BizStarts Milwaukee works to connect entrepreneurs and help them move their start-up companies to the "investor ready" stage. We're currently looking for energetic, motivated people to fill two positions in our on going quest to generate significant positive economic impact on region:
Administrative Coordinator
BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation offering services to assist entrepreneurs in southeastern Wisconsin with launching innovative and high-growth companies, seeks an administrative and operations assistant to help coordinate events, programs, staff schedules and office areas.
Responsibilities include the following areas:
I. BizStarts Venture Track Program
1. Research and Tracking:
a. Monitor regional job and company growth/launch activity
b. Track statistics for BizStarts’ overall report card
c. Track statistics for a regional economic report card
2. Database Administration: Using Salesforce and other programs to monitor internal and external activity and prepare reports for Venture Track progress, outreach success metrics and others as needed
3. Outreach Coordination
a. Execution of outreach electonic and traditional mail initiatives
b. Track new company starts in the region
c. Implement strategies for expanding database to include more entrepreneurs
4. Assisting with coordination for Venture Track programs, including workshops, Ugly Baby panels and other panel and presentation services developed through Venture Track and the Venture Track Director
II. Biz Starts Connect/College Consortium
1. Inspirational Entrepeneur Events: Coordinate and help execute four (4) Inspirational Entrepreneur events each year. 2. Assistance with other networking events as needed, including the anniversary event and College Consortium events (e.g. lunch, Collegiate Business Plan Competition)
III. Biz Starts Buzz
1.Website: Timely content updates and adjustments to the BizStarts website as needed. Coordinate content with communications people and other web-related issues and updates with the webmaster
2.Social Media: Coordinate and send updates on BizStarts and entrepreneurial and service content via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and any other outlets deemed useful
IV. General Administrative
Coordinate office space, organize and maintain files, assist with calendars for Executive Director and other lead staff Record and maintain minutes for Board and staff meetings.
Core Competencies, Requirements:
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Excellent multi-tasking and organization skills.
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Experience with event planning and coordination.
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Experience with databases, research, data interpretation, marketing and branding.
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Ability to work autonomously on projects in a non-traditional environment.
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Skills with social media tools, Constant Contact and Salesforce or similar tracking programs.
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Familiarity with website CMS (content management systems).
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Experience with non-profits and/or programs designed to serve entrepreneurs is a plus.
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Bachelor’s degree preferred.
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BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization partially funded by a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development
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Administration (EDA) grant. Funding from additional multiple sources has been received for other program activities.
For more information on BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc. see www.bizstartsmilwaukee.com.
Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Eric Paulsen, Executive Director of BizStarts, at epaulsen@bizstartsmilwaukee.com or mail to 10437 Innovation Drive #202, Milwaukee, WI 53226. EOE.
Program Director
BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc. offers services to assist entrepreneurs with launching innovative and high growth companies. The core of our service is called the Venture Track (VT) program, which assists entrepreneurs by offering coaching, mentoring and connections to resources needed to help their companies launch and grow.
We seek an individual to lead and oversee the Venture Track process.
Responsibilities include:
1. Administering VT Services & Programs
a. Qualifying companies with staff
b. Developing and maintaining relationships with entrepreneurs in program
c. Work with other staff members to move VT companies to “graduation”/investor-readiness
d. Track progress and results of VT companies before, during and after launch, including investment totals, jobs created and company revenue and regularly communicating progress with other team members
e. Connect entrepreneurs with business and investment opportunities
2. Marketing and Outreach for the Venture Track program and BizStarts to Entrepreneurs.
3. Assessing commercialization potential of research.
The VT Director will periodically meet with the major sources of research to ascertain whether their current research offers potential for commercialization. Those sources include, but are not limited to: the Medical College of Wisconsin, UWM Research Foundation, the Milwaukee Water Council, Corporate IP from various regional companies, the Wisconsin Energy Research Consortium, WISys and more.
4. Managing VT Mentors Program
a. Identifying and recruiting volunteers to serve as mentors
b. Maintaining thorough mentor database
c. Connecting mentors with entrepreneurs
d. Managing “handoffs” of relationships once mentoring is complete
5. Create & execute successful workshops and roundtables that educate VT entrepreneurs on the facets of managing and growing an innovative company and provide assessment and feedback on their concepts.
6. Execute successful “Ugly Baby” panels for VT companies, a forum for entrepreneurs to practice and perfect their investor “pitch.”
7. Develop a successful Management Connections program for VT companies
a. Using connections of Board members and others to recruit and qualify management talent for VT companies
b. Maintaining management talent database
c. Connecting management talent with entrepreneurs
d. Monitoring progress of management around VT companies through launch
The Venture Track Director must have a strong understanding of the entrepreneurial, investor and economic development spaces. Strong skills in marketing, communication and program management are required. BizStarts seeks someone with a proactive approach and passion for southeastern Wisconsin; significant experience running one or more companies is a plus, as is experience working with non-profit and governmental organizations.
Core Competencies, Requirements:
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College Degree, Masters/MBA preferred, with marketing or business focus
Experience helping to build successful companies, start-ups preferred
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Significant experience working with entrepreneurs and programs that serve entrepreneurs
Excellent communication skills in writing and speaking.
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Knowledge of business financing (equity vs. debt) and how these are applied.
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Familiarity with early stage investing
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Experience with marketing and branding
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Administrative skills to coordinate programs and panels in conjunction with the administrative assistant
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Regularly report progress and outcomes to Executive Director and others as needed
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Highly organized multi-tasker, disciplined with a willingness to achieve benchmark metrics.
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Flexibility to work in a non-traditional environment.
BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc. is a growing 501(c)3 organization founded in 2008 with a total budget under $500,000. It is partially funded by a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant with additional funding from multiple sources for other program activities.
For more information on BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc. see www.bizstartsmilwaukee.com.
Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Eric Paulsen, Executive Director, by e-mail to epaulsen@bizstartsmilwaukee.com or mail to 10437 Innovation Drive #202, Milwaukee, WI 53226. EOE.