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Director Industrial Ecosystem (f/m/d)

Location

Berlin | Hamburg | Munich

Type

Full time

Department

Venture Capital

Our Mission

Uplift Ventures builds and backs the next generation of category-defining deep tech companies. 

We partner with product-obsessed founders shaping the future of Physical AI, Energy, Enterprise AI and Logistics, and help turn breakthrough technologies into scalable, enduring businesses. 

As a specialist Deep Tech venture capital fund, we invest at Seed and Series A, supporting ambitious companies with capital, strategic sparring, market insight, and access to relevant customers, investors and experts across our network. 

At the core of our Venture Capital activities is one belief: the best deep tech investors combine conviction, patience and direct access to the markets where breakthrough products are proven. 

As Director Industrial Ecosystem, you will connect our investment team and portfolio companies with industrial customers, partners and experts. You will build the network that strengthens sourcing, sharpens due diligence and helps founders turn breakthrough technologies into commercial traction and category leadership.

What you’ll do

Your role has four core dimensions: 


  • Build the long-term industrial network: Develop deep access to decision-makers, operators, technical experts, innovation leaders, and business units across relevant European industrial sectors, and nurture trusted relationships over time. 

  • Create commercial opportunities for portfolio companies and be a partner to the management teams: Facilitate high-quality introductions to potential customers, pilot partners, and strategic industry stakeholders, helping founders navigate complex industrial organizations and buying processes.  

  • Strengthen investment due diligence: Connect the investment team with the right industry experts and prospective customers to validate technologies, markets, customer needs, use cases, and commercial potential. 

  • Generate strategic market insight: Capture emerging customer needs, technology gaps, and industry priorities, and translate them into input for Uplift's investment theses, sourcing priorities, and portfolio support. 


You will: 


  • Build and maintain a structured network of industrial decision-makers and experts across Europe 

  • Develop relationships at multiple levels, from senior executives and innovation leaders to technical and operational experts 

  • Identify and activate relevant experts and prospective customers for commercial and technical due diligence 

  • Organize expert conversations, customer validation sessions, and industry reference calls for live investment processes 

  • Connect portfolio companies with prospective customers, pilot partners, and strategic collaborators 

  • Collect market signals and customer needs to inform new investment themes and sourcing priorities 

  • Work closely with the Venture Capital team to embed industry access systematically into the investment process 

  • Represent Uplift at selected industry events, conferences, and ecosystem forums 

  • Build lightweight processes and tools to make the network scalable, searchable, and measurable 


This role is creating something new with full ownership in a small organization that wants to build long-lasting success. 

This role is for you if


  • You understand how large industrial companies operate  

  • You can connect with different roles and seniority levels

  • You like to be self-organized and highly independent in a fast-paced environment 

  • You are a strong network builder with access to relevant ecosystems  

  • You combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution  

  • You care about building a scalable and sustainable platform  

  • You thrive in ambiguity and move fast while maintaining quality 

Bonus: 

  • Experience in startups, VC or industrial advisory  

  • Strong personal network in North America’s industrial & tech ecosystem 

  • Experience managing and providing value to an ecosystem 

  • Familiarity with industrial tech trends 

  • Strong AI/tooling fluency and willingness to experiment 

Languages: Fluent in English and German 

What we offer


  • A key role with direct impact on Uplift’s success in Venture Capital 

  • Close collaboration with founders, operators and investors 

  • Full ownership and freedom to shape this role 

  • A fast-paced, high-caliber environment with ambitious colleagues 

  • Insights into the Venture Capital and startup world 

  • Competitive compensation, flexibility and carry in the fund 

  • Based in Berlin, Hamburg or Munich