Innovation Lab Intern (Part-Time)

Connecticut Innovations (CI) As Connecticut's strategic venture capital arm and one of the most active investors on the eastern seaboard, Connecticut Innovations (CI) has a portfolio of 250 companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology and climate tech. CI meets with hundreds of companies every year, identifying the most promising early-stage companies looking to grow in the state. Every year, CI invests in 20+ new companies, in addition to providing follow-on capital to existing portfolio companies. In FY 2022, CI invested $55 million in 100 companies, which went on to raise more than $1.3 billion collectively via private and public financing. Due to successful early-stage investments in companies such as Arvinas, Sema4, Isoplexis, Rallybio and Biohaven, and our evergreen model, we now have more capital to invest in future founders and entrepreneurs. Additionally, in July 2022, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the U.S. Treasury Department approved the State of Connecticut's plan to deploy up to $119.5 million in funding through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which is capital that will be invested by CI. This is an exciting time to join and be part of the organization. CI's headquarters are in New Haven, with additional office locations in Hartford and Stamford. CI Innovation Lab ("InLab") The CI Innovation Lab was established to connect CI portfolio companies with Connecticut's government agencies and Connecticut's largest employers across diverse industries. These strategic partnerships enable high growth early-stage companies to help the state become more efficient and productive as well as create new opportunities for collaboration and impact. InLab has developed relationships with dozens of organizations across Connecticut, including more than a dozen State of Connecticut agencies, the top colleges and universities, several leading healthcare systems, and multiple large employers in Connecticut. At present, the CI Innovation Lab has curated opportunities for more than several CI portfolio companies interfacing directly with significant new partners and customers. InLab continues to assist CI as it becomes an increasingly important player in the venture capital market in the US. By helping our portfolio companies build relationships and demonstrate value to some of the largest customers in the country, CI will be able to help our founders and CEOs build their businesses in a way few others can. Innovation Lab Internship The Innovation Lab is a small team comprised of two part-time interns and one full-time Director. The Lab is seeking a new part-time Innovation Lab Intern beginning in August 2023 to work closely with the InLab Director to support its continued strategic growth of partnerships and CI company pilots. This role will support relationship and stakeholder management, proposal and contract management, project and administration management, and branding and communications management. This role resides at the intersection between the State of Connecticut's venture arm, the innovation ecosystem, the government, and Connecticut's biggest employers. We are looking for someone who is mission-aligned, interested in early-stage company development, and can thrive in an empowered culture focused on impact. The intern will interact directly with founders and their teams, commissioners, and corporate executive teams, so we need someone with strong executive presence, the ability to build consensus, excellent attention to detail and an outcome-driven mentality. Time commitment is 10-15 hours/week with the ability to flexibly prioritize CI work as meetings are booked Mix of remote (online) and in-person work at CI's offices (Hartford, New Haven, Stamford) and partner site visits Must have ability and authorization to drive to meetings and work sites Day-to-Day Duties Operate existing partnerships with state agencies under general statute Develop new partnerships and opportunities with state agencies and corporates/organizations: Preparing for, booking and running routine demonstration and review meetings Tracking pilot deal flow and interest across the pipeline Curation of CI portfolio companies to shape tailored value propositions Qualifying and quantifying each opportunity and confirming partner interest Managing a structured pipeline of pilots with each partner Operationalize lab pilots front-to-back, including contracts, tracking success metrics and customer satisfaction, safety standards and CI Board of Directors and state reporting Summarize results to communicate success to new potential corporate and state partners showing quantifiable results, dates and timelines Skills & Competencies High personal passion for a fast-developing innovation ecosystem and an interest in expanding the partnership across multiple industries Detailed, action-oriented person who takes initiative to follow-up on items to maintain momentum and growth of the lab Project management and organization skills to solicit and follow up on meetings with partners and CI portfolio companies Ability to multi-task across CI portfolio companies, agencies and corporate partners to develop a pipeline of pilots Communicate comfortably with a wide range of stakeholders from company CEOs down to administrative assistants, creating harmonious friendly relationships that lead to trust Ability to read, review, and structure legal contracts for lab pilots, knows where to get outside opinions or support and how and when to obtain signatures and execute Develop a budget for a pilot and understand and communicate its components and reasons for funding Review return-on-investment and help create a compelling business case for pilot and adoption Works across multiple reporting lines and state agencies to create positive relationships with CI venture managers, portfolio company leadership, state employees and corporate employees Professional Qualifications MBA/JD/PhD graduating in 2024-25 Connecticut Innovations is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We welcome all candidates to apply regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Job Posted by ApplicantPro