Community Associate

Community Associate

Plug and Play Tech Center is the ultimate innovation platform, bringing together the best startups and the world's largest corporations to create the most meaningful connections that bring innovation to anyone, anywhere. Within our platform, we focus on various sectors, including a dedicated energy vertical where pioneering startups meet industry leaders in the energy sector.

Plug and Play Tech Center is looking for a highly organized, proactive, and entrepreneurial Community Associate to join our San Jose team. This role will support a broad range of activities across community engagement, program delivery, business development, and the startup ecosystem.

The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys working across different areas, building relationships, staying close to startups and entrepreneurs, and helping bring programs, events, and community initiatives to life. This is a hands-on role that requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Events & Community Engagement

• Support the planning and execution of pitch sessions, community events, and other San Jose office activities, both in-person and virtually.
• Coordinate with startups, corporate partners, investors, speakers, and internal teams to support smooth event delivery.
• Assist with event logistics, outreach, registration, materials, and other on-site support as needed.
• Help build and maintain relationships across the local startup and innovation ecosystem.
• Support community engagement initiatives that connect startups, corporations, investors, universities, and other ecosystem stakeholders.

Business Development Support

• Support the team in identifying potential corporate partners, startups, and other ecosystem stakeholders.
• Research target companies and relevant market opportunities to support business development efforts.
• Assist with outreach, meeting preparation, follow-ups, and maintaining accurate records of business development activities.
• Help prepare presentations, proposals, reports, and other materials for external stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate information in internal systems and support the team in keeping pipelines and databases up to date.
• Support selected relationships and business development activities

Startup & Ventures Support

• Support startup sourcing, research, and ecosystem mapping across relevant technology sectors.
• Assist with identifying and engaging promising startups.
• Help coordinate introductions between startups, investors, corporations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Track relevant startup developments, funding activity, partnerships, and ecosystem news.
• Support ventures-related research and internal initiatives as needed.

What We're Looking For

• 2–3 years of professional experience in community engagement, business development, program coordination, operations, startups, technology, or a related field.
• Experience working in a startup, technology, accelerator, incubator, innovation ecosystem, or similar environment is highly preferred.
• Strong interest in technology, startups, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with different types of stakeholders.
• Comfortable working across multiple priorities and supporting different functions as business needs evolve.
• Proactive, resourceful, and willing to take a hands-on approach to getting things done.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work at the heart of the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem.
• Exposure to startups, corporations, investors, and leading technology companies.
• A highly collaborative and entrepreneurial working environment.
• Opportunities to develop experience across community, programs, business development, and ventures.
• The opportunity to grow within a global innovation platform and develop a career across multiple areas of the business.