Director of Elevate Accelerator & Investments

WEPOWER will soon launch our inaugural Elevate Accelerator for early stage companies who are ready to scale their companies. Our accelerator will support a cohort of 10 early stage companies over a six-month cycle. Throughout the six-months, companies will access workshops (designed by Village Capital), a team of mentors, connections to technical service providers (legal, finance, HR, marketing), community-building experiences, and coaching from a dynamic and experienced Coach. By the end of the six-months, companies will: (1) be investment ready, (2) attracting new capital, (3) and scaling their companies. 

WEPOWER has a targeted focus on Black and Latinx entrepreneurs with companies less than three-years old, have launched with an MVP, have some early traction, and ready to scale but limited access to capital and support. As the Entrepreneur-in-Residence, you lead the launch and pilot of the Elevate Accelerator. 

Outcomes Over the Next 7-8 Months

• Facilitate the first cycle of the accelerator program with 10 early-stage companies and maintain a 90% retention rate.
• 80% of early-stage companies retained scale the number of annual customers and increase their annual revenue.
• 80% of early-stage companies retained report growing a strong sense of community among the other venture teams within the cohort, and feeling supported and nurtured to successfully scale their ventures.
• 80% of early-stage companies retained report access to high quality and useful training, coaching, and resources in the areas of (1) raising capital, (2) marketing, (3) and customer acquisition.
• 80% of community members surveyed communicate satisfaction with companies and entrepreneurs:
  • Relationship with the community
  • Quality of services and products
  • Relevance to community needs

Responsibilities 

Manage company development (40%)

• Manage the continuous improvement and development of the curriculum and training components of the accelerator.
• Manage the company training process including content delivery, recruitment of facilitators (as needed) and expert panelists, and evaluation in partnership with our external evaluator.
• Manage the business coaching team who will provide individualized goal setting and benchmarking support, coaching, accountability, and development to the venture teams throughout the accelerator cycle.
• Continuously assess effectiveness of venture and business coach relationships and facilitate problem solving and course correction as needed.
• Work with venture teams and their business coaches and mentor teams to develop a post-accelerator plan.

Manage connections to mentors and technical services (30%)

• Continuously identify, cultivate, recruit, and steward a strong pool of mentors to work with company teams.
• Manage the process of on-boarding and supporting mentor teams as they work with company teams.
• Continuously assess effectiveness of venture and mentor team relationships and facilitate problem solving and course correction as needed.
• Form partnerships with technical service professionals (lawyers, accountants, marketing professionals, HR professionals) to meet the needs of company teams and arrange for ongoing pro-bono office hours.
• Continuously assess effectiveness of technical service providers.

Manage investment opportunities (15%)

• Manage the process of awarding grants and investments from WEPOWER's fund.
• Work with the CEO and Board to develop our investment fund strategy.
• Work with CEO and Board to continuously identify, cultivate, and steward all forms of capital partners bankers, foundations and donors, angel investors, venture capitalists, etc.
• Continuously develop assess to capital for Elevate Accelerator and the companies we support.
• Connect the appropriate companies to the appropriate capital and investment opportunities.
• Support companies with preparing for, navigating, and closing on capital and investment opportunities.

Support the company recruitment and selection process in alignment with prioritized industries (15%)

• Continuously form pipeline partners from which companies can be recruited.
• Create and facilitate opportunities to identify and cultivate relevant venture teams to apply.
• Manage the formation of selection committees, the application process, and the process of selecting each new cohort of venture teams.
• Ensure strong technology and data-driven tools and supports are in place to create a transparent, equitable, and efficient recruitment and selection process.
• Work with the Communications & Storytelling team to develop and improve recruitment messaging, branding, and collateral.
• Continuously assess and improve the company recruitment and selection process.

You

• Have an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit
• Full of business acumen
• Are a developer of people
• A champion of cultural and racial identity development
• A resource and partnership magnet

Your Experiences Include Some of the Following...

• You have been or are currently an executive/leadership coach working with startup and early-stage entrepreneurs.
• You have been on the founding team of at least one startup.
• You have heard more than once: Wow, you know everybody!"
• You have successfully raised capital for a company or a fund that invests in startup or early stage companies
• You have successfully navigated a startup ecosystem.

Supervisory Responsibilities 

The Entrepreneur in Residence will have the flexibility to recruit, select, and supervise interns, practicum students, fellows, contractors, and volunteers. You will have a full time AmeriCorps VISTA who will support the design, pilot, and iteration of the accelerator. 

Work Environment 

Fun. Fast. Focused. Values-driven. Community-centered. Collaborative. Innovative. Lots of brainstorming and imagining what's possible and then chasing each possibility until it is reality! 

As a startup, WEPOWER demands extreme commitment and agility, AND we value each team member's personal life circumstances and priorities. We will work together to ensure the organization prioritizes the health, social-emotional wellbeing, and morale of each team member! Some evening and weekend work will be expected. 

There will be 24-hour access to a co-working space with printing, conference rooms, phone booths, snacks, drinks, and the opportunity to be in community with other innovators, entrepreneurs, and entrepreneur support organizations. 

Travel 

You will travel up to 15% of your time to form partnerships, develop new skills to support companies, and to raise capital. 

Compensation 

The salary and benefits package will be highly competitive with other organizations of similar stature and size. 

Equal Opportunity 

At WEPOWER, we don't just accept difference we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our team, our programs, and our community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, political affiliation or belief, or genetic information. 

This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

Process

• ROUND 1:Submit application.
• ROUND 2:Phone interview.
• ROUND 3:Performance activity and half-day interview.
• ROUND 4: Reference check.
• START: Welcome to the team!

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Company Description:

We partner with Black and Latinx communities to build power to re-design education, health, economic, and justice systems to be just and equitable for all. One of the ways we work with communities to build power is through entrepreneur support. 

We invest in early stage companies ready for scale and provide curriculum, coaching, and connections as they spark wealth-creating job growth in communities with whom we partner. 

We engage the community through facilitating meaningful connections and amplifying residents voices to inform critical decisions that impact their lives. We also train community members to create new policy solutions, advocate, and lead change. We envision a future where we all have to power to lead, so every community prospers.