Start Up Program Manager, Aiven

• If you have spent the last 2–3 years working inside the startup ecosystem- in an accelerator, startup community, VC platform team, or startup event organization- you’ve learned how ecosystems move, how founders think, and how relationships compound. At Aiven, we’re offering you the opportunity to turn that ecosystem access into structured growth
• 2–3 years of experience within the startup ecosystem,
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Strong relationship-building skills and confidence engaging founders and investors
• Operational rigor and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Comfort working with data and performance metrics
• Clear and professional communication skills

Desirable

• The US market represents a big growth opportunity for Aiven and Aiven for Startups. Today, we support US startups- but without a dedicated ecosystem lead on the ground
• Together with the Aiven for Startups team you will build the engine behind Aiven for Startups in the US
• You will join the Aiven for Startups team within the Office of the CEO, working closely with the Sustainability & Startup Program Lead (Paris), the Startup Program Manager (Helsinki), the VP of Corporate Development and the US Go-To-Market team
• This is a highly visible role. You will operate at the intersection of ecosystem building, operational execution, and strategic expansion
• Build and nurture relationships with ecosystem players in the US
• Develop referral pipelines with VCs and community leaders to increase high-quality startup applications
• Manage the full startup lifecycle: from application screening and eligibility assessment to onboarding and graduation
• Lead founder conversations to assess fit and long-term potential
• Track engagement, credit usage, and expansion signals within your portfolio
• Apply and refine the existing Aiven for Startups playbook for the US market
• Identify process improvements to increase program scalability and efficiency