Background

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

The firm is now securing a new license to operate as a full-scale venture capital firm, supported by fresh committed capital. This broadens the mandate well beyond early-stage into later-stage, structured, and cross-border transactions, including convertible instruments, pre-IPO rounds, and global deals. The vision is a dual-engine investment house: the accelerator arm continues to originate at the earliest stage, while the VC platform carries winners further and pursues larger, more sophisticated opportunities globally.

The client is seeking a Managing Director, Investments to build this platform from the ground up, serving as designated lead fund manager for the firm's existing 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 VC 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 VC platform, including investment process design and licensing 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 for registration 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 venture capital 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)