Venture Creation Lead
On-siteEdinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
EXPIREDEdinburgh, Scotland, United KingdomOn-siteFull TimeSenior LevelEDUCATION
Full TimeSenior LevelEDUCATION
Job Summary
Support academic founders and researchers in transforming University of Edinburgh research into viable ventures across AI/ML, scientific SaaS, digital health, edtech, and social enterprise. Work directly with technical teams to validate commercial potential, test market fit, and guide early-stage company formation from initial idea through to launch. Drive customer discovery, refine business models, and build trust with diverse stakeholders in a fast-moving, autonomous environment.
Required Qualifications
- A builder at heart
- former founder
- startup operator
- venture builder
- venture creation professional
- Commercially minded
- strong judgement on what makes an opportunity viable
- investable
- worth pursuing
- Comfortable working with academics
- technical founders
- ability to challenge constructively
- build trust
- support others to succeed
- Confident across customer discovery
- market validation
- business models
- the early steps of company formation
- Energised by working across a wide range of sectors
- technologies
- Practical
- adaptable
- delivery-focused
- resilience to work well in a lean, fast-moving environment
- initiative
- follow-through
- You work well with others
- build strong relationships
- believe that teamwork drives better outcomes
- You're curious
- creative
- not afraid to challenge the norm
- find smarter solutions
- You take responsibility for your work
- follow through on commitments
- are driven to deliver results
- You seek feedback
- grow from experiences
- always looking to improve
- You genuinely care about the impact of your work
- colleagues
- customers
- the wider community
- All applicants must have the right to work in the UK
- at the time of application
- You will be required to provide documentation as part of the recruitment process to confirm your eligibility to work in the UK
Desired Qualifications
- perhaps a former founder
- startup operator
- venture builder
- venture creation professional
- enjoys turning ideas into action
- strong judgement on what makes an opportunity viable
- investable
- worth pursuing
- Comfortable working with academics
- technical founders
- ability to challenge constructively
- build trust
- support others to succeed
- Confident across customer discovery
- market validation
- business models
- the early steps of company formation
- Energised by working across a wide range of sectors
- rather than specialising narrowly in one domain
- Practical
- adaptable
- delivery-focused
- resilience to work well in a lean, fast-moving environment
- initiative
- follow-through
- You work well with others
- build strong relationships
- believe that teamwork drives better outcomes
- You're curious
- creative
- not afraid to challenge the norm
- find smarter solutions
- You take responsibility for your work
- follow through on commitments
- are driven to deliver results
- You seek feedback
- grow from experiences
- always looking to improve
- You genuinely care about the impact of your work
- colleagues
- customers
- the wider community
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