Principal

About Alumni Ventures

Alumni Ventures is a venture capital platform with more than $1.4B in assets raised and investments spanning 1,600+ companies. Its community includes 850,000+ members and over 40 dedicated investors, bringing accredited individuals access to venture opportunities that are usually limited to institutions. The firm operates across alumni-centered communities and a diversified co-investment approach, with offices in Boston, New York, Chicago, Menlo Park, Manchester, London, and Tokyo. The business is expanding quickly and aims to support founders while building the next generation of venture capital talent.

The company follows a five-day in-office model because it values collaboration, mentorship, and shared momentum.

Role Overview

In this Principal position, you will help source, assess, and support investments in startup and growth-stage businesses, mainly across the UK, Europe, and MENA. The role sits within a new London office that is focused on growth and regional expansion.

This is a broad investing role with room to develop deeper expertise in EMEA venture investing, especially at the early and growth stages from Series A through Series D. You will be expected to help source and support 5 to 7 investments each year from the region, contributing to strong fund performance and supporting the deployment of approximately $5M to $20M annually. In parallel, you will also assist teammates in the US with sourcing, networking, diligence, and portfolio monitoring.

You will partner closely with the Managing Partner, Principals, Senior Associates, and other US-based colleagues on one of the firm’s ten four-person investing teams. The work will involve finding attractive companies, running diligence, handling negotiations, and building trusted relationships with founders, co-investors, and ecosystem partners. Success in the role depends on initiative, energy, commercial judgment, relationship-building, and persistence.

As part of the investment team, you are also expected to strengthen your own profile in the venture ecosystem. That may include writing, speaking, mentoring founders, attending events, developing investment viewpoints, and contributing to wider industry conversations. These activities help raise both your own reputation and the firm’s visibility across EMEA.

Alumni Ventures works with the pace and intensity of a startup. The London office is being built as a regional startup within the wider firm, so the role requires independence, comfort with uncertainty, strong self-direction, and the ability to operate effectively while staying aligned with a global platform.

Reporting and Collaboration

The investment part of the role reports into one of AV’s ten investing teams, each led by a Managing Partner based in the US. In London, you will work day to day with the Executive Managing Director for EMEA to advance the firm’s activity across the UK, Europe, and MENA.

Travel and Work Authorization

This position is based in London and requires authorization to work in the UK. Regular travel across Europe and the Middle East is expected, along with occasional trips to the US East Coast for investment collaboration, portfolio support, and company-wide meetings.

Key Responsibilities

• Source promising investment opportunities that fit the team’s thesis and broader firm priorities.
• Improve the share of sourced opportunities that move into serious investment review.
• Run early-stage diligence by speaking with founders, customers, and market participants, and by reviewing relevant data.
• Assess market direction, competitor dynamics, and emerging themes to improve investment decisions.
• Help execute approved investments from term sheet through closing.
• Stay aligned with the firm’s investment strategy to support a strong and balanced portfolio.
• Support fundraising, investor relations, events, webinars, and other community engagement efforts.
• Contribute to portfolio management through active company support and value creation work.
• Track portfolio health through CEO check-ins, performance monitoring, and strategic input.
• Build durable relationships with founders, institutional LPs, and other participants in the regional startup ecosystem.
• Work with universities, venture firms, and LP networks to generate quality deal flow.
• Represent the firm at conferences, pitch events, ecosystem gatherings, and other regional forums.
• Help organize and deliver firm-sponsored events locally and contribute to webinars and communications channels.
• Take a leadership role in Venture Clubs, Syndicates, and other community-building initiatives.

Candidate Profile

You should bring 5 to 7+ years of professional experience in venture capital, private equity, investment banking, consulting, or startups. A history of venture investments you have personally helped secure is expected.

A bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline is required. An MBA or another advanced degree is preferred.

You should be comfortable using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, and Gemini, and be able to incorporate them into daily team workflows.

Experience with both the EMEA startup ecosystem and the US/global venture model is required. The role especially values familiarity with the UK and Nordic markets, along with the ability to work comfortably across Europe and MENA.

Working Style and Culture

AV values collaboration over hierarchy, ownership over passivity, rigorous debate followed by aligned execution, focus on the highest-impact work, and an AI-forward, technology-positive mindset. Curiosity, ambition, and long-term thinking are also central to the culture.

Benefits and Compensation

The company offers a flexible benefits package intended to support health, financial well-being, and life outside work. Total compensation starts with a base salary of £132,000 and also includes equity, carry potential, and a corporate bonus.

Additional Information

All employment is conditional on successfully completing a background check. The employer is an equal opportunity organization and considers applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.

The role is a full-time, onsite position in London.