Venture Programs & Strategy Lead (m/w/d)

JUNI is building the leading startup ecosystem for science-based spin-offs in Berlin-Brandenburg. We connect corporates, startups, academia and policymakers, and create programs that accelerate innovation and bring it into real-world application.

There are countless accelerators, incubators, VC platforms and startup programs around the world. Some create real value for founders and companies – others less so.

At JUNI, we want to understand what really works, learn from the best models globally, and use those insights to develop an outstanding support and program model for startups and scale-ups.

Your first major mission will be to develop the JUNI Startup & Scale-up Playbook – a practical operating model for how we can best support startups from formation through growth and scaling.

This is not about creating as many new programs, workshops or events as possible. Instead, we want to start with a more fundamental question:

What do startups and scale-ups really need at different stages – and how can JUNI make a measurable contribution to their success?

You will:

• benchmark leading international startup ecosystems, VCs, accelerators, incubators and scale-up support models
• identify which approaches and interventions create meaningful value for startups
• interview founders, investors and ecosystem experts and systematically translate their insights into our model
• identify the most important challenges and needs of startups at different stages of development
• develop a pragmatic framework that enables JUNI to diagnose those needs and provide the right support
• define which capabilities JUNI should build itself, where we should partner with others, and where our role should be to connect startups with the right people and resources
• design programs and support formats for early-stage startups, growth companies and scale-ups
• develop a KPI and impact framework to measure whether our support actually makes a difference
• build the JUNI Startup & Scale-up Playbook and work with our team to pilot and implement it

One strategic question will guide much of your work:

What should JUNI become exceptionally good at so that ambitious startups and scale-ups want JUNI in their corner?

We are looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with hands-on startup and venture experience – and who is excited not only about developing concepts, but about building something new.

Your background could be in:

• Venture Capital, particularly Platform or Portfolio Operations
• an accelerator or incubator
• venture building or a venture studio
• a startup or scale-up
• Deep Tech, technology transfer or science-based entrepreneurship
• university entrepreneurship
• strategy or consulting with a strong startup/VC focus

Ideally, you bring 5+ years of relevant professional experience and have worked directly with startups, founders or investors.

You are able to analyze and structure complex topics, identify patterns and best practices, challenge existing assumptions and turn strategy into practical solutions that work in the real world.

Experience with Deep Tech, science-based startups, VC portfolio support or scale-ups is a plus.

• A key role in building one of Europe’s most ambitious startup ecosystems
• Direct access to leading companies, Deep Tech startups, and top talent
• Close collaboration with JUNI’s leadership team and high-profile partners
• A modern, dynamic environment with flat hierarchies
• Hybrid working options and a central location in Berlin
• Compensation that reflects the seniority and responsibility of the role