Smart Society Ventures is hiring an Investment Principal

Overview

Smart Society Ventures (SSV) is recruiting a Principal to join their investment team. SSV invests in rapidly scaling growth stage energy and power technology companies across North America and Europe after significant customer and revenue traction has been achieved. In most cases this is a Series B investment round. SSV focuses its investments on companies that incorporate AI as a part of their technologies, both as standalone software companies and as scalable power and energy digital asset companies.

We are looking for a candidate with experience in growth-stage investing and a deep understanding of both the energy and power sector, and of AI and innovative technologies. The ideal candidate will have previously worked in energy and power growth, infrastructure or private equity investing, or in energy and power investment banking. Priority will be given to candidates who exhibit a clear track record and understanding of global growth investing at the Series B and C stage and a passion for new technologies.

We will consider candidates in Geneva, London, New York, Boston or Houston, to focus on either North American or European investments. Candidates will work with team and portfolio companies across the US and Europe, and be expected to travel. Work will be in the office and remote. This is a unique opportunity to join and help build a growing firm from Fund II onward to billions in AUM, prove yourself as an investor with a potential track to Partner and redefine the future of energy and AI!

Key Responsibilities

• Sourcing growth-stage energy and power tech investments, tracking them in our pipeline and completing the initial review of opportunities to present to the GPs

• Leading end-to-end due diligence for potential investments, including liaising with third party experts, financial modeling, market analysis, technical validation of technology, working with third party experts, landscape assessments, team evaluations and investment committee memos

• Working with the GPs and counsel to structure investments, draft investment documents and complete investments, including full cap table modeling and deal structuring

• Support portfolio companies and manage investments, including strategic guidance, post-investment growth, exit opportunity analysis and support, regular reporting, board meeting attendance and more

• Maintaining energy and power ecosystem relationships with early-stage investors and other ecosystem stakeholders, including attending industry and investor events, to fuel deal sourcing and knowledge

• Continually researching and presenting to the GPs on energy and power investment trends, potential investment sub-sector opportunities and market changes; where relevant researching and writing papers on energy market opportunities

Qualifications

• 5-10 years total experience with 3-5 years investment experience, ideally with a growth-stage energy focus at top tier investment firm or corporation

• Experience investing in energy and power at the growth stage (Series B/C), with consideration also given to experience in energy and power infrastructure or private equity investing

• Preference given to candidates who have demonstrated full cycle investment experience from sourcing to exit in the energy and power sector

• Bachelor’s Degree from a top university, with preference given to candidates who also have a Masters Degree in Finance or an MBA

Skills

• Deep understanding of the energy and power sector, with a clear point of view on market trends, investment opportunities, new technologies and industry dynamics

• Exceptional financial modeling skill and acumen with the ability to build detailed and robust financial forecast models, run scenarios and review historic and audited financial statements

• Strong fluency in deal structuring, including preparing cap table models and scenarios, preparing and reviewing term sheets and investment documents with counsel, and quarterbacking investment closing processes

• Strong valuation and underwriting skills, with the ability to value companies using different methodologies (comparable company multiples, NPV, etc.)

• Experience leading rigorous and robust due diligence processes on potential investments, assessing market size and trends, reviewing investment risks and assessing teams and technologies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to analyze information, communicate clear updates to GPs and draft and present long form investment memos and research reports

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to source potential investments and build relationships with target company Founders / CEOs and stakeholders to line up potential investments

• Familiarity working as a part of a small and agile global team across time, communicating regularly and digitally and using online collaboration tools and structures

• Familiarity working independently and autonomously to source and review investments across region of focus, attend events and meetings, and collaborate with local stakeholders (eg. entrepreneurs, lawyers, third party DD experts etc)

• Exceptional detail orientation

Compensation and benefits

• USD 125,000-200,000 base salary, depending on experience and location.
• Additional variable comp
• Carried interest participation
• Healthcare and other benefits in line with local market

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Qualified candidates should include a cover letter, a resume and note what’s got you excited about investing in growth stage energy tech and AI.  Submit to jobs@smartsocietyventures.com.

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About Smart Society Ventures

Smart Society Ventures is the venture capital and growth equity investment arm of the Smart Society Capital Group (SSC). SSC was started with the mission to help create the next generation of energy technology companies. Our founding is based on the belief that the energy trilemma (converging energy demand growth, energy sovereignty pressure and energy transition imperative), rapidly maturing AI capabilities and the ‘missing middle’ of scale-up capital and expertise for energy technology companies create a unique market white space for a generational investment firm to be built. Our business plan is to grow to $5B in AUM within 10 years, investing in the most transformational energy technology companies at the scale-up stage and generating exceptional consistent investor returns. The other parts of our group are the Smart Society Show podcast and Smart Society Insights research.

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