Who We Are
500 Global is a venture capital firm that invests early in founders building fast-growing technology companies. We focus on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth. We work closely with key stakeholders and advise governments and corporations on how best to support entrepreneurial ecosystems so startups can thrive.
500 Global has backed over 6,000 founders representing more than 2,600 companies operating in 81 countries. Our portfolio includes 49 companies valued at over $1 billion and 150+ companies valued at over $100 million.
Our 180+ team members are located in more than 27 countries and bring experience as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators from some of the world’s leading technology companies. The team at 500 Global share a passion for founder-first experiences, uplifting people and economies around the world through entrepreneurship.
We know the founder journey is not easy, so we walk alongside our companies, thriving with them in good times, and holding them up in the tough ones. This is where you come in.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking an amazing Program Director in Aichi, Japan to lead our 500 Japan programs, ensuring excellence from start to finish.
You should share our passion for uplifting people and economies around the world through entrepreneurship. You should understand a founder’s journey, both its ups and downs, and enjoy thriving in entrepreneurial creative, fast-paced environments, which can sometimes be uncertain, challenging, and intense.
You need to be both a visionary and an operator. You are an excellent communicator and you understand how to navigate between multiple stakeholders’ needs. You are also driven, smart, scrappy, and humble. Most importantly, you are excited at the prospect of joining a company of talented passionate individuals and playing your part in executing our vision to invest in the world’s potential.
You will be responsible for managing a team on the ground to drive, implement, and measure the success of our programs. You will work closely with the Regional Director of the Market Launch team, and the local Programs team to establish and grow strong relationships with great companies from day one. You will also manage strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to founders, mentors, LPs, and other partners, uphold the quality of 500 Global’s programs, brand, and reputation, and actively build and strengthen our foothold in Aichi, and further Japan.
Across the programs, you will be responsible for driving and advising on the strategic direction and investment thesis of the program, including developing a curated team of mentors and networks for founders. The success of the programs in Japan is your responsibility.
What You Will Be Doing
- Own and lead the implementation of all programs, events, and activities under the 500 Japan initiative, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with 500 Global’s goals and delivering the best possible experience for founders
- Work closely with the Regional Director, and local programs team to identify, source, and select great companies for our programs. You will also contribute to the strategic direction and thesis for the programs
- Implement programs aligned with global standards while adapting for local context, iterating and redesigning them as required while ensuring quality in structure, curriculum, and content
- Lead the successful implementation of startup-corporate matching and other ecosystem activities to ensure founders secure a foothold for their businesses in Japan
- Sourcing for and liaising with renowned speakers and mentors based on founders’ needs
- Planning and executing world-class Demo Day events with strong tangible outcomes
- Build, strengthen, and maintain founders’ community experiences, including but not limited to monitoring efficacy of office hours, actively facilitating meaningful and relevant introductions, and designing curated experiences to enhance founder engagement
- Manage and navigate relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to track, monitor, and measure timely feedback and sentiment to ensure we not only meet, but exceed expectations
- Form and grow strategic and meaningful partnerships with ecosystem stakeholders (investors, mentors, sponsors, corporate networks, etc) and continually uphold 500 Global’s brand in Japan
- Work cross-functionally across teams and departments to ensure timely delivery and quality in all we do
- You will be directly supported by a Program Manager who focuses on program operations, and a Community Lead who focuses on community efforts for founders
Requirements
Experience and Skills
- Must have entrepreneurial / founder experience
- At least 8 years of professional experience working within startups, VC, technology industries
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in both English and Japanese
- Excellent multitasking skills with the ability to take initiative and lead successful projects from start to finish
- Demonstrates an investor mindset and has a firm understanding of investment theories and financial markets
- Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills capable of synthesizing founder and ecosystem related data and information in a clear and concise manner, to derive insights that we can act upon from both investment and programming angles
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment under pressure
- Global & cultural awareness, and excited about working in a diverse environment with people from around the world
- Experience managing teams and projects
- Previous experience working with the startup ecosystem in Japan, with excellent knowledge and insights
- Work authorization in Japan
Technical Requirements
- Project Management Tools (Airtable, G-Suite, Notion, etc.)
- CRM Tools (Salesforce, Hubspot, etc.)
- Creative Tools (Canva)
This position is a 1 year contract role based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, with the potential to extend.
