Investment Manager (Physical Sciences/Deep Tech)

West Cambridge | £50-60,000 | Full-time |Hybrid Working

Do you have the vision, ambition, and determination to build and fund some of the most exciting impactful companies of tomorrow? Cambridge Enterprise is looking for an Investment Manager focussed on opportunities in Deep Tech to work within our Ventures team.

We are at the heart of Europe's most successful research and technology cluster and we're on a mission to bring innovation to life, making a difference to society, the UK economy, and the University of Cambridge. We connect the innovative minds of the University’s academics with the funding, start-up expertise and commercial relationships they need to help their ideas thrive. 

Our success stories include an electric vehicle charging technology that's as convenient as filling up with petrol, a programme to prevent ideological extremism, and the world's first treatment for a rare cause of blindness . Now, we need an Investment Manager to join our team at our vibrant West Cambridge site.

You will play a direct and crucial role in developing emerging technology companies which can change the world for the better. You will have a strong early-stage investment skillset and bring this to one of the world-leading University investment funds. You will be particularly focussed on developing a portfolio from opportunities arising from the School of Physical Sciences and the School of Technology.

You will be engaged in all parts of the investment process; deal generation, initial assessment, due diligence, writing investment papers and closing financing rounds. As a manager you will be expected to work independently from an early time-point, but working in a world-class investment team, you will have plenty of opportunity to learn from those around you.

A key part of the role will be finding the opportunities and assessing their potential. This will involve developing relationships with departments and their academics and working with them to build their opportunities.  The role participates in collective decision-making within the Ventures team for advancement of any opportunity to the investment committee (up to £1M)and funding decisions for pre-seed investments (up to £150K) under a delegated authority process.

Working with the Head of Ventures and the other Investment Managers and Investment Directors you will contribute to the Ventures strategy.

Build investment opportunities:

• Find opportunities from the University and develop deal flow
• Conduct deep dives into emerging areas and markets; identify high impact areas of interest for the portfolio
• Identify academic faculty with promising research programmes
• Meet and work with Founders, CE colleagues and external advisors to develop the business and investment strategy, to build strong investment cases 
• Develop relationships with a network of potential co-investors to build high value-add investor syndicates
• Help prepare entrepreneurs for Investment Committees; provide constructive feedback on pitch decks and business plans
• Network across the Cambridge ecosystem to help develop, promote and accelerate deal flow
• Apply your skills and experience to prepare a rigorous investment case for the CE Investment Committee  or delegated authority decision making process.
• Participate in pre-seed investment decision making under delegated authority limits.

Generate high-quality deal flow: 

• Build relationships with the academic base and Cambridge entrepreneurs across the physical sciences 
• Liaise and work with colleagues in the Cambridge Enterprise Technology Transfer office to identify University IP assets for spin-out opportunities
• Identify and evaluate Cambridge related spin-out / start-up opportunities across the technology spectrum 
• Identify and attend relevant talks, conferences and networking events

Complete the deal:

• Contribute to, and direct analysts and/or associates to carry out investment due diligence including company technology, market analysis, sector interviews and investor syndicate
• Lead on liaising with the Ventures General Counsel to complete investment-related legal documentation
• Carry out negotiations with the spin-out company and the investor syndicate

Help grow the company:

• Use your network to identify potential commercial and non-executive director talent for the portfolio
• Assist the funded companies to identify and recruit appropriate commercial team members 
• Represent the University at board meetings as a Director or Observer
• Build networks, manage relationships and information flow to facilitate access to capital and investment syndication for portfolio companies 

Cambridge Enterprise Ventures is the venture building and investing arm of the University and sits at the heart of Cambridge Enterprise. We are responsible for finding, creating and funding spin-outs from the most exciting and innovative technologies emerging from the University.

All our companies have the potential to change the world and make a difference. Our portfolio includes companies looking to make an impact by commercialising technologies in sustainable materials, quantum computing, next generation batteries, photonics and optimisation software. The Ventures team plays a vital role in enabling the translation of ideas and technologies into commercial success and to date these spin-outs have gone on to raise more than £3bn from other investors.

• Strong technical background in relevant physical science discipline, preferably with a degree
• Experience in technology commercialisation within either technology transfer or commercial environments
• You will have managed investments into a spin out or start up company
• Strong financial skills coupled with strategic foresight and risk assessment
• Collaborative approach, adept at consensus-building and timely decision-making
• The experience and skill to evaluate and recommend investment opportunities for the Investment Committee.
• A strong networker who will actively engage with the business community, actively introducing them to relevant opportunities from the Cambridge ecosystem.
• Able to provide constructive feedback on business plans to academics and students, directing them to additional resources if Cambridge Enterprise Ventures isn't investing

• PhD in a relevant science discipline, or experience in a relevant role
• Exposure to University-derived technology companies with high growth potential
• A good understanding of several sectors within the relevant sciences
• Bring financial and commercial expertise to bear on the evaluation of investment opportunities
• May have an understanding and experience of working with University Technology transfer offices to license IP or spin out new ventures
• Track record of successful, relevant achievements and building relevant networks in academia and business

These are our ideal requirements, but we know some people are less likely to apply for the role unless they are 100% qualified. At Cambridge Enterprise, we promote a diverse, inclusive and empowering culture, so please apply if you meet the majority of the job requirements.

If you have any questions about the interview process, or if you need any reasonable adjustments, please don’t hesitate to contact Ian, Gemma or Michelle at [email protected]

Our benefits package is impressive. With 30 days of annual leave, a generous University pension, health and lifestyle benefits and a modern office at West Cambridge, you'll thrive in this vibrant academic and innovation community.

• 30 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Hybrid role with genuine flexible working – including work from abroad for up to 30 days a year in most roles
• Generous University pension scheme.
• A commitment to personal development including LinkedIn learning.
• Family-friendly policies (including enhanced parental leave & childcare benefits, fertility leave, and pregnancy loss leave)
• Mental health and well-being support including access to free counselling.
• Retail and travel discounts.

Closing date: Tuesday 30th April