Business Advisor

Aalto Startup Center is a leading hybrid accelerator based in Aalto University offering both incubation and accelerator services to early stage and growth-phase startups, and to research-based project teams on their path to commercialisation. The participants include companies both from within Aalto University and outside of it. Annually, there are approximately 50 companies and teams at Aalto Startup Center. Aalto Startup Center also operates several partner programs, including European Space Agency Business Incubator Finland and Urban Tech Helsinki, among others. Aalto Startup Center’s premises are located in Otaniemi, Espoo. https://startupcenter.aalto.fi/

Are you motivated to work with innovative startups and growth companies? We are now looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced Business Advisor with a focus on product, solution and technology development to join our active community and help grow our startups and Aalto research commercialisation projects.

We are offering a unique and interesting opportunity to work with an exciting portfolio of startups, and to shape the programs that support their success.

In this position you will have a chance to make an impact by helping high potential early-stage ideas, companies and teams grow and reach their full potential. During the 26 years of its operation, Aalto Startup Center has acted as a springboard for many success stories in the Finnish business community, such as the gaming company Rovio, the job search website Duunitori, the design firm Design Pole, and the well-being software Cuckoo. During recent years, the focus has been in sustainable research-based and innovative deep-tech startups and project teams such as Surgify Medical and Solar Foods.

Your role and goals

Drawing on your wealth of product/technology and business development experience, your role is to coach and support our diverse portfolio companies and project teams in progressing from early proof-of-concept phase to market-ready solutions, to help strengthen their product development capabilities, and to provide education and expertise in solution and technology development planning. Together with the other business advisors, you work as a team to help each startup and project team take their next leap, which might relate to e.g. reaching market readiness, raising funding or building the team. You will also develop content for trainings and workshops which prepare the teams for one-to-one coaching sessions, as well as tools and frameworks to help the teams level-up in their technology readiness.

Your network and team

You will be part of the Aalto Startup Advisory team that works with the variety of startups in our Business Generator service program, as well as Aalto’s Business Finland-funded ‘Research to Business’ project teams.

You will work closely with other business advisors in the team, with all staff of the Aalto Startup Center, and with the wider Aalto Innovation Services team. The team is currently led by Niko Downie, Head of Aalto Startup Advisory.

Your experience and ambitions

We are looking for a person who is inspired by seeing startups grow.

Ideal candidate:

• has the ability and desire to focus on startup business development and help startups scale up
• has experience on successfully developing new technologies and products for market entry
• is experienced and well networked in the startup ecosystem
• has the “pay it forward” attitude
• has and is willing to share his/her experience and make an impact
• can work both independently and as a team player
• has excellent interaction and communications skills
• works fluently in English

What we offer

• A dynamic environment, where colleagues and customers share the passion for growing early stage startups.
• A chance to make an impact. We are proud of our purpose to shape a sustainable future. We spark the game changers of tomorrow, and renew society with research-based knowledge, creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Great possibilities for competence development and learning. We constantly keep learning to find the most impactful ways to empower – and invest in – our people.
• Culture that inspires and includes everyone. All our work is guided by the values of the university: responsibility, courage, and collaboration.  It’s the people that create Aalto, now and in the future. We want to be an open community where equality and inclusion enable curiosity, innovation, collaboration and wellbeing.

We work in a hybrid way, and the primary workplace is Otaniemi, Espoo. The Otaniemi campus is a thriving and connected community of 100 nationalities, 13,000 students and 4,500 employees. Life at the transformed campus is vibrant and filled with amazing architecture, calming nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, services and good connections along the metro line.

Join us!

If this sounds like a perfect match for you, please submit your CV and motivation letter with the salary expectation through our recruitment system by October 6th, 2024.

We will review applications and may already invite suitable candidates to interview during the application period. We aim to have a transparent and equal recruitment process, so feel free to ask us for feedback.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via our internal system Workday → find jobs.

You can get further information about the position by calling Niko Downie, Head of Aalto Startup Advisory, tel. +358 50 302 7996, on Friday 27.9. from 11:00-12:00 and Wednesday 2.10. from 14:00-15:00.

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, 14 000 students, 400 professors and close to 5000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

More about Aalto University:

Aalto.fi
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