Managing Director, Investments (Global Accelerator to VC)

Background

Our client is one of Korea's most active early-stage accelerators, with a top-tier TIPS track record and four blind funds deployed across the domestic venture ecosystem. The firm is affiliated with a Hong Kong-headquartered investment group and reviews frontier technology opportunities in AI, robotics, and space through its overseas partner network.

The firm is now expanding into a New Technology Business Finance Company (NTFC) platform with fresh committed capital, broadening its mandate well beyond early-stage into later-stage, structured, and cross-border transactions. The vision is a dual-engine investment house where the accelerator arm continues to originate at the earliest stage while the NTFC platform carries winners further and pursues larger, more sophisticated deals globally.

The client is seeking a Manager to Director level hire to help build this platform from the ground up, serving as designated lead fund manager for the firm's existing blind fund portfolio while originating under the new mandate. This is a rare opportunity to shape an investment franchise at inception rather than inherit an established one, with direct attribution of investment performance and a GP commitment structure that translates results into meaningful individual upside. The role reports into leadership with partner-level exposure, including participation in investment strategy and firm direction. Title and level will be calibrated to experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as designated lead fund manager of record for the firm's blind fund portfolio, with full authority over portfolio management, follow-on decisions, and exit execution
• Manage the firm's SAFE-based portfolio, including conversion timing, follow-on round support, and ongoing portfolio company engagement
• Source, screen, and execute new investments under the NTFC platform, spanning domestic early-stage, TIPS-linked, and cross-border opportunities
• Build and maintain a deal sourcing network, including syndication and co-investment relationships with domestic VC, AC, and CVC houses
• Participate in cross-border deal review and execution alongside the firm's overseas venture partners
• Support IR and fundraising activity, including relationship development with institutional investors, family offices, and individual LPs
• Contribute to the build-out of the NTFC platform, including investment process design and licensing transition workstreams
• Operate as a partner to the leadership team in shaping investment strategy and firm direction

Key Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of direct investment experience at an accelerator, venture capital firm, CVC, or equivalent institution, with approximately 10 years of total professional experience
• Hands-on fund management experience covering portfolio management, follow-on decisions, and exit execution, with credentials meeting Korean regulatory requirements to be registered as lead fund manager
• Proven ability to source deals independently and carry them through to execution
• Business-level Korean required for domestic deal sourcing, portfolio engagement, and LP-facing activity
• Business-level English required for cross-border deal work and communication with the overseas affiliate and shareholders
• Outgoing, high-energy profile comfortable with external networking, founder and LP-facing presentation, and public representation of the firm
• Entrepreneurial mindset with genuine ambition to grow alongside a platform in its build-out phase, and the self-direction to operate in a lean team without close supervision
• Accelerator background with an interest in progressing into a broader NTFC mandate (Preferred)
• CVC or corporate venture background, with strong technology understanding and experience structuring co-investments with strategic partners (Preferred)
• Experience with structured and later-stage instruments including convertible bonds, pre-IPO, and PIPE transactions (Preferred)
• Securities house or capital markets background (Preferred)
• Experience with TIPS or other government-linked early-stage programs (Preferred)
• Engineering or other technical academic background (Preferred)
• Cross-border or US market investment experience (Preferred)

Originally posted on Himalayas