Head of Capital Formation & Corporate Development

Uniphore•Palo Alto, CA

6d•$200,000 - $350,000•Onsite

About The Position

Uniphore is looking for a rare hybrid operator to lead the next phase of its private capital strategy and inorganic growth agenda. This is a CEO-adjacent, board-facing seat at a fast-growing, AI-native company — someone who will help determine how Uniphore funds its future, and what it builds versus what it buys to get there. Most organizations split this mandate across two people: one who raises capital, and one who runs M&A. We're looking for one person who can credibly do both. You don't need to be equally deep on each side — but you need a genuine track record on at least one, and real, hands-on fluency on the other. This is not a generalist finance role, and it is not an entry point into private capital markets or M&A — we're looking for someone who has already done this work and knows the players.

Requirements

A background at the Associate through Director/Partner level within an investment bank (bulge-bracket or specialty/boutique), or equivalent principal-side experience leading fundraising and/or corporate development at a high-growth technology company.
A demonstrated, closeable track record on at least one of the two core mandates: leading and closing private fundraising rounds with VC, growth-equity, or PE investors, or running M&A transactions full-cycle — sourcing through integration — as a principal, not solely as an advisor or banker.
Working knowledge of whichever side isn't your primary strength — we will invest in developing you further on that side, but you need to already speak the language.
Banking, investment banking, or venture capital experience is core to this profile.
Candidates who have also spent time in-house at a public company — ideally in AI or data platforms — are especially well-positioned, bringing both the deal-side discipline and the operator's view of running these functions from inside a growth-stage business.
AI or SaaS industry experience is non-negotiable. You should be able to speak credibly, internally and externally, to where the AI market is headed, who the emerging players and research labs are, and how that shapes build-versus-buy decisions.
Deep fluency in private capital markets specifically — VC/PE deal mechanics, terms, and investor psychology. This is distinct from public-markets investor relations experience.
Strong financial modeling and strategic/analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate complex M&A and fundraising decisions and their attendant risks.
Executive presence: proven ability to build trust and credibility directly with a CEO, executive team, and board.
A proactive, high-autonomy operator who is comfortable managing multiple live workstreams in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
Master's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Build and lead Uniphore's private fundraising strategy, targeting late-stage venture capital, growth-equity, and private equity investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals — including investors focused on companies approaching public-market readiness.
Own the debt-financing strategy and lender relationships, working across bulge-bracket and specialty/boutique banking partners to structure and negotiate debt facilities.
Serve as the primary point of contact for private investors: end-to-end relationship management, tailored investor presentations, financial models, and fundraising materials.
Oversee investor due diligence, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and alignment with Uniphore's growth strategy.
Partner with the Office of the CEO and the Chief Technology & Product Officer to drive Uniphore's inorganic growth strategy, including full-lifecycle M&A: sourcing, evaluation, negotiation, and integration.
Lead build-versus-buy analysis on emerging technology and product capabilities — bringing fluency in the startup and AI research-lab landscape to identify and evaluate acquisition targets.
Determine the right capital structure for each transaction — whether it's funded from existing balance sheet capacity or requires a dedicated capital raise (debt or equity) — and lead that raise when needed.
Negotiate directly with target companies and their investors/cap tables through to close.
Act as a true financial and strategic business partner to the CFO.
Work in close daily partnership with the CEO; prepare board-ready materials and help secure board-level approvals for fundraising and M&A decisions.
Align fundraising and corporate development initiatives across Product, Marketing, People, Legal, and Finance.
Serve as an internal expert on AI and SaaS market trends to guide strategic decision-making.