Hybrid Startup Coach, Innovation Manager – Impact Startup Accelerator

at Founders Bay

• Job title: Startup Coach, Innovation Manager – Impact Startup Accelerator
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Junior, Mid level
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: No Education Requirement
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Hamburg, Germany

About the role

• Startup Coach managing pilot projects and strategic partnerships for startups in a hybrid environment at Founders Bay. Collaborating with founders and businesses to innovate and scale solutions.

Responsibilities

• You roll up your sleeves when a startup pilots a new product with a mid-sized company.
• You mediate between ambitious founders and companies looking to transform their processes.
• You spot solutions with the potential to change an industry — and ensure they make the leap to market.
• Hands-on startup coaching
• You coach early-stage startups through "critical" growth phases.
• You identify operational weaknesses and develop direct solutions together with the teams.
• You accompany pilot projects from initiation and concept development to a successful market launch.
• Strategic innovation management
• You build long-term partnerships with mid-market companies and corporate partners.
• You orchestrate pilot projects between startups and corporate partners.
• You facilitate innovation workshops and turn corporate challenges into concrete startup briefings.

Requirements

• Operational experience with startup DNA
• 2–3+ years of experience in a relevant industry or consulting environment — or you have founded a company yourself
• Proven success in building, scaling, or supporting startups or innovation projects, preferably within an accelerator or incubator program
• Hands-on mentality
• You have coached startups through critical phases or have experienced these phases firsthand
• You love solving complex problems with pragmatic solutions
• You prefer working with prototypes and MVPs over 50-page concept documents
• Your network includes decision-makers from established companies and the startup community
• You know how to open doors — and keep them open.

Benefits

• You play a key role in the success of the next generation of startups
• You will help develop a first-class network of organizations and people in the startup world
• We rely on short communication lines and an open, collaborative culture; we work closely and with motivation toward shared goals and grow together every day
• Join us and help shape the work culture
• Ownership and responsibility with tangible impact on new ventures and business models
• The chance to actively shape Germany’s startup ecosystems — beyond the usual hotspots