Principal, Ventures

Energize Capital • Chicago, IL

2d • $200,000 - $250,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal – Ventures to play a leading role on Energize’s early-stage venture capital team. This is a senior investment position designed for a proven investor ready to take on greater ownership, leadership, and deal responsibility within a growing platform.
The role spans the full lifecycle of venture investing, from market research and thematic development through sourcing, diligence, underwriting, deal execution, and ongoing portfolio engagement. The Principal will lead investments and represent Energize in board governance and portfolio value creation efforts, working closely with portfolio company leadership teams to support strategic growth and long-term value creation.
In addition, the Principal will collaborate closely with Energize’s Edge portfolio services and Operations teams to ensure strong portfolio outcomes and seamless firm operations. The Principal – Ventures will report to our Partner and Co-Head of Ventures.
Our successful candidate has a strong track record of early-stage investing at the intersection of energy, climate, industrials, and emerging technology trends, including AI, cloud software, data, and analytics. Energize has a team-first, highly collaborative culture; accordingly, in addition to exceptional investment credentials, candidates with strong emotional intelligence and demonstrated experience thriving in team-based environments will be prioritized.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in energy or technology, including 5+ years of investing experience
• MBA or Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, engineering or a related field
• Passion for emerging megatrends in climate, energy and the digitization of critical industries
• Strong track record of investment origination and deal leadership; leading indicators of strong investment returns and concrete portfolio value creation work
• Expertise in financial modeling, including investment underwriting, bottoms-up operating model builds, cash flow analysis, scenario and sensitivity analysis, liquidation waterfall modeling, etc.
• Exceptional written and communication skills; good organizational skills with the ability to multi-task (i.e. simultaneously execute multiple transactions in addition to portfolio work)

Nice To Haves

• Experience with start-up governance, ideally multiple examples of serving on Boards of Directors

Responsibilities

• Source and lead potential investment opportunities aligned with the Ventures strategy
• Create and own investment deep dives and theses within Energize Capital’s focus areas
• Conduct in-depth market research, industry analysis, and due diligence on investments
• Develop and review financial models, perform valuation analyses, and assess investment risks
• Support the execution of investment transactions, including deal structuring
• Monitor portfolio company performance and own value creation initiatives
• Represent Energize as a Board Director/Observer
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Edge and Operations
• Build and manage a network of executives, investors, and operator
• Manage an active travel schedule (20 - 40%) in support of sourcing, diligence, and portfolio engagement

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, vision, dental, and HSA from day one of employment
• 401k matching
• Generous paid time off in addition to 10 company holidays and a flexible winter holiday schedule
• Market-leading parental leave policy and family planning benefits
• Health club reimbursement
• Continuing education stipend
• Lunch provided on in-office days
• Daily Coffee stipend for in-office days

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal