Venture Ecosystem Builder

**Your opportunity**:
As our venture ecosystem builder, you will become part of an entrepreneurial team, working on our **technology transfer** and **tech start-up incubation** and **acceleration** programs, on Belgian and European scale. We do a lot in **space **and are also active in **other deep-tech sectors**.
You will create a long-term impact through concrete daily **actions **to **develop **new **ventures **that bring cutting-edge technology to market. In this role, you will expand your network, collaborate with ambitious entrepreneurs, and develop new, breakthrough open innovation concepts.

**Venture Ecosystem Builder: Key responsibilities**:
As a **venture ecosystem builder** in the open innovation team, you will have a multitude of challenging responsibilities and opportunities:
Running start-up incubation and acceleration programs
- You **scout **and recruit **deep-tech start-ups **and **scale-ups**.
- You **facilitate workshops **and advise founders on **entrepreneurship **topics.
- You help enrolled start-ups to secure follow-on investments.
- You develop effective **relationships **with **start-up founders**, corporates, investors, mentors, and other stakeholders.

Running technology transfer programs
- You **scout **relevant **technologies **developed for high-tech sectors.
- You promote the **technology portfolio **through online and offline marketing.
- You identify and develop concrete **opportunities **to commercialize these technologies.
- You guide and support **entrepreneurs**, businesses and research organizations, to set up commercial deals, collaborative R&D projects or new spin-in/spin-off ventures.

General responsibilities
- You work in **multidisciplinary **project teams with external project partners.
- You manage one or more projects, including **budget**, planning and delivery.
- You build trust with our **clients **and partners and are an ambassador for our programs.

**Venture Ecosystem Builder: Your Profile**:
Education & experience
- You have a **master**’s degree and preferably a couple of years of professional experience in a strategic consultancy role, in a start-up environment, or working for an early-stage investor.
- You have experience with (open) **innovation management **in a high-tech context.
- You have experience with or in-depth understanding of the **start-up process**.

Knowledge and skills
- You combine business acumen with an **affinity **for **technology **and an entrepreneurial mindset.
- You thrive in diverse, multidisciplinary, **cross-organizational teams**.
- You tackle challenges in a **methodological **but pragmatic manner while maintaining a helicopter view.
- You have excellent problem-solving skills: listening, creating, analyzing, and **synthesizing**.
- You feel comfortable designing and implementing new **processes **using digital tools.
- You love giving inspiring **presentations** and writing clear **reports**.
- You are fluent in English and one other European language. Knowledge of Dutch or French is an asset.

**Competenties**:
Within Strategic Innovation, Verhaert’s open innovation team, we provide strategic advice and implementation support to develop open innovation ecosystems for leading governmental agencies and companies across various deep-tech sectors, such as space, energy, climate, and healthcare.

Verhaert is a pioneering integrated product development company, with over 50 years of experience in developing innovative products and systems with a high added value.
We believe innovation is the most sustainable way to generate added value, to maximize competitive advantage and to pave the way towards a better world for all of us. Therefore, it’s our mission to become masters of innovation. We do this through combining multidisciplinary thinking with in-depth know-how and a practical attitude.

**Our offer**:

- Verhaert is a challenging innovative environment guiding companies in their development and innovation trajectories.
- You will be working in multidisciplinary teams for very different companies in many different domains.
- You help building up the success of a result minded (often technological) environment and get the chance to fully expand your talents.
- You enter into a world of innovation and help building the future of many companies.
- You will be coached and guided in our world of innovation, helping you to become a trusted advisor for your customer and its business.
- You can count on our expertise to help you improve your people skills as well as on your technology transfer process capabilities.