Founder Engagement Lead (80-100% FTE)

About the role

The Founder Engagement Lead will help shape the next generation of science‑ and technology‑driven startups at EPFL. Working within the EPFL Startup Launchpad, you will be the first point of contact for researchers and students turning breakthrough ideas into scalable ventures.

Key responsibilities

• Build awareness of the Startup Launchpad across EPFL schools, laboratories, research centres, courses, and student communities.
• Proactively identify high‑potential founders and startup opportunities through labs, PhD cohorts, hackathons, courses, referrals, and the wider innovation ecosystem.
• Assess early‑stage projects, recommend the most appropriate incubation pathway, and ensure founders receive tailored support.
• Use pipeline insights and founder feedback to continuously improve sourcing strategies and qualification criteria.

Required profile

• 3–5 years of experience in startups, venture building, accelerators, technology transfer, or innovation programmes.
• Strong understanding of academia‑to‑market pathways and ability to evaluate early‑stage venture potential.
• Familiarity with the Swiss startup and innovation ecosystem; an EPFL network or academic background is a plus.
• Excellent stakeholder management, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Fluency in both English and French.

Required skills

• Fluency in English
• Fluency in French