Careers

Associate at Sozo Ventures

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Employment type: Full-time position

Sozo Ventures was formed 2012 to invest in and support technology-enabled ventures in their global expansion. We focus on helping to accelerate adoption in the Japanese and Asian markets. We invest in category leaders transforming global industries with advanced data technologies, fintech, logistics, retail, enterprise software, healthcare IT, and other advanced solutions.

We are structured to connect the most ambitious entrepreneurial teams with the world’s most advanced and respected customers and distributors. We are best when we can share our expertise well before expansion strategies are set. Our exceptional team has invested in and supported companies such as Coinbase, Zoom, Palantir, Fastly, MongoDB, Twitter, Square, Cohesity, Flexport, Applied Intuition, Attentive Mobile, Deel, and more, producing top-percentile returns.

We leverage our deep networks and personal experience to provide market knowledge, deployment expertise, entity formation guidance, sales channels, hiring, strategy advice, and relationships needed to expand and thrive.

Global expansion and internationalization are not a one-size-fits-all approach. We get our hands dirty, dive in at all stages of company building, from seed to pre-IPO, and support businesses across multiple stages of financing.

Key Responsibilities

Industry research: Conduct in-depth research to discover emerging technology trends and promising startups.
Business development thesis: Develop a strategic thesis on how Sozo Ventures can support startups exploring opportunities in the Japanese market.
Marketing materials for startups: Create marketing materials that communicate the value of partnering with Sozo Ventures for entrepreneurs.
Engage with potential customers and partners for startups: Proactively network with potential customers and partners to gather insights and identify new business opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Present products and services: Prepare and deliver a compelling pitch of startups’ products and services to potential customers and partners. 
Contribution to building our system: Provide support in building our system to identify emerging trends and promising startups.
Relationship management: Build and maintain relationships with strategic investors and key stakeholders.

Please note that sourcing startups is not included in the responsibilities for this position.

Qualifications

Educational background: Bachelor’s degree or higher
Experience: 3 – 5+ years of working experience
Language skills: Ability to communicate fluently in both Japanese and English
Passion for startups: An insatiable curiosity and eagerness to immerse oneself in the startup ecosystem
Entrepreneurial mindset: Ability to envision how emerging technologies can shape the future landscape
High level of professionalism: We value integrity in all interactions
Initiative and proactive approach: Demonstrated ability to take charge and drive initiatives forward
Comfortable with ambiguity: Thrives in dynamic and uncertain environments
Team Collaboration: Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced team environment
Conceptual thinking skills: Capable of distilling abstract concepts into actionable insights
Analytical prowess: Ability to delve deep into complex issues and provide comprehensive analysis
Relationship management: Enjoys building and nurturing connections with diverse stakeholders
Strong verbal communication skills: Confident communicator who can present research findings effectively

How to Apply:
If you’re excited about this opportunity, please send us your resume as a PDF file below and briefly explain why you would like to work for Sozo Ventures.