Managing Director

About BerkeleyHaas Ventures

BerkeleyHaas Ventures is a seed and early-stage venture capital fund affiliated with the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. The fund operates as an institutional venture capital firm with a dual focus on generating top-quartile financial returns while advancing educational mission and entrepreneurship support within the Berkeley ecosystem. As a “shared carry” fund, it splits carried interest with the Haas School of Business, aligning institutional interests with fund performance. The UC Berkeley Haas School of Business is one of the world’s leading business schools, renowned for its rigorous academic programs and distinctive culture rooted in four Defining Leadership Principles: questioning the status quo, confidence without attitude, students always, and looking beyond yourself. The school has a distinguished history of producing exceptional entrepreneurs and business leaders. UC Berkeley itself has consistently graduated more entrepreneurs than any other university globally, creating a unique ecosystem of founders, investors, and business professionals. BerkeleyHaas Ventures leverages significant competitive advantages to support its investment thesis and fund performance. The fund benefits from access to an extensive alumni network of verified investors interested in participating in the fund, a world-class network of entrepreneurs and advisors, student talent to support investment analysis and execution, faculty expertise in venture capital and entrepreneurship, and potential workspace within Berkeley’s eHub. The fund’s connection to the institution provides valuable deal sourcing opportunities, as Berkeley continues to produce exceptional startups and entrepreneurs with strong potential for significant outcomes.

About this Role

The UC Berkeley Haas School of Business seeks an experienced venture capitalist to lead BerkeleyHaas Ventures as Managing Director. This is a high-impact and high-visibility role that uniquely blends professional venture investing with a commitment to education, mentorship, and institutional partnership. The Managing Director will serve as the lead investment professional and operational leader of the fund, responsible for all aspects and assets including the BerkeleyHaas brand, pre-primed LP investors, a world-class network of entrepreneurs and investors, and a faculty-supported cohort of students learning and delivering associate-level venture capital work. The Managing Director will work with an Advisory Committee composed of BerkeleyHaas Board members and faculty with deep investing experience to manage the Berkeley Haas relationship, facilitate class instruction, and enable introductions within the fund’s network. The role requires a self-directed leader comfortable managing multiple complex workstreams with limited administrative support, while exemplifying BerkeleyHaas’ four Defining Leadership Principles. The Managing Director must demonstrate excellent judgment, integrity, and alignment with the academic values and reputational standards of UC Berkeley and the Haas School. The position offers the opportunity to build an enduring platform and reputable fund brand while identifying, funding, and supporting enterprises with meaningful connections to UC Berkeley. Success in this role involves generating top-quartile economic returns, building genuine partnership with the institution, deepening student engagement in meaningful venture capital work, and creating a track record that supports raising successor funds. The Managing Director will be the ambassador for Berkeley entrepreneurship, leveraging the institution’s assets to establish the fund as a desired and respected venture capital platform within the broader ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Own the full investment lifecycle including thesis development, sourcing, diligence, negotiations, investment committee participation, portfolio monitoring, and exit management
• Manage fund administration, LP relations, reporting, and compliance in coordination with fund counsel and administrators
• Complete capital-raising activities including following up on current discussions, identifying new LPs, conducting outreach, pitching to investors, and closing capital commitments
• Develop and maintain fund materials including pitch decks, Private Placement Memorandums, due diligence packages, track record documentation, and ongoing LP communications
• Leverage the Berkeley network and personal relationships to attract institutional LPs, family offices, and individual investors
• Support a structured student associate program with BerkeleyHaas faculty, providing hands-on exposure to sourcing, diligence, and investment committee participation
• Support BerkeleyHaas faculty in courses covering venture capital, entrepreneurial finance, and new venture strategy
• Mentor students interested in VC careers and represent the fund at BerkeleyHaas recruiting events and conferences
• Proactively source investment opportunities with Berkeley connections
• Provide post-investment support to portfolio company founders including introductions to follow-on investors, customers, and talent; board or advisory participation; and ongoing strategic counsel
• Serve as an ambassador for Berkeley entrepreneurship

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in venture capital or equivalent
• Deep familiarity with the venture fund lifecycle or demonstrated skills in fundraising, opportunity recognition, and company support and guidance
• Demonstrated desire to support educational engagement through mentoring, teaching, or developing early-career talent in investment or entrepreneurship contexts
• Existing relationships within the venture ecosystem including investors, founders, advisors, accelerators, legal and finance advisory
• Ability to operate as a Managing Director with self-direction, high organization, and comfort managing multiple workstreams with limited administrative support
• Excellent judgment, integrity, and alignment with the academic values and reputational standards of UC Berkeley and Haas
• Strong verbal communication skills for investment recommendations and LP stakeholder communications
• MBA or advanced degree preferred, with UC Berkeley affiliation a plus
• Additional communications skills in navigating corporate venture capital decision processes and academic instruction preferred
• Operating experience as a founder or early-stage executive providing credibility and empathy when working with student entrepreneurs preferred
• Active network within the UC Berkeley community through alumni status, faculty relationships, or prior campus engagement preferred

Benefits

• Market-rate management fees commensurate with fund size
• Split carried interest with BerkeleyHaas recognizing institutional affiliation, brand value, and programmatic resources
• Financial alignment structure motivating maximization of fund returns with BerkeleyHaas as long-term institutional partner
• Access to Berkeley’s extensive alumni network of verified investors
• World-class network of entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors
• Faculty support and collaboration
• Student talent and resources for investment analysis and execution
• Potential workspace at Berkeley’s eHub
• Opportunity to shape and lead an enduring, reputable fund brand
• High-impact role blending professional venture investing with educational mission and mentorship
• Possibility of raising successor funds and building a series of larger, increasingly successful funds