Job description
Join NovaFoundry Labs as the Entrepreneurship Programs Manager and lead a thriving accelerator-style program in the heart of Austin. You will design curricula, recruit mentors, manage partnerships, and guide startups from idea to traction.
This role blends program strategy, operations, and hands-on founder mentorship to build a vibrant startup ecosystem that attracts top founders, university partners, and investors.
As a senior facilitator of our program, you will shape the experience, ensure measurable outcomes, and champion inclusive entrepreneurship across the community.
Responsibility
- Lead the design, planning, and execution of entrepreneurship programs, including cohort-based accelerators, bootcamps, and pitch events.
- Build and maintain an active network of mentors, coaches, investors, corporate partners, universities, and community organizations.
- Develop curricula focused on customer discovery, product-market fit, business model development, go-to-market strategy, and fundraising.
- Manage program operations: participant intake, selection, onboarding, milestone tracking, and impact reporting.
- Organize and host events such as demo days, founder roundtables, and thought leadership sessions.
- Coordinate sponsorships and grants; manage budgets and vendor relationships.
- Provide 1:1 mentorship and structured coaching to founders, helping them validate ideas and accelerate growth.
- Measure program outcomes, generate insights, and iterate on program design to improve ROI for participants and partners.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in business, entrepreneurship, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in the startup ecosystem, accelerator, venture, or entrepreneurship education.
- Proven track record in program management, event planning, and stakeholder engagement.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, storytelling, and public speaking skills.
- Experience with fundraising, investor relations, partnerships, and sponsorships.
- Strong analytical ability to measure impact, track metrics, and translate data into action.
- Familiarity with Lean Startup, customer discovery, business model canvas, and go-to-market frameworks.
- Passion for mentorship and helping early-stage founders succeed; collaborative, inclusive, and outcomes-driven.