Role Overview:
As Venture Lead, you assume full entrepreneurial responsibility for selected Quantum AI Ventures within the QAI Venture Builder and Accelerator in Switzerland.
You guide ventures through all QAI venture building phases in a structured manner – from ideation and problem definition to use case definition as well as market and technology validation, product and business model development, piloting with initial customers, formal establishment, and investment preparation towards clearly defined investment or PoC maturity.
You are responsible for the holistic development of venture traction across the integrated dimensions of product, management and growth. The focus is on building technologically resilient, structurally investable and commercially validated ventures that are sustainably scalable.
You act as an operator and venture architect with direct delivery responsibility. The role is tied to building a high-quality venture pipeline and execution capability in Switzerland, with a strong anchor at Uptown Basel. You'll be reporting to the Country Manager of Arlesheim.
Tasks Key Responsibilities:
1. Venture Building and Delivery Excellence
Leadership and structured development of Quantum AI Ventures along the QAI Venture Building phases, from structured ideation and problem definition to use case, market and technology validation, product and business model development, piloting with initial customers, formal establishment, investment preparation and achievement of clearly defined investment or PoC maturity.
Ensuring the successful implementation of the venture building modules in accordance with global QAI Product-Management-Growth (PMG) guidelines, margin targets and IP requirements.
Ensuring high quality in business case validation, product development and market positioning
Joint responsibility for the specified investment or PoC maturity of the supervised companies
2. Product, Management & Growth Integration
The Venture Lead is enabling the integration of product, management and growth and is responsible for the structured development of venture traction through to financing and scalability. In doing so, you are responsible for operational implementation and are hands‑on in the following key deliverables:
2.1 Product
Translating scientific and market signals into viable business models and structured product hypotheses
Defining product strategy, MVP roadmap, and validation approaches toward product–market fit
Ensuring technological scalability, security logic and IP strategy
2.2. Management
Establishing investable governance and cap table structures
Defining business case, pricing margin and venture / financial planning logic
Structuring founder alignment, organisational design, and scalable operating foundations
2.3. Growth
Leading structured customer validation, pilot projects, and early market engagement to validate demand and generate initial traction
Steering commercial validation, including market and acquirer mapping, and ensuring robust proof points (LoIs, pilots, first revenues) that translate into a compelling investment narrative aligned with venture milestones
Co‑leading fundraising processes and supporting strategic exit positioning (strategic vs. financial pathways), including preparation of investor‑ready materials
3. Team and organisational development
Contributing to the establishment of an effective venture‑building structure in Basel
Contribution to the local positioning of the venture‑building offering as a high‑quality and trustworthy player, particularly vis‑à‑vis our portfolio start‑ups
Support in defining industry focus areas and market priorities
Close collaboration with the local QAI team and global roles to ensure stable delivery capacity
Active support in integrating with global methodology, governance and reporting structures
Representation of QAI in relevant ecosystem contexts
4. Scouting, selection and investment preparation
Active scouting and evaluation of qualified talent and start‑ups
Contribution to generating qualified applications for value creation programs
Preparation of ventures for internal investment decisions and external financing rounds
Support with pitch development, financial modelling and data room structuring
Requirements Required Skills & Qualifications:
Entrepreneurial and Venture Building Experience
Proven entrepreneurial responsibility as founder, co‑founder, or senior operator
Experience in building at least two technology‑driven ventures or startups (outcome not required to be successful)
Track record of developing at least one venture to a defined market, financing, or scaling milestone
Strong understanding of venture building, early‑stage financing, and VC dynamics
Ability to lead ventures from ideation to incorporation and investment or PoC maturity
Commercial and Execution Capability
Proven execution in customer validation, pilots, and early traction
Strong delivery focus with the ability to lead interdisciplinary teams while actively contributing to solution design
Strong grasp of governance, cap table structuring, margin logic, and IP strategy
High ownership, execution focus, and structured thinking
Product, Technology and Delivery Experience
At least 10 years of experience in leading technology‑driven projects with responsibility across business and technology, with both product and engineering exposure
Strong familiarity with agile development environments; focus on effective delivery rather than strict methodology
Experience with MVP definition, prototyping, validation, and iterative shipping
Ability to translate scientific and technical complexity into viable product and business decisions
Deep Tech and Quantum Understanding
Solid understanding of quantum technologies or adjacent deep tech domains
Ability to assess technological feasibility and implications in a venture context
Stakeholder and Communication Skills
Strong stakeholder management across founders, corporates, and investors
Clear and structured communication of complex technical and business topics
Fluent in English
Location and Presence
Based in Switzerland, ideally near Arlesheim / Basel
Regular on‑site presence at Uptown Basel (at least 50%)
Benefits A unique opportunity to play an active role in shaping an international ecosystem and to have a direct influence on deal flow and scientific positioning, combined with a role that brings together quantum execution, scientific excellence, technological autonomy and entrepreneurial freedom.
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