Business Development Associate

We are a fast-growing startup looking for a driven Business Development Associate to own our investor outreach and strategic partnership pipeline. This is a high-ownership, high-tempo role for someone who thrives on building relationships, generating leads, and keeping every thread moving so leadership can focus on closing.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Investor Outreach & Relations - Research and build a pipeline of angel investors, VCs, accelerators, and funding platforms relevant to the company's stage and sector Manage follow-up cadences with investors already in conversation — no lead goes cold Coordinate and prepare materials for investor calls and due diligence requests Schedule and brief the founder ahead of every investor interaction.
2. Partnership & BD Outreach - Identify and reach out to potential strategic partners, enterprise clients, and institutional collaborators Draft outreach emails, follow-ups, and partnership proposals independently Nurture relationships from first contact through to MOU or pilot stage Attend relevant industry events and conferences to represent the company and generate leads.
3. Pipeline & Systems Ownership - Own and maintain a single source-of-truth CRM or tracker across all investor and BD leads Ensure every lead has a clear stage, owner, and next action at all times Deliver a weekly pipeline summary to the founder with status, blockers, and recommended next steps

Who You Are:

• 1–3 years of experience in business development, sales development, startup BD, or a VC/accelerator analyst role
• Strong written communication — you can draft a compelling cold email or partnership proposal without being hand-held
• Persistent and organized — you follow up until you get a yes or a no, and nothing slips through
• Comfortable owning a CRM or tracker end-to-end and keeping it clean
• Self-starter who thrives in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment
• Prior exposure to fundraising, pitch decks, or data room preparation is a plus