Venture Acceleration Manager
The Cardano Foundation is an independent, Swiss-based non-profit organization that oversees the advancement of the Cardano blockchain. It focuses on driving adoption, shaping standards, and supporting the global community of developers, users, and enterprises to ensure the long-term prosperity and decentralization of the network. The Foundation also provides educational resources through the Cardano Academy and developer support via its Developer Portal.
Funding
Investors
Projects
About Cardano Foundation
The Cardano Foundation is an independent, Swiss-based non-profit organization and the legal custodian of the Cardano protocol and brand. Its primary mission is to oversee and supervise the advancement of Cardano, working to drive adoption and partnerships, grow the global community, and shape legislation and commercial standards. The Foundation actively engages with institutions, businesses, and policymakers to implement blockchain solutions for real-world problems, focusing on areas like traceability, authenticity, and sustainability. To support its ecosystem, the Foundation provides a comprehensive Developer Portal with tools and resources for building on Cardano, and fosters education through the Cardano Academy, which offers expert-backed learning and professional certifications. By maintaining a dialogue with its diverse community—including developers, stake pool operators, and Ada holders—and promoting open collaboration through initiatives like annual developer surveys, the Cardano Foundation aims to ensure the Cardano project remains decentralized, resilient, and continues to evolve to meet global needs.
Skills
About the Role
You will play a dual role in managing the Foundation's own accelerator and venture support initiatives, while simultaneously facilitating collaborations with external venture programs across the broader Cardano ecosystem. You will work with founders, ventures, business development, service providers, VCs, and startup mentors in a fast-paced environment where you can confidently engage with innovators, investors, and enterprise leaders. You will oversee the Cardano Accelerator Program end to end, cultivate relationships with investors and funds, and act as the bridge between startup innovation and Cardano's roadmap.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience running startup accelerators, innovation hubs, or corporate innovation programs, ideally in fintech, Web3, or digital infrastructure sectors
- 2+ years of active involvement in the Cardano ecosystem
- Experience in helping startups achieve product-market fit, including technical and business advisory
- Strong grasp of blockchain technology, especially public infrastructure and decentralized systems
- Excellent network orchestration skills
- Results-oriented mindset
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Excellent networking and relationship-building abilities
- Highly adaptable and resilient
- Strong ethical standards and integrity
Responsibilities
- Oversee and scale the Cardano Foundation's Cardano Accelerator Program, managing cohorts of startups
- Manage program operations including resource allocation, budgeting, quality control, and cross department alignment
- Provide guidance and feedback to startups on product-market fit, blockchain strategy, and go-to-market execution
- Curate a strong mentor and advisor network across industries and product development domains
- Identify synergies between venture initiatives and Cardano's technological roadmap
- Manage relationships with active and potential funds and investors through regular communications and events
- Conduct landscape analysis and track investor interests to inform cohort themes and positioning
- Coordinate investor involvement in Demo Day and other showcase opportunities
- Design and oversee structured follow-on investment pathways aligned with the funding strategy
- Coordinate with the ecosystem to drive venture acceleration and support ecosystem growth
- Champion community engagement through consistent communication and collaboration
- Build bridges between startups and enterprise partners through matchmaking and pilot initiatives
- Represent the Cardano Foundation at industry events, innovation forums, and investor networks
- Work with Marketing and Partnerships to showcase venture progress and pilot outcomes
- Feed ecosystem insights back into the Venture Hub strategy to inform future cohorts
Benefits
- Remote work with flexible hours
- Annual learning budget for professional development
- Annual team building event and departmental team-building day
- Extra day off for your birthday
- Additional days off for milestone work anniversaries