Principal

Alumni Ventures • Menlo Park, CA

7d • $170,000 - $180,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

As Principal on Alumni Ventures’ Blue Team, you’ll be at the forefront of sourcing, evaluating, and executing venture investments for the Blue Ivy Ventures Fund, which serves the Yale community. The Blue Team also invests on behalf of the Nassau Street Ventures Fund, serving the Princeton community, and the HealthTech Fund, giving you the opportunity to contribute across multiple investment strategies. This is a generalist investing role with a primary focus on Seed and Series A companies, as well as select Pre-Seed and Growth-stage opportunities. You’ll be encouraged to develop areas of expertise and differentiated investment theses while remaining flexible across sectors, technologies, and stages. You’ll work closely with the Managing Partner and broader investment team to identify high-potential companies, lead diligence, develop investment recommendations, and support portfolio companies. You’ll also collaborate across the broader Alumni Ventures platform to strengthen our access to compelling investment opportunities. Alumni Ventures is an active co-investor, investing alongside established venture capital firms. Your network—and your ability to continue building it—will be critical. Success in this role requires creativity, warmth, sound investment judgment, and the ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with founders, venture investors, and industry partners. The position may be based in our New York City, Menlo Park, or Boston office. Alumni Ventures is a fast-paced, professional, and entrepreneurial environment.

Requirements

• 7+ years of overall professional experience, including meaningful experience in venture capital, private equity, investment banking, consulting, startups, or a related field.
• Approximately 1–3 or more years of direct venture capital experience, with demonstrated exposure to sourcing, diligence, investment decision-making, and portfolio support.
• A bachelor’s degree in business, economics, engineering, computer science, or another relevant field.
• A strong interest in technology, innovation, startups, and emerging market trends.
• Understanding of venture capital deal structures, financing terms, investment processes, and industry practices.
• Ability to quickly understand and critically evaluate a company’s team, business model, market opportunity, competitive positioning, and potential for growth.
• An effective network builder who can expand the team’s access to high-quality investment opportunities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and execute consistently in a fast-moving, collaborative environment.
• A self-starter who can operate independently while remaining a highly collaborative team member.
• Intellectually curious, humble, creative, and able to learn new sectors and technologies quickly.
• Hands-on familiarity with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar platforms and can incorporate them into research, diligence, analysis, and team workflows.

Nice To Haves

• An MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Proactively source high-quality investment opportunities that align with the Blue Team’s investment strategy and broader Alumni Ventures initiatives.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective investments across sectors and stages.
• Develop relationships with venture investors, founders, entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, universities, and other members of the startup ecosystem.
• Drive strong conversion from sourced opportunities to qualified investments.
• Partner with other Alumni Ventures investment teams to identify mutually relevant opportunities.
• Lead initial diligence on potential investments, engaging directly with founders, customers, industry experts, co-investors, and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate company teams, business models, market opportunities, competitive landscapes, traction, financing terms, and key investment risks.
• Develop clear, thoughtful investment memos and present recommendations through Alumni Ventures’ Investment Committee process.
• Build and maintain proprietary market, company, and deal intelligence to support investment decisions.
• Contribute to the successful execution of approved investments, from initial evaluation through closing.
• Work closely with the Managing Partner and broader investment team to build a high-performing, well-balanced portfolio.
• Maintain strong alignment with the team’s investment strategy, portfolio construction goals, and annual investment targets.
• Accurately maintain deal activity, diligence findings, and investment-related information within the firm’s systems.
• Grow and leverage a robust network of founders, venture investors, operators, and industry experts to gain access to differentiated deal flow.
• Represent Alumni Ventures professionally and effectively across the venture ecosystem.
• Educate founders, deal sources, and co-investors about Alumni Ventures, our investment approach, and our process.
• Strengthen the Blue Team’s visibility and relationships within the Yale, Princeton, HealthTech, and broader venture communities.
• Build trusted relationships with portfolio company leaders and support them across strategic and operational priorities.
• Monitor company and portfolio performance through regular founder engagement, performance tracking, and internal reporting.
• Identify opportunities to support portfolio companies through introductions, recruiting, business development, financing, and other platform resources.
• Maintain relevant fund and portfolio performance information in close collaboration with Alumni Ventures’ finance and operations teams.
• Support fundraising, investor relations, and community engagement initiatives for the Blue Team.
• Contribute to events, webinars, written content, and thought leadership that engage the team’s investor and alumni communities.
• Partner with colleagues across Alumni Ventures to communicate the team’s investment strategy, portfolio activity, and market perspectives.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage with multiple plan options, including employer-funded deductible support and HSA contributions
• Dental and vision plans with multiple coverage tiers
• Tax-advantaged accounts including HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits (with monthly employer contribution)
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
• Company-paid life and disability insurance, plus optional supplemental coverage
• Additional support programs including EAP, health advocacy, and wellness resources
• Flexible, unlimited PTO and generous paid parental leave
• 11 company holidays

What This Job Offers

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