Deputy Director: Spinout Companies and Funds at Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte

• The key responsibilities of the Deputy Director: Spinout Companies and Funds will be to work closely with the Innovus team, spinout companies and the LaunchLab on the following key performance areas:
• Supporting early-stage spinout companies in the SU Group of Companies to grow and enter markets successfully and to become sustainable profitable businesses. This will involve developing and maintaining close trusting relationships with the spinout portfolio. In addition to acting as a trusted sounding-board for company management, this may involve acting as the University's appointed Observer or Non-Executive Director from time to time;
• Spreading best practice throughout the early-stage spinout portfolio, and establishing/fostering a community among our spinout companies management teams;
• Tracking potential investment opportunities from the portfolio in order to be ready to present investment proposals in a timely and effective manner. The incument will need to carry out due diligence, including consultation with key stakeholders and opinion leaders, as required, in order to develop funding proposals for investment and will assist the spinout company management to set up and populate data rooms, manage due diligence processes, etc.;
• Working closely with the company secretary of USE and the head of finances of Innovus on regular reporting (to a professional fund standard) as required to monitor existing spinout progress, to enable Innovus Technology Transfer and USE to be aware of the value of its assets, and of any opportunity to invest further capital or otherwise assist / intervene. The incumbent will also be responsible for continuous improvement of the fund management processes and reporting to investors and the University's investment committee;
• Assisting with the recruitment of management talent and fundraising from external sources for the SU group of companies;
• Assisting the spinout companies that are still in incubation phase with general advice, management, access to networks, access to investors, etc.;
• Assisting entrepreneurs of the spinout companies (before or after establishing the company) with training and support, pitch deck preparation, pitch training, business plan drafting, due diligence preparations, discussions with investors and industry partners, etc.;
• Assisting entrepreneurs of the spinout companies to grow their businesses, to access markets, to attract investment, to establish and maintain excellent levels of corporate governance; Leading and/or assisting with negotiations relating to the investment in spinout companies, working with the University's legal advisors and the Chief Director: Innovation and Commercialisation, the Operations Coordinator: Spinout Companies and Project Development and the Technology Transfer team.
• Freedom to act and decision-making (depth of control, supervision received, use of judgement and initiative, analytical ability):
• Using evidence to form opinions on IP management and commercialisation strategies;Influencing decision-making in various committees based on sound information;
• Contributing to the delivery of a range of outputs, including technology disclosures, protection of SU intellectual property, licence and investment deals and new venture formation.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• A relevant degree in law, commerce, engineering, or science;
• Extensive and proven experience supporting early-stage companies and technology commercialisation;
• Solid project management experience;
• Experience of working within a scientific (preferably research) environment;
• A demonstrated ability to negotiate and conclude deals in commercialisation of technology;
• A good understanding of the Intellectual Property Rights of Publicly Funded Research and Development Act (51 of 2008) and its regulations;
• A demonstrated ability to raise funding for start-up companies;
• Strong industry and investment networks;
• Incubation support experience;
• Excellent business acumen;
• Good numeracy and IT skills, including portfolio management software, spreadsheets, and databases;
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and influencing skills;
• The ability to support others as mentor, and to work as part of a team;
• A flexible and cooperative attitude;
• High energy level, good health and a proactive self-starter;

Willingness to travel as required throughout the Western Cape and occasionally, the rest of South Africa or abroad;
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• Valid driver's licence and own transport.
• Recommendation/Aanbeveling
• Experience of working within a university technology transfer entity with a group of companies, or within a venture capital firm;
• Training in IP management and technology commercialisation (WIPO academy, SARIMA, or other);
• Experience with workflow automation;
• Experience with Inteum or similar IP management systems;
• Management experience.