About LACI
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is creating an inclusive green economy for the people of Los Angeles by unlocking innovation by working with startups to accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies, transforming markets through partnerships with policymakers, innovators, and market leaders in transportation, energy, and sustainable cities, and enhancing communities through workforce development, pilots, and other programs. Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), LACI is recognized as one of the most innovative business incubators in the world by UBI Global. In the past ten years, LACI has helped 340 portfolio companies raise $697 million in funding, generated $323 million in revenue, and created 2,565 jobs throughout the Los Angeles region, with a projected 5-year economic impact of more than $573 million. Learn more at laci.org
Position Summary:
The Vice President for Investment is responsible for supporting LACI and its portfolio companies in raising funding to increase the success rate and efficiency of our collective efforts to build an inclusive green economy. This role is responsible for developing and managing relationships with multiple investment and funding sources in the seed, venture, mission-driven, and alternative funding worlds, including angel networks, corporate venture groups, venture investment firms, impact investment firms, family offices, and other alternative sources. The Investment VP will oversee the process by which LACI portfolio companies achieve “investment readiness” and drive efficient and effective methods to facilitate introductions between “investment ready” portfolio companies and relevant dilutive and non-dilutive funders. This role will also work with LACI leadership toward development of potential LACI direct investment and financial support mechanisms as well as impact of our start-ups.
What You’ll Do:
- Investment and Funding Development and Management: Develop new and actively manage existing relationships with aligned funders and investors relevant to our portfolio companies and organizational strategy. Facilitate introductions and reinforce relationships between our investment ready portfolio companies and highly aligned potential funders.
- Maintain and build on the LACI brand delivering high-quality opportunities: Align funding opportunities and network with LACI economic, environmental and social impact goals as represented in the LACI “Just Impact” report. Work with the LACI Market Transformation team to guide development of an investment thesis for our sector focus areas (transportation, energy, smart cities) to align both portfolio company recruitment and funder appetite and relevance. Work with the LACI Community team and Diversity & Inclusion committee to ensure support of underrepresented communities (i.e., female and diverse founders) in funding, while helping support recruitment of start-ups that represent D&I goals.
- Portfolio Company Funding Support: Track the fundraising status and process of all LACI portfolio companies in order to proactively assist in facilitating connections to the right sources of dilutive and non-dilutive investment opportunities. Serve as an in-house mentor and resource to support LACI portfolio companies in their development and preparation of investor-facing materials and documentation, such as pitch decks and investor outreach collateral.
- Support portfolio companies in preparing to receive funding by directing programs and efforts that assist with capital campaign development and execution, financial model development, business model development, market analysis, transaction marketing documents and materials development. Support funder identification, outreach and negotiation process. Research and communicate relevant trends to key stakeholders.
- Manage investment readiness in support of the EWDD/CDBG grant: Work with contractors and program team to deliver outputs per EWDD grant. Lead and coordinate reporting as required by the grant.
- Organizational Leadership and Supervisory Responsibilities: Provide value-add leadership to the organization. Supervise and mentor Investments Team staff members (LACI Debt Fund, LACI Impact Funds).
- Development of LACI’s in-house Investment Vehicles: Oversee the administration and management of the LACI Impact Fund. Work with relevant stakeholders to develop clear SOPs for fund administration and management as well as defined roles and responsibilities across investment team members. Oversee due diligence, investment recommendations, and develop communications materials for LPs for Impact Fund and Debt Fund. Monitor and track current investments through regular company engagements. Coordinate LP events and engagement.
- Support the Incubation Team: Support the development of special events for investors and portfolio companies. Assist with vetting of portfolio company applications. Maintain database of investor contacts. Manage quarterly Dealbook and investment update and investor-facing collateral and communications. Support month end closing process and perform account reconciliations. Support preparation of financial reports tailored to recipients ranging from the Board of Directors to Executives to Program leads. Assist with financial audit preparation.
Why You’re Right for the Job:
- You understand the investment world. You can easily read, analyze, and summarize key information contained in financial statements and understand how to evaluate a company's performance and viability. You have a background in accounting or financial analysis and are excited about impact investing. You believe in the importance of clean-tech and are interested in aligning your skills with a mission-oriented organization.
- You have a keen attention to detail and ability to prioritize while keeping the big picture in mind. You are known for your organizational skills and meticulous approach to your work. You understand how every little detail impacts the bigger picture and maintain a commitment to excellence in all you do. You effortlessly navigate a long list of competing priorities and can identify what is important vs. urgent.
- You’re authentic and approachable with excellent communication skills. You are respected among your colleagues for your work ethic and communication skills, building a strong rapport with both clients and peers. People feel comfortable around you and are interested in your professional opinion.
- You thrive in fast-paced, highly autonomous roles. While LACI is a non-profit, it more closely resembles a start-up with a rapidly changing environment. So it’s a good thing your entrepreneurial spirit, and goal-oriented mindset allow you to be comfortable in a results-oriented culture. You know how to keep people looped in without requiring daily oversight or check-ins to be successful.
- You’re PRO-LACI. Translation: you’re a proactive, pro-environment, pro-solutions professional that is dedicated to making the world a cleaner, safer, better place to live in through clean technologies. In addition, you have a commitment to inclusion, or the need for solutions to support all people in a community regardless of race, religion, gender, immigration status, or ethnicity.
Requirements:
Basically, we want to know you can get the job done. This means you have:
- 10+ years management and leadership experience with demonstrated progressive responsibilities;
- Passionate about LACI's mission and able to promote and communicate the mission and values to stakeholders;
- 7+ years of investment/finance experience;
- Experience raising capital in a startup or advising capital raises for startups preferred;
- Deep understanding of investment landscape and investor network in the US;
- Experience in the cleantech, energy or mobility/transportation sectors preferred.
Work Requirements:
- Must work onsite from Downtown LA office (currently hybrid).
Position Details:
This is a full-time position, starting immediately. LACI operates out of the La Kretz Innovation Campus, in the bustling Downtown LA Arts District. Since we are rapidly growing, you will be getting in on the ground floor at LACI, with the opportunity to evolve with us and shape your future here. Some travel may be required.
Salary Range: VP Range $138-148k commensurate with experience, education, skills, etc and total compensation package including health benefits, 401k match, professional development, commuter benefits and more.
In addition to working on a campus with other innovators, we offer industry competitive benefits including: paid holidays, vacation/sick time, health benefits, 401(k) plan with match, and paid parking (with EV charge stations). We also support alternative transportation with a metro pass and bikeshare for every employee.
