Principal

Skills

About the Role

You will source and evaluate Seed-stage investment opportunities across Japan and select Asian markets, building relationships with founders, angel investors, seed funds, incubators, accelerators, universities, institutional LPs, and other ecosystem participants. You will conduct first-round screening, including founder interviews, product review, market assessment, and competitive analysis, leveraging AI tools to accelerate research and evaluation. You will coordinate full diligence processes, prepare investment memos and materials, and assist in structuring and executing transactions. You will maintain portfolio company relationships, evaluate follow-on investments, monitor performance metrics, and support founders in accessing international capital and growth opportunities. You will represent the firm at industry events and develop market intelligence on regional Seed-stage trends.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in venture capital, investment banking, consulting, corporate strategy, or an early-stage startup environment
• Knowledge of the Japanese startup ecosystem is preferred; familiarity with broader Asian startup markets is a plus
• Experience in or exposure to the US venture capital ecosystem is preferred
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• Demonstrated analytical rigor and ability to evaluate early-stage business models and technologies
• Strong communication skills in both Japanese and English
• High level of professionalism and judgment when representing Alumni Ventures externally
• Entrepreneurial mindset and comfort operating independently in a fast-paced, evolving investment environment
• Genuine fluency with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity and demonstrated ability to integrate AI into daily workflows
• Authorized to work in Japan at the time of application and throughout employment
• Deep knowledge of the Japanese startup ecosystem, including local networks and market dynamics, is essential

Responsibilities

• Identify and source high-potential Seed-stage investment opportunities across Japan and select Asian markets
• Build and maintain relationships with founders, angel investors, seed funds, incubators, accelerators, universities, institutional LPs, and other ecosystem participants
• Work closely with sourcing partners to generate high-quality deal flow
• Leverage AI-powered research and intelligence tools to identify emerging founders, track ecosystem signals, and surface thematic trends
• Maintain a disciplined and organized investment pipeline
• Represent Alumni Ventures at industry events, conferences, pitch competitions, and ecosystem gatherings
• Conduct first-round screening of potential investments, including founder interviews, product review, market assessment, and competitive analysis
• Evaluate team quality, traction, market size, business model, and technology differentiation
• Develop structured investment summaries and preliminary analysis
• Coordinate full diligence processes, including financial review, legal considerations, and market validation
• Support preparation of investment memos and materials for internal review
• Assist in structuring and executing investment transactions
• Maintain relationships with portfolio companies and support founders post-investment
• Evaluate potential follow-on investments and monitor portfolio performance metrics
• Support founders in exploring options to access international capital and growth opportunities
• Develop and maintain market intelligence on the Japanese and Asian Seed-stage ecosystem