SMB Program Associate

WHO WE ARE

Plug and Play Foundation’s mission is to build the next generation of impactful entrepreneurs and innovators by expanding access to technology, career pathways, and innovation ecosystems for communities facing opportunity gaps.

As the nonprofit arm of Plug and Play, a global innovation platform, we leverage an extensive network of startups, corporations, investors, governments, and community partners to make innovation and economic opportunity more accessible.

Our work is organized across three pathways:

• ACCESS:
  
  Workforce development and career pathways
• ELEVATE:
  
  Small & medium size business innovation and economic mobility
• IMPACT:
  
  Scalable Impact Investing & Impact Innovation support to various stakeholders

ELEVATE helps small and medium-sized businesses identify challenges, connect with innovative technology solutions, and adopt tools that support sustainable growth.

Through workshops, accelerators, technology grants, and individualized support, participating businesses gain practical exposure to technologies that can improve areas such as marketing, customer acquisition, staffing, inventory management, payments, operations, and productivity.

The Program Associate, SMB Innovation & Fundraising will support the planning, execution, funding, and continued growth of the ELEVATE program.

This role has two primary areas of responsibility:

As an entrepreneurial organization in the early stages of building the Foundation, our team members wear many hats and contribute beyond their primary areas of responsibility. We are looking for a hardworking, resourceful builder who is excited to create new programs and systems, take initiative, solve problems, and help shape how ELEVATE grows.

This individual will conduct ongoing prospect research, maintain the program’s funding pipeline, draft and submit grant applications and sponsorship proposals, manage deadlines, and support funder reporting. They will also work directly with small-business owners, startups, corporate partners, government agencies, chambers of commerce, and community organizations.

The ideal candidate is an excellent writer and researcher who is highly organized, proactive, relationship-oriented, and comfortable balancing program delivery, fundraising, and the evolving needs of a growing organization.

• Support the planning and execution of ELEVATE program cohorts, workshops, pilots, and events.
• Recruit, screen, and onboard small and medium-sized businesses and startups for program participation.
• Conduct discovery interviews to understand each business’s needs, operational challenges, technology readiness, and goals.
• Maintain regular communication with participants and provide clear information regarding expectations, timelines, deliverables, and next steps.
• Coordinate onboarding, progress check-ins, and exit interviews.
• Maintain accurate participant records, program documentation, attendance information, and follow-up notes.
• Identify participant challenges early and elevate risks or delays when appropriate.

• Source and evaluate startups whose solutions address the needs of participating businesses.
• Conduct initial research and due diligence on startup products, business models, traction, and suitability for the program.
• Support the matching of startup solutions with participating small businesses.
• Coordinate introductory meetings, demonstrations, pilot planning sessions,…