Position Description

Title:

Lane County Venture Catalyst (Contract, not employee)

Estimated Contract Dates: October 2021 — June 2023 (potential to expand)

Contractor Fee: 

$5,000 – $6,000 per month + approved expenses

Position: 

Provide “Venture Catalyst” support on behalf of RAIN (www.oregonrain.org) to the entrepreneurial community in Lane County. This is an independent contractor position, not an employee position. Venture Catalysts have experience starting or scaling a company and/or significant experience in the startup ecosystem.

Target Region: 

Rural Lane County, with a focus on the following 7 rural cities: Coburg, Cottage Grove, Creswell, Florence, Lowell, Oakridge, and Veneta. Additional focus cities may be added over time.

Description:

Are you an entrepreneur, innovator, or small business owner who enjoys starting or creating new things, being a part of something important, and making an impact in your community? Do you get excited about the idea of helping other entrepreneurs pursue their dreams? Have you ever been called a “connector” because you enjoy referring people to resources to help them advance and grow? Are you looking for a meaningful role that will allow you to help build/grow an entrepreneurial hub/culture in Rural Lane County County? Are you a self-starter with a strong work ethic who feels like you accomplish more in a day than most do in a week?
If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, RAIN wants to meet with you. RAIN is hiring a Venture Catalyst (a community-based entrepreneurial ecosystem-builder) to help catalyze entrepreneurial efforts in Rural Lane County. This person will work closely with RAIN’s CEO, Development & Operations Director, RAIN’s remote team, and RAIN’s Lane County economic development and community partners to continue to build upon the entrepreneurial ecosystem that is growing in Oregon.

Contractor Responsibilities

Ecosystem Activation & Support:

• Identify and connect startups to needed resources: people (mentors/employees), programs (accelerators/workshops), physical assets (equipment, labs, office space), and capital (investment capital, grants, loans, crowdfunding)
• Develop, lead, and grow programs to support entrepreneurs and innovators in the Lane County region
• Host relevant events that support the region’s entrepreneurs and innovators:
  • Startup Weekends, PubTalks, Meetups, Pitch Competitions, etc.
  • Manage and host fall/winter Bizarres, and entrepreneur Holiday Showcase
  • Lead and manage the John Day Farmers Market and website to help catalyze it as an incubator for entrepreneurs creating/selling new products
  • Host a Lane County Pre-Accelerator in partnership with the RAIN team and other partners
• Provide 1:1 technical assistance support to entrepreneurs and innovators based on the phase of their idea or business (e.g., business planning, marketing, sales, etc.) and referring to the right experts as needed
• Partner closely with RAIN’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) by referring entrepreneurs
• Travel around the region to meet with entrepreneurs and community partners
• Enlist community members to serve as champions of the entrepreneurship & innovation ecosystem
• Identify and onboard new startup mentors who have “been there, done that”
• Identify and educate potential startup investors (in partnership with RAIN’s leadership team)
• Fulfill all other ecosystem activation activities according to grants secured by RAIN to serve the region’s entrepreneurial economy

Ecosystem Partnerships:

• Partner closely with E&I ecosystem partners to sustain and expand programs (e.g., city, county, and state leaders; economic development officials; Small Business Development Centers, universities and colleges; business support organizations; service providers; chambers of commerce; etc.)
• Interact with partners in the ecosystem and seek-out opportunities for collaboration that elevate the entire ecosystem
• Work with regional partners and RAIN to provide thought-leadership regarding the local startup community and to identify, prioritize, and develop strategies around key regional entrepreneurial needs

Ecosystem Culture & Communications:

• In partnership with RAIN’s Marketing & Communications Lead, develop marketing, communications, and public relations campaigns to promote entrepreneurial activities in the region
• Record video and photos of activities and events, as well as testimonials from entrepreneurs
• Provide consistency of communications, including calendar of events
• Communicate regularly with RAIN’s CEO, Development & Operations Director, Resiliency Program Director, Marketing & Communications Lead, Lane County’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR), and RAIN’s other regional partners to continue building the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lane County
• Communicate with elected officials about the economic impact of RAIN’s activities in the region, including bringing regional entrepreneurs, innovators, and partners to meetings to elevate messaging
• Attend City Council, County Commissioner, and other public meetings to provide program updates
• Deliver updates to RAIN’s board of directors 
• Track and report key metrics, as required by contracts with communities served
• Ensure all approaches align with RAIN’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion statement/philosophy
• Serve as a mentor to entrepreneurs, as needed, and abide by RAIN’s Mentor Manifesto

Ecosystem Leadership & Growth:

• Study and implement the elements of an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Participate in the Lane County entrepreneurial community 
• Champion the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and innovation economy
• Engage in fundraising and sponsor onboarding in partnership with RAIN leadership team
• Assist in activating and elevating pools of capital to advance the region’s ecosystem
• Track and update the entrepreneurial assets in the Lane region, identify gaps for startups and innovators, make recommendations for closing those gaps, and collaborate with regional partners to help fill gaps
• Advocate on behalf of entrepreneurship and innovation (E&I) to ensure barriers are reduced and the playing field is leveled for startups and small businesses in Lane County

Contractor Qualifications

• Must reside in Lane County
• Able to work remotely and travel within the Lane County region
• Entrepreneurial background and network
• Extreme bias toward action
• Self-starting ability; willing to innovate and adapt
• Able to pivot quickly without being flustered
• Excellent mentor and motivator of others
• Able to confidently deliver workshops on topics related to early-stage entrepreneurship and/or find experts to deliver content
• Strong communication, leadership, facilitation, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Experience running online meetings and workshops
• Able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, remain professional and organized, and prioritize follow-up
• Detail-oriented and excellent project manager
• Able to build bridges and turn difficult conversations into win-win outcomes
• Inclusive and diplomatic approach at all times
• An understanding of startup nomenclature and what it takes to start and grow a business in Oregon
• Stay up-to-date on best practices for startups and business management
• Able to coach entrepreneurs on business pitches and/or connect them to mentors who can help with this
• Self-motivated and able to work collaboratively with individuals from various backgrounds
• Strong technology skills and an ability to easily learn/use new software and web programs
• Experience with the following technologies: Google Suite, Zoom, Slack, Mailchimp, Hubspot CRM, Eventbrite, Expensify, Canva, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
• Understands Oregon’s Contractor Laws

To Apply (Deadline = Midnight PST, September 27th, 2021)

Please email a proposal that includes the following information about yourself:

• A 3-5 minute video that addresses your:
  • Knowledge about RAIN
  • Knowledge about entrepreneurial ecosystem-building
  • Knowledge about the Lane County entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • Background in entrepreneurship and/or innovation
  • Cultural fit for this position (leadership, partnership, and work styles)
  • Why you’re the right person for this role.
• A document (3-page limit) outlining:
  • Your experience and approach regarding the 5 ecosystem responsibility areas in the “Contractor Responsibilities” section above
  • The tools/technologies you use to stay organized and productive
  • At least 3 references who can speak to your qualifications:
    • Someone you’ve mentored
    • Someone you’ve supervised or managed
    • Someone who has managed you
• Resume that includes a link to your updated Linkedinprofile

Send to: Caroline Cummings, RAIN’s CEO  [email protected]

Please send using the following subject: “Lane County Rural Venture Catalyst Position”

RAIN is committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ+, and veterans.

About RAIN

RAIN (Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is run by experienced entrepreneurs and angel investors and exists to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation. Since 2014, RAIN has been invited to serve 23 cities across 5 counties in Oregon to help them build inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and innovation economies. 

RAIN’s Mission: To partner with communities to catalyze entrepreneurial ecosystems, connect entrepreneurs to resources–including overlooked entrepreneurs– and contribute to the creation of prosperous economies.

RAIN’s Vision: Communities support, value, and celebrate entrepreneurs; regional leaders recognize entrepreneurs are a primary creator of net new jobs; small and rural communities have thriving economies; and a culture of possibilities is embraced.

Visit www.oregonrain.org to learn more.