Startups Manager

Future Founders•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Future Founders is building the nation’s largest inclusive community of intentional young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-minded leaders. Our programs immerse youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and create their own opportunity. We believe this leads to a generation more determined, hopeful, and equipped as they engage the future. Since 2005, we have served over 50,000 youth, and our national 18- to 30-year-old founders have generated $433M in revenue, secured $320M in capital, and created 2,400 jobs. Join us as we empower the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. For more information visit www.futurefounders.com. SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE Reporting to the Head of Platform Strategy and working in close partnership with the organization’s leadership, the Startups Manager is a new role that will support our idea/early-stage founder programs for diverse 18- to 30-year-old entrepreneurs in Chicago and across the country. A successful Startups Manager will be a strong workshop facilitator, listener, and connector. The Startups Manager will lead our Apprenticeship program and support our Startup Bootcamp program, which includes recruiting participants, program design and evaluation, leading content-based workshops, and conducting one-on-one mentoring sessions with our founders. In the first year on the job, we hope to see the following in your work: You have taken the reins and run 1-2 successful cohorts of our Apprenticeship program (a cohort-based program empowering underestimated founders (ages 18-25) to test, build, and scale new businesses). You provided support for our idea/early-stage Startup Bootcamp program leading sessions, coaching founders, and assisting with program design. You have leveraged your facilitation skills to create a positive sense of community within your cohorts, and have built strong 1-on-1 relationships that you’ve used as a foundation to emotionally uplift and motivate founders and alumni. You are a strong networker and have built strategic relationships in the entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on underestimated communities. You demonstrate a consultative approach in serving our founders. You’re a great listener and able to connect the dots that help our founders succeed. You’ve immersed yourself in our network of entrepreneurs, alumni, mentors, and other stakeholders, leveraging their collective expertise to make a difference in the trajectory of our program participants. You’ve contributed to the team in organizing in-person retreats serving founders in our 18-30 programs. You were able to help our founders skill-up and create lasting peer and mentor relationships. You are a strong communicator, both virtually and in person. You’re able to connect with our network and clearly articulate ideas and expectations to people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. You excel at public speaking, leading workshops, and email communications. You are comfortable with social media posting/engagement. You consistently work with the senior leadership team to secure new funding for the programs and organization as a whole. As part of this, you will assist with fundraising, grant reporting, data collection, and program evaluation. You’re organized and developed strong systems to run your cohorts effectively and manage your founders’ goals and progress. You are detail-oriented, take initiative, and have a bias toward action. Your follow-up is thorough and we’re amazed at how quickly the meeting recap or introduction is sent after your conversations take place. Most importantly, you care about our mission of creating opportunity for young people from underrepresented backgrounds within entrepreneurship.

Requirements

Direct experience coaching idea/early-stage entrepreneurs from underestimated backgrounds to launch businesses OR direct founder experience starting their own business.
College graduate with 4+ years of professional experience.
Strong community ties and network within Chicago.
Experience working with 18- to 30-year-olds in a professional or volunteer capacity.
Passion and knowledge of the startup ecosystem.
Capable of high levels of program management and innovation with a strong attention to detail.
Commitment to high standards and confidence to uphold program expectations.
Strong networker, able to recruit new mentors, program participants, and partners through a variety of channels.
Self-directed with the ability to anticipate the needs of others (specifically founders and fellow team members).
Technology-oriented with familiarity with tools like Google Workspace, Airtable, Zoom, and AI.
Fluent in feedback (giving and receiving).

Nice To Haves

High levels of emotional maturity, flexibility, integrity, and professionalism.
A "can do" attitude and ready to pitch in when needed.
A sense of humor.

Responsibilities

Lead the Apprenticeship program.
Support the Startup Bootcamp program, including recruiting participants, program design and evaluation, leading content-based workshops, and conducting one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Leverage facilitation skills to create a positive sense of community within cohorts.
Build strong 1-on-1 relationships to emotionally uplift and motivate founders and alumni.
Build strategic relationships in the entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on underestimated communities.
Organize in-person retreats serving founders.
Assist with fundraising, grant reporting, data collection, and program evaluation.
Develop strong systems to run cohorts effectively and manage founders' goals and progress.
Follow up thoroughly after conversations.