Venture Acceleration Manager

You will play a dual role in managing the Foundation's own accelerator and venture support initiatives, while simultaneously facilitating collaborations with external venture programs across the broader Cardano ecosystem. You will work with founders, ventures, business development, service providers, VCs, and startup mentors in a fast-paced environment where you can confidently engage with innovators, investors, and enterprise leaders. You will oversee the Cardano Accelerator Program end to end, cultivate relationships with investors and funds, and act as the bridge between startup innovation and Cardano's roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and scale the Cardano Foundation's Cardano Accelerator Program, managing cohorts of startups
• Manage program operations including resource allocation, budgeting, quality control, and cross department alignment
• Provide guidance and feedback to startups on product-market fit, blockchain strategy, and go-to-market execution
• Curate a strong mentor and advisor network across industries and product development domains
• Identify synergies between venture initiatives and Cardano's technological roadmap
• Manage relationships with active and potential funds and investors through regular communications and events
• Conduct landscape analysis and track investor interests to inform cohort themes and positioning
• Coordinate investor involvement in Demo Day and other showcase opportunities
• Design and oversee structured follow-on investment pathways aligned with the funding strategy
• Coordinate with the ecosystem to drive venture acceleration and support ecosystem growth
• Champion community engagement through consistent communication and collaboration
• Build bridges between startups and enterprise partners through matchmaking and pilot initiatives
• Represent the Cardano Foundation at industry events, innovation forums, and investor networks
• Work with Marketing and Partnerships to showcase venture progress and pilot outcomes
• Feed ecosystem insights back into the Venture Hub strategy to inform future cohorts

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience running startup accelerators, innovation hubs, or corporate innovation programs, ideally in fintech, Web3, or digital infrastructure sectors
• 2+ years of active involvement in the Cardano ecosystem
• Experience in helping startups achieve product-market fit, including technical and business advisory
• Strong grasp of blockchain technology, especially public infrastructure and decentralized systems
• Excellent network orchestration skills
• Results-oriented mindset
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent networking and relationship-building abilities
• Highly adaptable and resilient
• Strong ethical standards and integrity

Benefits

• Remote work with flexible hours
• Annual learning budget for professional development
• Annual team building event and departmental team-building day
• Extra day off for your birthday
• Additional days off for milestone work anniversaries