ClimateTech Fund - Senior Associate

Come join Connecticut Innovations (CI) as a Senior Associate/Associate primarily supporting our Technology Fund with opportunities to support other CI Venture Funds!

Connecticut Innovations (CI)

As Connecticut's strategic venture capital arm and one of the most active investors on the eastern seaboard, CI has a portfolio of 220+ companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology and climate tech. CI meets with hundreds of companies every year, identifying the most promising early-stage companies looking to grow in the state. Every year, CI invests in 20+ new companies, in addition to providing follow-on capital to existing portfolio companies. CI also invests as a Limited Partner in outside venture funds based in CT (17 in the past 6 years).

• CI has invested $700+ million in innovative startups since 1995
• CI’s leveraging power is 10X, or $7+ billion

CI announced it invested $45.8 million in 67 companies and venture funds throughout the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. CI’s investments also helped to attract an additional $653 million in outside capital into its portfolio companies. The fiscal year generated $43.2 million in proceeds, which will allow CI to invest in more early-stage companies in the future.

Our culture is vibrant, diverse, collaborative, and inclusive. We embrace perspective and have mission alignment on our impact to Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem. We host or participate in over 20 ecosystem events per year, and our headquarters at The District in New Haven is a catalyst for partnership and an innovation ecosystem community hub. As an organization, we embrace diversity of thought, listen with an open mind, think big and concretely, and invest with the mission in mind.

CI ClimateTech Fund

Governor Lamont has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 while ensuring vulnerable communities receive investment and are resilient to the impacts of climate change.Connecticut has passed the Clean Air Act, set a 2040 zero emissions target for school buses, passed advanced clean truck standards modeled off California, and more.

Connecticut is taking a macro government strategy to decarbonize, with CI working in tandem with the Connecticut Green Bank, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Office of Workforce Strategy, and more.

The CI ClimateTech Fund is a $100 million fund that invests capital and strategic support in early stage and growth companies in the following areas: energy, transportation and mobility, food and agriculture, water, climate-related software, waste and circular economy, advanced materials/manufacturing, carbon removal/sequestration and more. The fund invests between $150,000 and $5 million per company and does require co-investment. ClimateTech Fund - Connecticut Innovations Connecticut Innovations

A Look Inside the ClimateTech Portfolio

Connecticut Tackles Food Waste; CI Invests in Bright Feeds

Why We Invested: reThought Insurance Corporation?

Why We Invested: Oxylus Energy ?

Why We Invested: CREW Carbon ?

Why We Invested: CarbonBuilt ?

Why We Invested: Noteworthy AI ?

Durational Venture Capital (VC) Senior Associate

A CI VC Senior Associate plays a key role in executing the ClimateTech Fund investment strategy. This role also participates in all phases of the investment process including due diligence, meetings with management, focused company and industry research, financial modeling, writing investment recommendations, and supporting CI portfolio companies as board observers.

We are currently seeking a VC Senior Associate to join for a period of 2 to 3 years to help develop and manage an active ClimateTech Fund portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Deal Sourcing: Source and evaluate early-stage investment opportunities (Pre-Seed to Series A).
• Deal Evaluation: Conduct due diligence, including writing investment memos, performing market analysis, and customer and founder references.
• Portfolio Support: Collaborate with portfolio companies on key initiatives, including recruiting, fundraising, and business development.
• Research & Content: Develop investment theses in emerging industries, produce content to spotlight areas of interest, and analyze industry trends.
• Platform: Enhance internal tools and systems to improve team collaboration and productivity, and organize events to drive industry connectivity.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: While many successful candidates have 1 year of experience in investment banking, venture capital, and startups, we’re open to other paths that demonstrate the ability to identify great companies, support founders, and operate in a fast-moving environment.
• Climate-Obsessed: Demonstrated interest in decarbonization, resiliency, and adaptation and startups are essential.
• Relationship-Driven: Strong networking skills with the ability to build meaningful connections with founders, industry leaders, and limited partners, and the ability to travel to events/conferences.
• Analytical Mindset: Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to conduct rigorous due diligence and think critically about markets and opportunities.
• Proactive & Organized: Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities effectively.
• Education: MBA or master’s degree is preferred.
• Startup Experience: Experience as a Founder or working in a startup preferred but not required.

Skills & Competencies

• A seeker and learner mentality, with knowledge of the ClimateTech Fund areas of focus.
• High personal passion for a fast-developing innovation ecosystem.
• Detailed, action-oriented person who takes initiative to follow-up on items.
• Project management and organization skills to solicit and follow up on meetings.
• Communicate comfortably with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to synthesize data into a compelling story.

Connecticut Innovations reserves the right to underfill this position at the level of Associate if deemed necessary. Connecticut Innovations is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We welcome all candidates to apply regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.