Program Manager - gBETA at WCTC’s Applied AI Lab

gener8tor • Pewaukee, WI

3h • $60,000 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Are you ready to find and work with the best and brightest entrepreneurs? Do you get excited about supporting startups so they can bring new innovations to life? Are you passionate about supporting the startup ecosystem in Wisconsin? If so, this position is for you.
gener8tor fosters innovation ecosystems through its accelerator programs, venture capital funds, and skills-based workforce initiatives. With a strong track record of supporting high-growth companies, gener8tor has expanded across the U.S. and internationally, building partnerships with governments, corporations, universities and economic development organizations to drive entrepreneurship and economic impact. gener8tor operates accelerators across 45 cities, 25 states and 3 countries, working with more than 300 startups per year. To date, gener8tor has worked with more than 2,000 startups that have cumulatively gone on to raise more than $2.9B in financing and employ more than 14,000 people.
gBETA is a 7 week free accelerator program to help build and scale startups. See this link for more information: https://www.gener8tor.com/gbeta. gALPHA is a 4 week free venture-creation program designed to help entrepreneurially minded students and technologists create high-growth startups: https://www.gener8tor.com/galpha.
gBETA Program Managers serve as the center of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in which they work - engaging with startup founders, mentors, investors and the community as a whole. They are responsible for:
Recruiting local startups for 2 seven-week gBETA accelerator programs per year & recruiting local students & innovators for 1 four-week gALPHA program per year
Managing the logistics and execution of the accelerator programs and helping the selected startups grow through applied mentorship, connections and support
Connecting gBETA alumni to a global network of support
Engaging the community with startup resources year round
We are looking for ambitious community advocates whose hunger to support entrepreneurs, connect with mentors and investors, and strengthen the startup ecosystem is never satiated. gBETA Program Managers have come from prior careers in entrepreneurship, journalism, academia, economic development, science, politics, law and nonprofits.
Success for the Program Manager means fully owning the day-to-day logistics and operations of the gBETA program end-to-end. This includes managing the operational components of founder recruitment, interview and selection; sourcing and engaging mentors and investors; and coordinating weekly programming such as 1:1 startup meetings, Lunch & Learns, cohort community-building events, and mentor/investor networking. The PM also leads planning and execution for major milestones, including program kickoff and the end-of-program showcase.
A successful Program Manager will also be an effective coach and connector for the community and startups they interact with. This looks like network-building, finding, evaluating and convincing the most high-potential startups to join the program, serving as the lead coach in the program for the selected startups and helping them with their business, network and growth needs, and effectively supporting the startups in achieving their goals such as customer growth and fundraising.
The Program Manager leads program execution under the guidance of the Managing Director and collaborates closely with gener8tor’s centralized support teams to deliver a consistent, high-quality experience across all program components.

Requirements

• Strong personal representation of Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) and the startup ecosystem of the Waukesha County region
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Self-starter
• Organized
• Commitment to equity across race, place and gender
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple ongoing projects and responsibilities
• A “no job is beneath me” mentality
• Willingness to intensively and rapidly learn a new industry, or dive deeper into the world of startups and venture capital
• Flexibility to work some nights and weekends
• Ability to occasionally travel around Wisconsin for in-person events and meetings
• Ability to work in-person on-site at WCTC

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of program or product management experience is a plus
• Experience with artificial intelligence a plus
• Relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders (startup founders, mentors, investors, corporate partners, etc.) and engage with them across the community.
• Act as the point of contact between founders, stakeholders and gener8tor.
• Recruit, vet, and select startup participants for gBETA cohorts.
• Manage logistics and execute one gBETA & two gALPHA programs per year according to gener8tor’s established curriculum and best practices.
• Engage with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the community and/or industry and, over time, establish themself as a trustworthy and reliable source of mentorship and conncetions.
• Assist alumni with ongoing mentor, sponsor and investor relations.
• Be a steadfast cheerleader and advocate for the startups and entrepreneurs we work with.
• Support the gener8tor team across multiple programs.
• Meet with the founders 1:1 on a weekly basis to provide concierge-like service.

What This Job Offers

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