Associate Seed Venture Fund

POSITION OVERVIEW

Associates work closely with team members and founders in evaluating potential investments and collaborate closely with portfolio companies on a variety of areas. In this role you will lead simultaneous investment analysis workstreams support the team in networking activities and monitor a portfolio of investments that ultimately shape the future of the Canadian VC ecosystem. You will cover strategic topics such as technological trends capital markets industries ecosystems and competitive landscapes as well as operational ones such as go-to-market product financial planning & analysis and more. You will be expected to combine strong analytical skills and business acumen to leverage the input of experts on a variety of market and industry subjects. Given no two days are ever the same in Venture Capital flexibility of time and effort is paramount to be successful in this dynamic role. You will work from one of the BDC Capital offices (hybrid office-home setup) in Toronto Waterloo Montreal or Vancouver playing a pivotal role with the Seed Venture Fund investment team.

Who you are

You are someone who wants to be a great partner to founders someone who will be both a thought-partner and someone who gets their hands dirty to help solve founders most pressing problems. You are an independent thinker and can build conviction in the midst of incomplete information. You thrive connecting with others you are collaborative and like to teach and learn from peers. Youre hungry and motivated to drive impact for your team and the founders you work with.

Team Overview

The BDC Seed Venture Fund leads investments in world-class Seed-stage entrepreneurs across Canada. The fund works with companies across all Seed-stages and collaborates deeply with early-stage ecosystem stakeholders including Accelerators Incubators and Angel groups; this includes hosting office hours and ecosystem events across the country. Investments focus on Canadian companies with potential to shape the next decade of innovation including software hardware and deep tech companies. Post-investment the team works very closely with portfolio companies and uses its experience and expertise to assist in go-to-market efforts hiring fundraising and helping portfolio companies become venture ready by building sophisticated operational foundations that enable them to grow and scale faster beyond the Seed-stage.

Challenges To Be Met

Platform Building

• Assist in managing the deal pipeline quarterly/bi-annual reports and providing financial analysis.

• Support other team members as appropriate during the development stage of an investment.

• Ensure that the investment research files business plans and other collected information are maintained in conformity with BDCs policies and procedures.

• Ensure that new and existing investments files are properly documented by monitoring investments amendments and disbursements including financial analysis and forecasting.

Deal Sourcing

• Drive deal flow through informal networks of entrepreneurs and investors maintain involvement in associations and events within the investment community and keep abreast of significant developments activities and initiatives in the industry.

• Stay on top of the current portfolio identifying companies that are likely to raise funds for new and follow-on investments and relaying information upwards.

• Perform market research and scouting to inform the funds investment strategy identifying emerging markets verticals technologies or companies.

• Conduct initial business plan reviews support initial communications with entrepreneurs and referring sources prepare initial review memoranda and recommendations to pursue or decline.

Deal Making

• Lead a workstream of due diligence on companies market competition management sales products/technology cap table conducting reference calls and anything that is relevant to determining potential business value and exist strategies.

• Build and refine detailed financial models to assess investment scenarios sensitivity analyses and capital structure impacts and determine and validate performance metrics creating valuation models forecasts and financial pro formas.

• Draft Investment Memos most often focusing on the Financials and Market sections.

• Support Partners leading a deal during presentations to the Investment Committee.

Portfolio Management & Support

• Monitor portfolio performance comparing performance to forecasts and models and relaying potential opportunities and issues to management.

• Participate occasionally in investee board meetings as an observer keeping abreast of developments and escalating relevant information to Partners.

• Assist investees with introductions to potential suppliers investors and employees.

What We Are Looking For

Typical Background

• 5 years of experience in a role involving critical thinking financial analysis and technical expertise. These profiles are likely to come from but are not limited to: finance roles (venture capital private equity investment bank accounting firm) operator roles (technology startup industry-leading corporation industry specialist) advisory roles (consulting law corporate strategy corporate development).

• Experience in an industry outside of finance can be particularly valuable if combined with some analytical skills; we strongly encourage previous entrepreneurs to apply given most Seed Venture Fund team members come from founder operator product and/or technology backgrounds.

• Bachelors degree in Commerce Economics Science Technology Engineering or Mathematics (STEM). Other degrees are viable if the professional has strong analytical skills.

• A post-graduate degree or equivalent certification completed or in course is valuable. Typical post-graduate credentials are likely to be but are not limited to: Masters in business administration (MBA) other STEM Masters or PhD degree Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

Technical Knowledge

• Entrepreneurial mindset structured-thinking and strong ability to problem-solve.

• Outstanding analytical skills financial analysis research and a keen ability to turn data into actionable insights; ability to prepare financial forecasts and pro-forma financial statements.

• Advanced knowledge of Excel particularly in building robust financial models that include sensitivity analysis and scenario modeling as well as performing complex data analysis. Any other analytic tools and techniques are an asset.

• Ability to contribute to an Investment Memo that is clear concise and eloquent.

• Advanced Word PowerPoint and Google Sheets skills.

• Ability to intervene pertinently in the context of a presentation to executive audiences.

• Any technology skills with wide application such as coding or electronics are an asset.

• Operational knowledge of any technical industry is an asset.

Behavioral Traits

• Strong intellectual curiosity and deep interest in early-stage technology startups/ecosystem; relevant experience within a startup or emerging technology company is an asset.

• Highly detailed oriented organized proactive and self-motivated.

• High EQ outstanding communications skills both written and verbal strong team player.

• Supportive helpful attitude willingness to proactively identify gaps and jump-in to fill them.

• Motivation and ability to do focused independent work in the context of a team.

• Ability to work collaboratively and build positive relationships with stakeholders.

• Continuous learning attitude with maturity to take feedback constructively.

• Openness to share knowledge and advice with less experienced colleagues.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment where objectives must be met within tight deadlines.