Start2 Group is a global innovation leader taking your startup journey to the next level. As a premier startup ecosystem platform, Start2 Group serves as the ultimate destination for growth-oriented startups, corporations, investors, and governments to shape and scale ventures with growth potential.
Founded in 2008, Start2 Group has consistently played a pivotal role in the success stories of thousands of startups, guiding them seamlessly from initial fundraising to global expansion. We operate in key markets across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East, shaping the future of innovation on a global scale.
We are seeking a Corporate Innovation Lead to help organizations harness external innovation by identifying emerging technologies and implementing collaborative innovation models. This role involves working closely with clients and startups and advising and supporting clients to implement their external innovation strategies.
The responsibilities outlined below are not exhaustive and can include other related tasks. The person will from time to time work for other projects as the company requires.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Corporate Innovation Program Design & Implementation
- Conduct discovery sessions with partners and clients to assess strategic goals, innovation priorities, and business challenges.
- Advise organizations on integrating external innovation into their co-innovation and business strategies.
- Advise on market trends, technology shifts, and startup ecosystems relevant to clients needs.
- Identify key trends, technologies, and disruptive business models that impact the client's industry.
- Lead the design, execution, and delivery of Innovation programs, ensuring alignment with client objectives and Start2's strategy.
- Deliver tailored advisory services to corporate clients with curated startup introductions and actionable recommendations.
- Advise and support clients to source and evaluate startups and technology providers.
- Lead and facilitate innovation strategy sessions, events and workshops with clients, ensuring high quality outcomes
2. Client Engagement
- Own, manage, and grow the corporate client network and ecosystem, serving as their primary account manager
- Build trust and long-term engagement by proactively managing accounts through regular meetings, stakeholder mapping, and executive engagement
- Foster relationships with clients, startups and industry stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem
- Support clients in structuring partnership agreements, licensing deals, and joint ventures with external technology providers.
- Collaborate with the business development team to bring in new clients and support business development in the closing of sales.
- Work with Marketing team to implement marketing and sales strategies to promote corporate services to potential clients.
3. Project Management & Advisory
- Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of innovation initiatives for Start2 and its clients.
- Provide actionable insights and reports to senior leadership and decision-makers.
- Provide thought leadership and strategic innovation advisory to clients
Key Qualifications & Skills:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Engineering, Innovation Management, or related fields.
- 5+ years of experience working for large corporations in innovation consulting, corporate innovation, R&D, or business development.
- Strong knowledge of open innovation principles, emerging technologies, and startup ecosystems.
- Experience in managing external partnerships, licensing agreements, or technology scouting.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of translating insights into action.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-industry consulting environment.
Preferred Experience:
- 5+ years of experience working with corporate innovation teams and worked in large corporations / MNC's.
- 3+ years of experience in people management and leading teams of more than 2 people.
- Familiarity with design thinking, lean startup methodologies, and agile innovation frameworks.
- Strong global network within the innovation ecosystem.
- Be comfortable to work in and able to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment
- Great team player and always willing to support the teams when required.
- Display leadership and strong communication skills.
- Strategic thinker with a results-oriented approach.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English in a business context.
We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
