CVC/VC Associate, Environmental and Sustainability (West Coast)

As a Venture Specialist, you will play a hands‑on role in sourcing, evaluating, and executing strategic venture investments, in the U.S. West Coast startup ecosystem, while also supporting venture partnerships and open‑innovation engagements across Honda’s global R&D and business units. You will work closely with stakeholders in the U.S. and Japan, startup founders, and VC/CVC partners, with a strong emphasis on early‑stage and growth‑stage technologies aligned with long‑term strategy. This role requires sound judgment, strong execution skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a matrixed, cross‑cultural environment. Focus areas include electrification, mobility, robotics/AI, and sustainability. Key Responsibilities Deal Sourcing & Investment Execution Source deal flow through venture tools (e.g., PitchBook, Crunchbase), VC/CVC relationships, founder networks, accelerators, and active participation in the West Coast Startup ecosystem. Identify, screen, and engage with promising startups to uncover high‑impact investment opportunities aligned with innovation roadmap. Market potential and competitive dynamics Technical differentiation and defensibility (“wow factor”) Business model viability and financial outlook Team strength and execution capability Develop clear, compelling investment proposals and present recommendations to the investment team. Track emerging technology and investment trends Support end‑to‑end internal investment processes, including coordination with internal business stakeholders Support open‑innovation engagements between startups and Business Units, including pilots, proof‑of‑concepts (PoCs), and early collaborations that may lead to investment. Manage follow‑up actions, information flow, documentation, and reporting between internal teams and startup partners. Help align expectations and ensure accountability across internal stakeholders and external partners. If assigned: Serve as a board observer for one or more portfolio companies and provide structured internal reporting. Support value‑creation activities such as Joint Development Agreements (JDAs), Joint Research Agreements (JRAs), and other strategic collaborations. Lead and manage relationships with selected accelerator or ecosystem partners, including deal flow reviews, event participation, and potential event planning. Networking & Ecosystem Engagement Build, maintain, and strengthen a robust network of VCs, CVCs, founders, and ecosystem partners, particularly on the U.S. West Coast. Actively represent this Global Automotive Company at industry events, panels, startup evaluations, and judging activities. Contribute to strengthening brand, visibility, and credibility within the venture and innovation ecosystem. Core Competencies Venture & Startup Acumen Strong ability to assess early‑stage and growth‑stage startups for strategic relevance and technology applicability. Intellectual curiosity and learning agility across multiple emerging technology domains. Analytical & Structured Thinking Ability to synthesize complex technical and commercial information into concise outputs. Comfortable operating with ambiguity while staying within defined scope and governance. Stakeholder & Cross‑Cultural Engagement Effective communicator across global, cross‑functional teams. Experience managing inputs and expectations from diverse stakeholders, including engineers, executives, and founders. Communication & Professional Judgment Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills. Sound judgment in handling confidential information and sensitive stakeholder interactions. Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple parallel workstreams. Qualifications 2-3+ years of experience in venture capital or corporate venture capital Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or closely related field. Familiarity with venture diligence tools, processes, and common deal structures Strong interest in emerging technology domains relevant to Honda’s long‑term strategy Demonstrated experience sourcing, evaluating, and supporting execution of early‑stage venture investments Willingness to travel domestically (and occasionally internationally) up to 40% Preferred Established network within the VC/CVC and startup ecosystem, particularly on the U.S. West Coast (San Francisco Bay Area preferred) Proven track record of developing investment theses, building relationships with founders, and advancing deals through the investment process Experience contributing to portfolio support, strategic partnerships, or accelerator engagements Location Mountain View, CA (Onsite 4 days per week). External conferences or events attended as part of the role count toward onsite days. #J-18808-Ljbffr OSI Engineering