Entrepreneur in Residence, DE Innovation Space

About the Position

Join the Delaware Innovation Space as an Entrepreneur in Residence and help accelerate the growth of innovative science-based startups. In this dynamic role, you'll lead and enhance accelerator programs while providing expert mentoring, strategic guidance, and business development support to entrepreneurs and resident companies in a collaborative innovation ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Create and support a Hard Science Accelerator program.
• Work collectively with other members of the Delaware Innovation Space staff and partner with the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem to create and run a cohort-based Hard Science accelerator program supporting early-stage science startup companies.
• Provide expert advice and mentoring to early-stage science-based startups.
• Stay in strong sync with the needs of current and future clients of Delaware Innovation Space to deliver first-class science mentoring and business-building support services.
• Actively and routinely collaborate with current clients of Delaware Innovation Space and assist them in removing obstacles and providing creative counsel to accelerate their business results.
• Provide leadership for the cultivation of new clients for the Delaware Innovation Space as both residential clients and companies to join the cohort-based accelerator program.
• Be an effective advocate for the Delaware Innovation Space in external and virtual forums, educating people on the value proposition and opportunities as part of our innovation ecosystem.

Requirements

• Requires a science and/or business-related Bachelor’s degree (prefer MBA and/or PhD) and more than 10 years of experience starting and building science-based businesses in a C-level role.
• Vast and deep rolodex of contacts relevant to science startups (e.g., investors, partners, and customers) and willingness to share and connect relevant parties.
• Real-life experience with the formation and growth of a science startup company, setting up its governance, raising funds, and strategically managing its valuation and cap table over its growth cycle.
• Preferred experience with hard science companies in the sectors of advanced materials, healthcare, nutrition, industrial biotechnology, renewable energy, and chemical ingredients.
• Be a good mentor and teacher.
• Have the ability to translate material into written form and organize thoughts into learning modules.
• Excellent organizational skills with particular attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently or within a team, anticipate issues and needs, and proactively seek resolutions while being resourceful.
• Must have excellent oral, written, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
• Ability to make decisions and exercise discretion, confidentiality, and judgment in keeping with the level of the position.
• May require some evening and/or weekend hours.

We Offer

• Competitive hourly rate commensurate with relevant experience, targeted in the range of $40-$60/hr.
• Opportunity to work in a multi-dimensional, non-profit incubator & accelerator for science start-ups.
• Collaborative innovation ecosystem located at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware.

About the Company

The Delaware Innovation Space is a multi-dimensional, non-profit incubator & accelerator for science start-ups. It is the result of a public-private partnership between the State of Delaware, DuPont, and the University of Delaware. Delaware Innovation Space is an ecosystem located at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware where scientists, business leaders, community members, investors, and service providers in the industrial biotech, advanced materials, chemical ingredients, renewable energy, nutrition, and healthcare fields can build business concepts together and accelerate the path to commercialization.

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.