Climate Tech Venture Associate

About the job:

  • Venture diligence & market mapping: Conduct structured research on beachhead markets, customer/buyer pathways, competitive and substitute landscapes, and adoption constraints for Yale climate tech ventures.
  • Founder-ready venture memos: Produce concise, decision-useful briefings (e.g., market overview, competitive positioning, key risks/unknowns, recommended next steps) to support Climate Innovation Grants winners and other Yale startups.
  • Funding pathway research: Identify and prioritize stage-appropriate funding sources (prizes, grants, accelerators, venture funds, strategic partners) and summarize fit, requirements, and timelines.
  • Cohort collaboration with Venture Fellows: Work in a cohort model with Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator Venture Fellows to share sector insights, refine diligence questions, and improve memo quality through peer review.
  • Public-facing market insights: Publish selected climate/energy market segment assessments through the Yale Clean Energy Forum (or other CBEY channels), translating research into well-sourced, accessible analysis.
  • Synthesis & stakeholder communication: Analyze and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and strong sourcing for founders and ecosystem stakeholders.

About the Role

Venture Associates are student employees who operate as an applied venture support cohort alongside the Yale Ventures Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator Venture Fellows. The cohort supports (1) applicants and awardees of the CBEY Climate Innovation Grants and (2) broader venture-building needs across Yale’s climate innovation ecosystem.

This role is designed to mirror how early-stage venture teams and investors work: rapid sector learning, structured diligence, market mapping, and clear, decision-useful memos. Venture Associates will help climate tech teams sharpen problem/solution fit, validate beachhead markets, understand competitive and regulatory landscapes, and identify non-dilutive and dilutive capital pathways—while producing selected public-facing market briefs that elevate Yale’s climate innovation leadership.

Core Responsibilities

1) Venture Support for CBEY Climate Innovation Grants Winners (Primary)

Working in pairs you’ll support 4–6 awardee teams with an intensive, structured sprint of research and synthesis (approximately 30 hours per winner), culminating in an actionable “venture brief” and recommendations.

Deliverables may include:

  • Venture/Innovation Profile: clear summary of the venture, team, thesis, maturity stage, comparable companies, and key assumptions.
  • Beachhead Market Definition: initial ICP, use case, buyer/user map, adoption barriers, and wedge strategy.
  • Competitive & Alternative Landscape: incumbents, startups, substitutes, partnerships, and “build vs. buy” dynamics.
  • Market Size & Dynamics: credible TAM/SAM/SOM ranges (with assumptions), pricing logic, procurement pathways, and deployment constraints.
  • Capital & Funding Pathways: non-dilutive opportunities (prizes, grants, programs), climate VC/strategic investor mapping, and fit to stage.
  • Risks & Open Questions: technical, regulatory, go-to-market, and impact risks; what would change your view.

2) Climate Tech Market Intelligence & Thematic Research (Cohort Output)

You’ll help produce broader, high-signal market assessments of specific climate tech opportunity areas—translating scattered information into usable insight for founders, funders, and the Yale community.

Activities include:

  • Building and maintaining sector maps
  • Producing short memos/market snapshots 
  • Amplifying the best external analysis and data sources using Yale’s brand standards and publishing through CBEY channels.

3) Cohort Collaboration with Yale Ventures Venture Fellows

As part of a joint working cohort, you will:

  • Participate in working sessions with Venture Fellows to align on venture support priorities, share sector learnings, and calibrate memo quality.
  • Pressure-test venture assumptions in a constructive, founder-friendly way.
  • Learn and apply venture frameworks (market selection, differentiation, adoption curves, readiness levels, diligence questions, memo writing).

Venture Associate Onboarding & Cohort Learning Plan

Venture Associates will build shared fluency in climate tech markets and venture workflows. Early activities include:

Initial ramp (first weeks):

  • Catalyst Podcast (Shayle Kann): pick one episode and prepare a two-paragraph written summary for the cohort, including outstanding questions/gaps. Peer teaching will be a recurring cohort practice.
  • PitchBook: complete trainings and become proficient in comparable company search, financing history, investor mapping, and market screens (Yale library access).
  • CTVC by Currence newsletter: subscribe and track trends/themes that matter for founders and investors.
  • Elemental Excelerator CIP scale: learn and apply this commercial readiness framework to categorize venture maturity.
  • Transition Acceleration Framework: framework from Rhodium Group to think about where a marginal dollar moves the needle on decarbonization
  • Nat Bullard annual presentations: scan for macro trends, data visuals, and investment narratives.
  • Yale SOM climate tech case discussion: apply investment and evaluation approaches using an Elemental Excelerator case study (cohort discussion).

Support Process for Climate Innovation Grants Winners (Venture Sprint)

The cohort follows a structured sprint approach (approximately 30 hours per winner):

Step 1: Orientation & Founder Meeting (2 hours)

  • Review applications and judge feedback
  • Build a targeted diligence/support question set
  • Meet the team to clarify needs, stage, constraints, and near-term decisions

Step 2: Venture Profile (4 hours)

  • Develop a concise profile (mission, wedge, maturity, comparable ventures, funding context) using PitchBook/CTVC and other sources

Step 3: Market & Competitive Analysis (10 hours)

  • Map buyer/user, competitors/substitutes, market structure, adoption barriers, regulatory constraints
  • Share early findings with the team to validate assumptions and refine direction

Step 4: Capital Pathways & Funding Sources (6 hours)

  • Identify stage-appropriate funding opportunities and investor/program fit
  • Prioritize by likelihood, alignment, and timing

Step 5: Synthesis & Venture Brief (6 hours)

  • Produce a structured venture memo with clear recommendations, next steps, and key unknowns

Step 6: Feedback & Iteration (2 hours)

Incorporate founder feedback and finalize the deliverable for i

To Apply: 

 

Requirements for the job:

  • Currently enrolled as a student at Yale University.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with research tools and methods.
  • Passion for environmental sustainability and innovation.

To Apply: 

Apply using the central Yale Student Employment application system and search for Job ID: 38669

In addition to your resume, please upload a statement of interest that addresses the following points:

  1. Why you are interested in this opportunity.
  2. What makes you a good fit for this role.