Position Overview:
AIC RAISE is hiring a strategic and entrepreneurial Program Lead – Innovation & Venture Development to drive the design and implementation of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Venture Development (IEV) program. This role will focus on building a strong foundation for early-stage innovators by integrating structured academic insights with hands-on entrepreneurial exposure. The Program Lead will work closely with faculty, startup founders, mentors, and ecosystem enablers to nurture innovation-led venture creation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Innovation Leadership & Mentorship
Support early-stage innovators through ideation, problem validation, business modelling, and venture development.
Provide hands-on mentoring to foster entrepreneurial thinking and execution capabilities.
Track progress across key innovation milestones including MVPs, validation metrics, and scalability planning.
2. Program Strategy & Implementation
Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for the IEV program aligned with AIC RAISE’s incubation and innovation goals.
Integrate experiential learning models with real-world entrepreneurial activities and startup practices.
Define and monitor key performance indicators to ensure measurable program impact.
3. Academic & Industry Integration
Co-develop and deliver sessions with faculty that link academic frameworks to startup ecosystems and case-based learning.
Organize knowledge-sharing formats such as founder talks, domain deep-dives, and fireside chats with experts.
Bridge academic learning with market-driven innovation practices and industry needs.
4. Startup Ecosystem Access
Provide innovators access to AIC RAISE’s incubation programs, mentoring, seed funding opportunities, and investor networks.
Lead innovation labs, venture showcases, and ecosystem connect events that support early-stage ventures.
Facilitate applications to accelerators, startup challenges, and national/international innovation forums.
5. Program Operations & Reporting
Manage the day-to-day coordination of sessions, mentoring, reviews, and project tracking.
Maintain comprehensive documentation of venture progress, participation, and program impact.
Prepare reports and presentations for internal reviews, academic institutions, and funding agencies.
Eligibility Criteria
Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
1–3 years of experience in startup incubation, innovation program delivery, or entrepreneurial ecosystem development.
Strong understanding of IEV frameworks and innovation-driven education methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with founders, faculty, mentors, and institutional stakeholders.