Job Description

M12 is the corporate venture capital arm of Microsoft focused on early-stage investments enabling a cloud-first future, spanning big data & analytics, business SaaS, cloud infrastructure, AI & machine learning, productivity, and security. We are focused on driving financial returns by providing our B2B founders with unparalleled access to Microsoft's value-added resources. We're honored to have backed teams at over 80 great companies since launching the fund in 2016. M12 is headquartered in San Francisco with presence in New York, Seattle, Tel Aviv, and London.

We're seeking a Partner to source, diligence, invest and assist the next cohort of market-leading startups as a key member of the investment team in San Francisco. We place a premium on diversity of ideas and are excited to add new perspectives to our team. We value accountability, continuous learning, inclusivity, teamwork, transparency, and trust.

Deal Sourcing

* Leverages expansive network of high-profile industry connections to drive deal sourcing and industry visibility; builds out investment pieces based off of market research. Cultivates executive relationships in startup ecosystems to ensure high volume of sourcing opportunities. Drives sourcing for new opportunity areas.
* Generates deal flow by identifying and meeting with companies where there is potential for investment; evaluates opportunities by asking questions and makes recommendations on opportunities to pursue.

Deal Diligence

* Collects information from prospective companies; researches and seeks feedback from existing references, customers, and competitors. Conducts background checks on current management (e.g., board members, executive team) of prospective companies to understand their goals and identify potential issues in the team.
* Conducts market research and analyses and leverages input from industry experts to assess market opportunity including, relevant geographies, long-term opportunity, market landscape, and competition.
* Researches company technology, including intellectual property (IP), leveraging data and insights from technical and business consultants to evaluate competitive advantage, sustainability, and differentiators, and make recommendations based on insights.
* Interprets and evaluates financial documentation and performs analyses (e.g., financial modeling, valuation, Return on Investment (ROI), revenue, projections, exit analyses, cashflow, Profits & Losses), leveraging deep expertise in financing techniques (e.g., equity, debt) to evaluate the financial situation and potential for growth and scale of prospective companies. Leads exit analyses, evaluates returns analyses, and provides high level analyses. Collaborates with internal and external legal counsel to identify and mitigate legal concerns (e.g., litigation, regulatory, compliance) related to potential investments.
* Prepares memos to propose deals to the internal team and explain the findings of diligence activities; answers questions and gathers feedback to determine support for deals. Evaluates and provides input into deal decisions. Provides guidance to junior colleagues around memos.

Deal Execution

* Leads execution of deals by negotiating deal structure and acting as a client liaison, leveraging deep financing expertise; communicates with Treasury team to ensure investment funding; collaborates with external counsel to perform final diligence activities and close deals.

Portfolio Management

* Supports development of portfolio companies by helping to recruit executives, raise funds, and move the company through the initial building phase; supports development of portfolio companies' team members. Works with Portfolio Development Manager(s) (PDMS) to bring in resources from Microsoft to provide value to portfolio companies, providing guidance as needed; facilitates introductions to Microsoft and industry connections to drive growth for investments.
* Serves as a board member for a portfolio of companies by attending boarding meetings, contributing to presentations and decisions, advising management, and coordinating with stakeholders. Monitors progress and advises company executives on strategy and guides portfolio companies in answering strategic questions, including exit scenarios.

M12 Development

* Manages junior colleagues throughout deal phases and provides mentorship and guidance to build team capabilities.
* Participates as a leader (e.g., talking on panels) in the startup ecosystem to promote the M12 brand.
* Collaborates with internal teams and business units to cultivate strategic relationships and leverage internal resources. Brings signals from the startup ecosystem and venture capital (VC) community to drive internal influence and add value back to Microsoft.

Required/Minimum Qualifications

* Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field AND 6+ years strategic consulting, investment banking, venture capital, building technology, and/or enterprise entrepreneurial ventures experience.
* OR Master's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field AND 4+ years strategic consulting, investment banking, venture capital, building technology, and/or enterprise entrepreneurial ventures experience.
* OR equivalent experience.
* 5+ years experience on a deal team, including 5+ investment deals and 2+ exits.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

* Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field AND 8+ years strategic consulting, investment banking, venture capital, building technology, and/or enterprise entrepreneurial ventures experience.
* OR Master's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field AND 6+ years strategic consulting, investment banking, venture capital, building technology, and/or enterprise entrepreneurial ventures experience.
* OR equivalent experience.
* 7+ years commercial business experience.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.