate, investment, or entrepreneurial settings.
• Experience with initial financial modeling and concise assessment of business risk and opportunity for translation into initial investment memos.
• Experience working with entrepreneurial or start-up companies and conducting due diligence related to seed and early-stage investments.
• Experience in reviewing financial agreements, contracts, operating agreements, and other investment-related documents.
• Proven ability to multi-task and manage a diverse pool of concurrent assignments.
• Ability to make cogent and effective presentations related to analysis and assessment results.
• Strong interpersonal skills required to maintain relationships with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders.
• Business process mapping experience.
• Strong verbal and written communications skill and attention to detail.
• Highly familiar and competent with business-related computer applications including MS Office Suite, MS Dynamics, MS Project, and MS Visio.

Additional Expertise Desired:

• Experience and knowledge of early-stage venture capital as well as the structuring of deals suitable for venture capital and/or corporate investors.
• Experience with investment due diligence process, Cap Tables, reviewing company contracts, operating plans, and investment documentation.
• Demonstrated experience in technology.
• Experience with operational and/or fund-raising experience at a start-up or mid-sized company