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:

Venture Accelerator  Management

• 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.

Investor Relations

• 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.

Cross-Sector Innovation & Ecosystem Development

• 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 high-visibility pilots that prove Cardano's real-world utility.

• Drive Global Ecosystem Growth: You will serve as the bridge between startup innovation and Cardano’s roadmap, amplifying success stories globally.