Venture Acceleration Manager

Make a real difference in the blockchain industry! Build the change you want to see.

We are looking for a Venture Acceleration Manager to strengthen the Cardano Foundation’s Venture Hub by connecting startups with capital and enterprise opportunities. 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.

This is a high-impact position combining work with founders, ventures, business development, service providers, VCs, and startup mentors. This opportunity is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, understands funding dynamics, and can confidently engage with innovators, investors, and enterprise leaders.

You’ll have the following responsibilities:

• Oversee and scale the Cardano Foundation’s Cardano Accelerator Program, managing cohorts of startups focused on building consumer and enterprise-facing products on Cardano.
• Manage program operations, including resource allocation, budgeting, quality control, cross department alignment, and process improvements to support future scale.
• Provide guidance and feedback to participating 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.
• Drive ecosystem value creation by identifying synergies between venture initiatives and Cardano’s technological roadmap.

• Manage relationships with active and potential funds and/or investors through regular communications, tailored updates, and curated events or side sessions.
• Conduct landscape analysis and track investor interests to inform the foundation, future cohort themes, and competitive positioning.
• Coordinate investor involvement in Demo Day and other showcase opportunities to increase venture visibility and deal flow.
• Design and oversee structured follow-on investment pathways, aligning demo days, investor briefings, and post-program capital touchpoints with the Cardano Foundation’s funding strategy.
• Coordinate closely with the ecosystem to drive venture acceleration and support ecosystem growth.
• Champion community engagement by driving consistent communication, inclusion, and collaboration across the broader Cardano ecosystem.
• Work cross-departmentally to build bridges between startups and enterprise partners through matchmaking, pilot initiatives, and ecosystem showcases.
• Represent the Cardano Foundation at relevant industry events, innovation forums, and investor/mentor networks.
• Amplify ecosystem signals and success stories by working with Marketing and Partnerships to showcase venture progress, pilot outcomes, and real-world adoption emerging from the Accelerator.
• Feed ecosystem insights back into the Venture Hub strategy, identifying gaps, emerging needs, and partnership opportunities that inform future Accelerator cohorts and enablement initiatives.

• 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—you know how to engage founders, mentors, industry experts, and enterprise executives.
• Results-oriented mindset.
  
  Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building abilities.
• Highly adaptable and resilient.
• Strong ethical standards and integrity.

• Accelerate the Next Generation of Startups: You will manage the Accelerator Program end to end, providing the guidance and ecosystem resources needed to turn high-potential startups into market-ready, enterprise-grade solutions.
• Unlock Capital and Enterprise Pathways: You will cultivate a robust network of VCs, funds, and corporate partners to secure vital funding and launch…