Principal

About the Role 

As Principal on Alumni Ventures’ Blue Team, you’ll be at the forefront of sourcing, evaluating, and executing venture investments for the Blue Ivy Ventures Fund, which serves the Yale community. The Blue Team also invests on behalf of the Nassau Street Ventures Fund, serving the Princeton community, and the HealthTech Fund, giving you the opportunity to contribute across multiple investment strategies.

This is a generalist investing role with a primary focus on Seed and Series A companies, as well as select Pre-Seed and Growth-stage opportunities. You’ll be encouraged to develop areas of expertise and differentiated investment theses while remaining flexible across sectors, technologies, and stages.

You’ll work closely with the Managing Partner and broader investment team to identify high-potential companies, lead diligence, develop investment recommendations, and support portfolio companies. You’ll also collaborate across the broader Alumni Ventures platform to strengthen our access to compelling investment opportunities.

Alumni Ventures is an active co-investor, investing alongside established venture capital firms. Your network—and your ability to continue building it—will be critical. Success in this role requires creativity, warmth, sound investment judgment, and the ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with founders, venture investors, and industry partners.

The position may be based in our New York City, Menlo Park, or Boston office. Alumni Ventures is a fast-paced, professional, and entrepreneurial environment.

What You’ll Do 

Deal Sourcing

• Proactively source high-quality investment opportunities that align with the Blue Team’s investment strategy and broader Alumni Ventures initiatives.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective investments across sectors and stages.
• Develop relationships with venture investors, founders, entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, universities, and other members of the startup ecosystem.
• Drive strong conversion from sourced opportunities to qualified investments.
• Partner with other Alumni Ventures investment teams to identify mutually relevant opportunities.

Due Diligence

• Lead initial diligence on potential investments, engaging directly with founders, customers, industry experts, co-investors, and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate company teams, business models, market opportunities, competitive landscapes, traction, financing terms, and key investment risks.
• Develop clear, thoughtful investment memos and present recommendations through Alumni Ventures’ Investment Committee process.
• Build and maintain proprietary market, company, and deal intelligence to support investment decisions.

Investment Success

• Contribute to the successful execution of approved investments, from initial evaluation through closing.
• Work closely with the Managing Partner and broader investment team to build a high-performing, well-balanced portfolio.
• Maintain strong alignment with the team’s investment strategy, portfolio construction goals, and annual investment targets.
• Accurately maintain deal activity, diligence findings, and investment-related information within the firm’s systems.

Network Development

• Grow and leverage a robust network of founders, venture investors, operators, and industry experts to gain access to differentiated deal flow.
• Represent Alumni Ventures professionally and effectively across the venture ecosystem.
• Educate founders, deal sources, and co-investors about Alumni Ventures, our investment approach, and our process.
• Strengthen the Blue Team’s visibility and relationships within the Yale, Princeton, HealthTech, and broader venture communities.

Portfolio Management

• Build trusted relationships with portfolio company leaders and support them across strategic and operational priorities.
• Monitor company and portfolio performance through regular founder engagement, performance tracking, and internal reporting.
• Identify opportunities to support portfolio companies through introductions, recruiting, business development, financing, and other platform resources.
• Maintain relevant fund and portfolio performance information in close collaboration with Alumni Ventures’ finance and operations teams.

Fundraising and Community Support

• Support fundraising, investor relations, and community engagement initiatives for the Blue Team.
• Contribute to events, webinars, written content, and thought leadership that engage the team’s investor and alumni communities.
• Partner with colleagues across Alumni Ventures to communicate the team’s investment strategy, portfolio activity, and market perspectives.

Who You Are 

• You have 7+ years of overall professional experience, including meaningful experience in venture capital, private equity, investment banking, consulting, startups, or a related field.
• You bring approximately 1–3 or more years of direct venture capital experience, with demonstrated exposure to sourcing, diligence, investment decision-making, and portfolio support.
• You have a bachelor’s degree in business, economics, engineering, computer science, or another relevant field; an MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.
• You have a strong interest in technology, innovation, startups, and emerging market trends.
• You understand venture capital deal structures, financing terms, investment processes, and industry practices.
• You can quickly understand and critically evaluate a company’s team, business model, market opportunity, competitive positioning, and potential for growth.
• You are an effective network builder who can expand the team’s access to high-quality investment opportunities.
• You can manage multiple priorities and execute consistently in a fast-moving, collaborative environment.
• You are a self-starter who can operate independently while remaining a highly collaborative team member.
• You are intellectually curious, humble, creative, and able to learn new sectors and technologies quickly.
• You have hands-on familiarity with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar platforms and can incorporate them into research, diligence, analysis, and team workflows.

Our Culture & How We Work at AVRegardless of title, this is what great looks like at AV.

• Put team and stakeholders first. We win together and measure success by the value we create for our investors, founders, and each other.
• Take extreme ownership and bias toward action. We act like owners, move with urgency, and follow through.
• Debate rigorously and commit fully. We welcome diverse views, use data and sound judgment, and once aligned, execute as one team.
• Focus on what matters most. We prioritize impact, simplify where possible, and channel energy where we have a real advantage.
• Be AI-forward and tech-optimistic. We actively use AI and emerging technologies to work smarter, make better decisions, and amplify human judgment — not replace it.
• Stay curious and think big. We are continuous learners, aim high and build for long-term impact.

Benefits & Perks
We offer a flexible, employee-first benefits program designed to support your health, financial well-being, and life outside of work. Benefits begin shortly after hire and are designed to give you choice and flexibility based on your needs.

• Comprehensive health coverage with multiple plan options, including employer-funded deductible support and HSA contributions
• Dental and vision plans with multiple coverage tiers
• Tax-advantaged accounts including HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits (with monthly employer contribution)
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
• Company-paid life and disability insurance, plus optional supplemental coverage
• Additional support programs including EAP, health advocacy, and wellness resources
• Flexible, unlimited PTO and generous paid parental leave
• 11 company holidays

Compensation

The anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $170,000–$180,000. This range represents the base salary Alumni Ventures reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Individual compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and other job-related factors. In addition to base salary, eligible employees may receive equity, carry potential, a corporate bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package, subject to the terms of the applicable plans and programs.