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Front Row Ventures Managing Director

Montreal or Toronto

ABOUT REAL VENTURES 

Real Ventures is an early-stage venture firm focused on serving daring entrepreneurs with the ambition to create successful, global companies. Since 2007, Real Ventures has dedicated itself to building the Canadian startup ecosystem on the belief that people, not money, build game-changing companies. Real Ventures provides stage-specific guidance, mentorship, and access to networks and resources to fast-track founders’ personal and company growth. Real Ventures manages $330 million across five funds and its active portfolio of 100+ companies is currently valued at $10 billion. www.realventures.com

Real Ventures is an equal opportunity employer. We work continuously on creating a culture and an organization that truly values diversity. We believe cultural fit doesn’t mean being culturally identical, and that diversity of thought enables us to challenge one another to think bigger and broader. 

ABOUT FRONT ROW VENTURES

Front Row Ventures (FRV) is Canada’s leading student-run, university-focused venture capital fund, operating on more than 20 campuses across Quebec and Ontario. FRV’s mission is to back the best student founders while elevating Canada’s next generation of technology investors and leaders. Founded in 2017, FRV has backed more than 20 companies, which have gone on to raise more than $45M from leading institutional investors. FRV has also built a community of more than 200 young technology leaders, with many alumni now actively contributing to the Canadian startup ecosystem. FRV is backed by Real Ventures,  Canada’s preeminent early stage investment firm.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Front Row Ventures’ Managing Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization as well as its long-term growth and success. Reporting to one of Real Ventures’ investment partners and to the Front Row Ventures Board of Directors, the role has significant autonomy and scope for impact. Internally, the Managing Director is responsible for driving the recruitment and training of new team members, the execution of the investment process from sourcing through final diligence, as well as all non-investment activities such as marketing and events. Externally, the Managing Director is the face of the organization within the ecosystem, responsible for government relations, raising funds and expansion. FRV’s vision is to become a foundational platform for early stage entrepreneurship across Canada. We are seeking someone who shares that vision and has the energy and ability to make it a reality.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Oversee all investment activities in Quebec and Ontario 
  • Oversee all activities associated with post-investment portfolio support
  • Oversee all non-investment activity including content creation, marketing, talent, portfolio support, partnerships and data 
  • Manage and mentor FRV’s six student directors and supervise the entire organization of 50+ associates across 22 campuses in QC and ON
  • Manage the relationship with FRV’s VC mentor pool 
  • Define and execute FRV’s expansion strategy, including launching new campuses and entirely new chapters  
  • Manage FRV’s budget, accounting and financial reporting in partnership with Real Ventures finance team 
  • Lead the quarterly board meetings for FRV’s NPO, including preparing the board decks and defining clear quarterly & yearly objectives.
  • Engage with governments, granting agencies and corporate sponsors to raise capital and generate support for FRV’s mission and activities  
  • Ensure the tight integration of FRV into Real Venture’s investment process and overall operations including regular internal reporting
  • Represent FRV as part of panels, conferences, pitch events, in direct conversation with key ecosystem members, and on social media
  • Establish strong connections with other student venture capital programs

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Passionate about new technologies and the ability of startups to improve human society
  • Proven track record of success in the world of startups and entrepreneurship
  • Strong understanding of early stage tech investing, ideally through an investment role at a venture capital firm or accelerator  
  • Demonstrated passion for working with young people
  • Demonstrated passion for mentoring and community building
  • Entrepreneurial self-starter 

WHAT WE OFFER 

  • Competitive compensation
  • Leadership and personal growth and development coaching
  • A high-growth, fast-paced learning environment across many industries
  • Three weeks vacation, plus an additional week during the winter holiday season
  • Work from anywhere flexibility during COVID lockdowns and a mix of in office and work-from-home post pandemic in line with health authorities guidelines.
  • Benefits package that includes health and vision care and flexible healthcare resources through a Dialogue (telemedicine) account
  • Constant contact with the most ambitious students and young leaders in tech in Canada

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should send an email to lisa.rv@realventures.com, outlining the following: 

(1) Describe why this opportunity interests you and how it fits into your career aspirations. 

(2) Summarize how your background has prepared you to excel in this role.

(3) Share your LinkedIn profile and/or an updated CV