Program Manager, Techstars Minnesota (990)

The Program Manager (PM) is the operational backbone of the Accelerator program team. The PM’s focus is program operations and execution of the Techstars playbook to deliver the best possible program experience for founders, mentors, partners, investors and other stakeholders. 
PMs are responsible for ensuring the operational success of the full accelerator cycle from company sourcing through Demo Day. This includes event management, utilizing tools/developing processes to manage program data, building and scheduling the 3-month programming calendar, execution of Demo Day, and recruiting, hiring, training, and management of the seasonally hired Associate team. The PM is also responsible for collaborating closely with the Corporate Partner to support their goals within the accelerator.
Experience with operations and event planning is required and is a major part of this role. Familiarity with the early-stage, venture-backed company ecosystem is preferred but not required. Throughout the year, PMs will have the opportunity to work across the Techstars network, support cross-collaborative projects, focus on professional development and career growth, and work with colleagues from all around the world. 
You will be both internally focused working in support of founders in-program and externally focused on behalf of our founders to the broader community of alumni, investors, and mentors. You will manage the program and maintain strong bonds with the startups, acting as a resource and looking out for relevant opportunities to support their success.

What You Will Do:

• Work with the team to develop the program plan and own the overall responsibility for the successful execution of both accelerator programs, including end of program celebrations and Demo Day

• Ensure the program is following best practices and executing upon outlined content and curriculum of the Techstars playbook

• Deliver the best possible accelerator experience to founders, mentors, partners, investors, and other stakeholders

• Manage the logistics for the program calendar, mentor schedules, investor meetups, demo day and ensure the founders, mentors, speakers, partners, and investors are fully informed about all program-facing activities.

• Manage the logistics of the application, screening, and onboarding process

• Implement network events/programs to support founders and alumni both during program and outside of program

• Support relationship management with the Accelerator Corporate Partner (if applicable) and Techstars’ Global Network Partners

• Recruit, hire, and manage the seasonal Associate team

• Develop relationships with entrepreneurial support organizations, the Techstars perk network, and the cross Techstars network that can support our founders

• Share new best practices with the Techstars’ team globally as you identify areas for innovation and improvement

• Represent Techstars in the local community and ecosystem

• As time permits and as experience grows, source and evaluate potential investments related to the program themes, including market research, competitive analysis, and investment memo development.

• Support the development of a strong pipeline of startups with diverse and underrepresented founders

What you bring to the role:

• A genuine passion for technology and startups, an entrepreneurial mindset, and an insatiable desire to always be learning

• 5+ years of experience in fast-paced environments with a focus on event planning, business operations, and project management

• Good verbal and written communication skills in English

• Extraordinary ability for self-learning and learning by doing, with a demonstrated ability to learn from available documentation and quickly applying it with little direction

• Proven attention to detail through prior work or life experience

• Comfortable working in ambiguity but with high expectations

• Can anticipate the needs and requests of multiple stakeholders

• Systems thinker with an eye for things that do not scale and the capability to design new processes and systems for implementation across programs

• Advanced skills with Excel or Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides are a plus

• Experience working with “No Code” and automation tools like Airtable, Zapier, etc., is a plus

• Experience working in/with early-stage companies or other roles that demonstrate experience in the above responsibilities

• Strong interest in the discourse around technology, startups, entrepreneurship, and venture capital

• Strong emotional intelligence, active listening skills, and high level of empathy

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university preferably

Compensation: $70k+ + Bonus

About Techstars

Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas - entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, we do this by connecting startups, investors, corporations and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Techstars has invested in more than 2,800 companies with a combined market cap of more than $68B. 
Techstars’ mission is to help entrepreneurs succeed wherever they are in the world and whatever their background is. Regional accelerator programs all around the world are the cornerstone of the strategy. The investment approach is fundamentally driven by the worldwide network of managing directors, who interact with startup founders daily, guiding, mentoring and cultivating them along the journey. The scale of this reach results in a diversified strategy that provides investors with a uniquely qualified deal flow.
We help Techstars founders connect with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporations to grow their companies.

www.techstars.com