Tin Alley Ventures Pty Ltd is hiring an Investment Associate (12-month term) to help us identify, diligence, and support deep-tech investments and company creation emerging from the University of Melbourne and partner institutes.
This is a high-trust, high-pace role for someone who can move fluidly between frontier science and commercial judgement, someone who thrives on learning quickly, writing clearly, and making strong decisions with imperfect information.
Location: Carlton, Melbourne
Structure: Full time
Important: this is explicitly a one-year Investment Associate role (for sabbatical cover). At the end of the year, there is a possible transition to Founder-in-Residence (FiR) if mutually agreed (based on performance, fit, and opportunity). It is not assumed or guaranteed; but it is a genuine pathway for the right person.
What You’ll Do
Identify and assess high-potential research and early ventures from academics, research labs, spinout pipelines, and the broader deep-tech ecosystem.
Translate complex technical material into investable insight; mapping the core “truth,” the key risks, and the milestones needed to unlock value.
Run commercial diligence: market mapping, customer and partner conversations, competitive analysis, adoption barriers, pricing/value hypotheses, and go-to-market pathways.
Support technical diligence: literature reviews, expert calls, IP/claims framing, technical roadmaps, and milestone planning (with internal and external experts).
Build crisp investment materials: screening notes, internal briefs, investment memos, and (where relevant) models and scenario analyses.
Work alongside Tin Alley Ventures’ team, syndicate partners, and university stakeholders to progress opportunities from “interesting” to “investable.”
Support founders and portfolio companies with targeted projects (fundraising materials, hiring support, strategic analysis, introductions, and operational problem-solving).
Contribute to a high-performance culture: act with integrity, curiosity, and urgency — and make the team better.
What We’re Looking For
A top-tier academic record, with strong scientific depth (a MD or PhD in a scientific discipline is preferred).
2–3 years’ experience in a top-tier environment such as MBB (McKinsey/Bain/BCG) or bulge-bracket investment banking (GS-equivalent) or a similarly demanding, high-standard role.
2 years of additional experience in a start-up-like environment preferred
Exceptional logical thinking, writing and synthesis; you can make the complicated simple without making it wrong.
Strong analytical horsepower paired with practical judgement (you know what matters, what doesn’t, and what to do next).
Ability to build trust quickly with researchers, founders, and investors and to ask sharp questions without ego.
Comfort with ambiguity, rapid learning, and high autonomy; you operate with urgency and care.
Genuine alignment with Tin Alley Ventures’ values: Daring, Excellence, Curiosity, Integrity, Partnership, Fun.
Non-traditional backgrounds are explicitly welcome. If you’re “quirky but exceptional”, top sportsperson with elite discipline, a brilliant lab scientist ready to build, a founder/operator, or someone with an unconventional path who has done something undeniably outstanding; we want to hear from you.
Nice to Have
Exposure to venture capital (as an investor, founder raising capital, or working in an incubator/accelerator).
Experience in deep tech areas such as biotech, advanced materials, AI/ML, robotics, energy, or climate tech.
Strong financial modelling, scenario analysis, and capital planning skills.
Evidence you’ve built something real: a product, a company, a program, a research platform, a community — anything with traction and proof.
What You’ll Get
A front-row seat in one of Australia’s most interesting deep-tech ecosystems
High ownership and steep learning across sourcing, diligence, decision-making, and founder support.
Direct access to a network of founders, researchers, operators, co-investors, and domain experts.
Mentorship and apprenticeship in deep-tech venture investing and company creation.
A real potential pathway to Founder-in-Residence at the end of the year, if mutually agreed.
Salary: Competitive
Visa: sponsorship available
Application Process
We recruit for people, not just CVs. You need evidence of excellence, judgement, and the drive to do hard things well.
Please submit:
A CV
A short statement (max 500 words) covering: why Tin Alley Ventures, why this role, why now