BEATEN ZONE VENTURE PARTNERS POSITION DESCRIPTION: ANALYST 

JOB DESCRIPTION: 

Beaten Zone Venture Partners is looking for an analyst to join its investment team and assist in our mission to find and invest in the best innovative early-stage Australian companies in the defence sector who are building capability to strengthen the nation’s future security and prosperity. 

We are committed to giving our defence industry the tools they need to protect our country and keep us all safe. We believe that investing in emerging technologies is one way we can achieve this goal. If you share this vision and you would like to contribute to our efforts to make a meaningful and significant impact to our Defence Force’s capability, we encourage you to apply for this role. 

ABOUT BEATEN ZONE VENTURE PARTNERS: 

We fund early-stage sovereign Australian teams developing innovative technologies and solutions for the defence sector to enhance our nation’s future security and prosperity. We’re all hard at work, bringing a venture capital mindset to the defence innovation space and backing smart Australian teams with great ideas who are building capability in lethality and survivability.  

At Beaten Zone, we believe one of the keys to maintaining our sovereignty as a Nation is investing in cutting-edge technologies that can give our military an asymmetric advantage over potential adversaries. We are passionate about supporting emerging entrepreneurs and innovators to accelerate the development of their ideas and prototypes into tangible capabilities that can be used to defend Australia and its interests. 

      • What We Do: We fund early-stage sovereign Australian teams creating the next generation of systems to increase lethality and survivability. 
      • Our Approach: We bring a venture capital vision to backing smart capable teams with awesome ideas and support them to get their system into the hands of those that need it. 
      • Our Mission: Is to add to a sovereign defence investing flywheel by supporting a new generation of entrepreneurs focused on systems that enhance the security of Australia and her allies. 

The Beaten Zone team comprises of passionate multidomain experts with deep early-stage investing experience and strong networks who have the resources needed to provide founders with the support necessary to turn their visions into reality and succeed on a global scale. 

ABOUT THE ROLE: 

There is no typical week in VC, and this is especially true for new funds – Of course, no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, if the situation changes, we will adapt and meet the challenge. However, some regular responsibilities of this role within the Beaten Zone investment team include (but not limited to): 

      • Deal Sourcing & Pipeline Management: Seek out, map and otherwise research for the purpose of early stage investing the business that Beaten Zone (sovereign weapons and supporting technology) is looking to invest in – Meeting with ambitious founders and getting to know them, their background and experience, their vision for the problem they’re solving. This will come from a mix of outbound activity such as social media, research tools, networking, events, plus meeting with exciting opportunities that come inbound to Beaten Zone. You will be responsible for managing Beaten Zone’s deal pipeline and preparing reports on deal flow activity to the Investment Committee and for other external purposes. 
      • Due Diligence: Undertake due diligence on new opportunities alongside the other investment team members, forming an investment thesis for each opportunity, and preparing the business case for making an investment in a company that you love. Also supporting the Investment Manager with the legal due diligence to complete each deal. 
      • Investment Committee: Post the Due Diligence process and with conviction to invest, you will support the Investment Manager to pitch the deal to our Investment Committee for approval. You will help prepare presentations covering market analysis, deal structure, and investment strategy, to demonstrate why Beaten Zone should invest in the opportunity. 
      • Investment Memos: With each investment opportunity, we prepare an investment memo that includes all our research, due diligence, and conviction. These are an essential component of the investment process and are the foundation of our investment decisions and portfolio strategy. Supported by the Investment Manager, you will be responsible for drafting the IMs for your deals. 
      • Portfolio Management & Support: We look to play an active role in supporting our portfolio companies, this may include supporting the Investment Manager with portfolio management and reporting, helping founders’ problem-solve their core issues such as go-to-market strategy, product roadmap, capital raising plans, hiring, and more. You will work closely with the Investment Manager to ensure the portfolio companies have the assistance they need to succeed. 
      • Reporting, Internal Processes, Support & Administration: You will play a key role in supporting the management team to ensure governance of the fund with preparing portfolio and Fund reporting, providing direction and assistance for the Company in support of the CEO, as well as undertaking ad hoc projects required. There is scope for you to explore new opportunities and projects that will help drive the development and success of Beaten Zone. 
      • Ecosystem Development & Content: You will interface and network with, virtually and face to face, industry players, defence organisations and others to broaden the reach and visibility of Beaten Zone. This may include: 
              • Representing Beaten Zone at startup ecosystem events, pitch nights, university startup competitions, hackathons as well as at investor dinners and conferences around Australia.  
              • Contributing to Beaten Zone’s community engagement and ecosystem development through creating content and thought pieces on emerging investing themes and other industry insights that Beaten Zone is seeing in the market. This is the opportunity for you to be at the forefront of thought leadership for our network and the early-stage defence innovation investment industry. 
              • Travelling – Whether it’s to source deal flow, catch up with our portfolio companies, meet with our network of ecosystem participants, or taking off to on an investor mission – If there are ambitious founders there, you go! 

    REQUIREMENTS: 

    We’re looking for an Investment Analyst who wants to be part of the latest innovation in venture capital and changing the way Australia supports innovation in the defence sector. You have deep intellectual curiosity and fascination of the future and unafraid to place conviction behind your beliefs.  

    We’re building a team with a wide variety of backgrounds, there is a need to have prior VC or investment experience for this role, however, while defence industry experience is preferred, it is not essential. If you have experience working within a tight-deadline transaction-based environment, a deep passion for tech companies and solving problems with hyper-ambitious people, and 3+ years’ experience within an investing role then we’d love to hear from you!  

        • Relationship-Driven: You love meeting new founders and operators within the startup ecosystem, helping people looking advice, making introductions, and building your network through the startup landscape. VC is relationship-centric, and you will love meeting new people and forging relationships and building a proprietary source of deal flow.  
        • Ownership Mentality: You are at home taking ownership over tasks and driving them to completion, following up with stakeholders both internally and externally, and navigating roadblocks to drive outcomes and meet deadlines.  
        • Deep & Curious Thinker: You will have a deep intellectual curiosity about the future and be able to think critically about the companies, founders, and investment areas that you research plus be able to distil your thinking into clear arguments and theses.  
        • Founder Empathy: You will have an understanding and empathy for the founder journey and the set of challenges that come with it and be keen to support our founders every step of the way.  
        • Analytical Firepower: You have a strong analytical skillset that allows you to process and analyse complex ideas, systems, and data sets, including modelling, researching, product and customer analysis, and unit economics; data-driven decisions are essential to the investment process.  
        • Founder Mentality: We are building a new model for investing in defence innovation, we want crew members that are happy to muscle in and get work done. We’re constantly problem-solving, putting out fires, celebrating the highs and lows of business building. You will be at home riding the coaster of startup life (both as part of Beaten Zone and alongside our investments).  
        • Excellent Communication Skills: You can comfortably liaise with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including investors, lawyers, startup founders, industry participants, and other VCs.  
        • Venture Model: You understand the tech, startups, and VC landscape. Excellent knowledge of the early-stage innovation ecosystem is as important as previous investment experience. 

      BENEFITS: 

          • Financial Security: Market competitive salary + Superannuation + Potential opportunity to earn carried interest.  
          • Flexible, Hybrid Office: Our team is spread across Australia and work remotely. This role does not require you to be based in Brisbane, however, if you are and prefer to work in an office, our office is open every day with the flexibility and options for hybrid work. 
          • Professional Development: Opportunities for your learning and self-development.  
          • Technology: Your preferred laptop and tech setup to get started.  
          • Travel: The VC and Startup ecosystem in Australia is one giant friendly community and we actively encourage our team to travel and meet with startups, community members, and other VCs.  
          • Events: We run a range of events within Australia, and at times, overseas. We’ll also back your attendance of events and conferences and promote you to get involved in them where you can. 

        NEXT STEPS: 

        If you’re up for the challenge, send your resume to us via email at contact@beatenzone.vc. 

        Let’s work together to build a stronger local Defence industry to help keep Australia secure.