The Role: Investment Principal, Equipment Tech
The Investment Principal will be a key member of the Investment team, with the ability to lead/sponsor new investment opportunities. The Principal will be expected to eventually take on additional leadership responsibilities as the lead of the Equipment Tech sector, in partnership with the Managing Director and HSB Fund lead. The role requires previous experience at an early-stage venture capital fund, including demonstrated end-to-end sourcing, negotiation and execution of deals, Board experience, and internal and external networking. The position is located in San Francisco with frequent travel within the US and possibly internationally.
Key Responsibilities:
Develop investment perspectives for areas within Equipment Tech (GridTech, electrification, industrial automation, robotics, building management technology, IoT, sensors, etc.) and potentially others (ClimateTech, Cybersecurity and Privacy, Insurtech, Future of Transportation, or HealthTech).
- Lead the negotiation, structuring, due diligence, and execution of Equipment Tech investments.
- Oversee ongoing relationships with portfolio companies to enhance strategic and financial value for both Munich Re and the portfolio companies, including serving as a Board Observer or Director.
- Lead and oversee the preparation and review of materials required for MRV governing bodies (e.g., Investment Committee).
- Network externally to generate deal flow and relationships for Munich Re and its subsidiaries (e.g., Hartford Steam Boiler).
- Collaborate with the business partners within Munich Re; understand and inform their strategy, evaluate specific opportunities, and help drive strategic value in collaboration with the Portfolio Development team.
- Negotiate and communicate successfully with entrepreneurs, management teams, syndicate partners, and other stakeholders, including attorneys, advisors, consultants, and Board Members.
- Develop and mentor junior investors on the team.
- Build the MRV brand through various venture capital, investment, sector-specific conferences, and topical industry events.
- Participate in internal MRV events, i.e., Town Halls, portfolio reviews, and presentations to stakeholders across Munich Re.
- The Equipment Tech Sector Lead’s responsibilities include: (1) Operate a playbook with the Portfolio Development team for successful strategy and execution for the cross-functional Equipment Tech team. (2) Run biweekly Equipment Tech team meetings to ensure that the playbook is being executed and deals discussed. (3) Focus the Equipment Tech team on building theses and mapping out where Portfolio Development can most effectively support the portfolio companies.
The Person: Successful Candidate
The successful candidate will be one part venture capitalist, one part strategist, and all parts master communicator and networker.
Additional specific skills include the following:
- Experienced, Methodical Venture Capitalist & Business Developer: Candidates must have requisite financial and investment skills for the venture capital and business development processes, including due diligence, financial analysis, valuation, negotiation, contracts, term sheets, LOIs, equity and debt mechanisms, standard terms, and deal structures.
- Technical Subject Matter Expertise: This role requires a prior background in GridTech, electrification, industrial automation, building management technology, IoT, sensors, or similar technologies in order to be able to source and evaluate the best investment opportunities for Munich Re Ventures.
- Strategic Vision & Passion for Creating the Future: To be effective in this role requires gaining an understanding of Munich Re’s global insurance and reinsurance businesses, including business models, drivers of economic value, the insurance value chain, competition, risk transfer mechanisms and products, and regulatory environment.
- Intellectual Curiosity: This role requires an innate and insatiable intellectual curiosity about business, technology, and business models. Active and constant monitoring and engagement with the innovation ecosystem is essential.
- Superb Communicator & Relentless Networker: The position requires a high level of communication, influence, and interpersonal skills in order to network, navigate, negotiate, influence, and execute internally with cross-functional teams and externally with multiple stakeholders and partners. The ability to develop and leverage internal and external global relationships and networks is essential.
- Focused, Persuasive Decision Maker: Of paramount importance in this role is the ability to drive oneself and other parties towards decisions, including participating actively with appropriate courage and candor to accelerate decision making. Clarity and precision in communication is important, tempered by openness and adaptability. This includes maintaining a rational view of specific opportunities and advocating for the development of a broad portfolio.
- Disciplined Adaptable Tactician: This role requires strong execution and follow-through in emergent and uncertain situations. The ability to be adaptable and problem-solve in the face of evolving internal and external stakeholder agendas and changing priorities is critical.
Requirements and Qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience, including 5+ years in an early-stage venture capital firm.
- 3+ years of experience sourcing and executing GridTech, electrification, industrial automation, building management technology, IoT, sensors or similar technologies for venture capital investments.
- Prior Board Observer and/or Director experience, with some of the Board roles lasting over one year.
- Operational experience in a venture-backed technology startup is beneficial
- A college degree is required. A STEM degree, ideally in engineering, is strongly preferred.
- MBA preferred.
- Willing to travel up to 25% of the time, including internationally.
The base salary range anticipated for this position is $220,000 - $330,000, plus the opportunity for synthetic carry and a company bonus based upon a percentage of eligible pay. In addition, the company makes available a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, 401k match, retirement savings plan, paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO).
The salary estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for candidates hired in this position in San Francisco. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary include your specific skills, how many years of experience you have, and comparison to other employees already in this role. Most candidates will start in the bottom half of the range.
At Munich Re Ventures, we see Diversity and Inclusion as a solution to the challenges and opportunities all around us. Our goal is to foster an inclusive culture and build a team that reflects the entrepreneurs and companies we work with and the communities in which we live and work. We strive to provide a workplace where all of our colleagues feel respected, valued and empowered to achieve their very best every day. We are an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
