PAN & COMPANY | HEADHUNTER Hiring! Full Time EARLY-STAGE DEEP TECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT MANAGER in - Ricebowl

VENTURE CAPITAL | AI & SOFTWARE INVESTING | EARLY-STAGE TECHNOLOGY

Seeking Exceptional Technical Minds to Evaluate and Invest in the Next Generation of AI & Software Companies

Our client is a well-capitalised investment platform with a global mandate to back high-growth technology businesses at the forefront of innovation. Working with ambitious founders across Asia, North America, and Europe, the firm invests in transformative technologies with the potential to reshape industries and create enduring commercial value.

As the firm expands its early-stage investment capabilities, it is seeking an Investment Manager specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Software to join its investment team.

This role offers a unique opportunity to combine deep technical understanding with investment judgement. You will assess emerging technologies, engage with founders and technical leaders, and help identify companies capable of translating technological breakthroughs into scalable, commercially successful businesses.

The firm places a strong emphasis on intellectual rigour and academic excellence. Candidates holding relevant PhDs, particularly in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Science or Software Engineering, will be viewed especially favourably. The firm welcomes candidates from both investment and technical backgrounds, including exceptional researchers and engineers seeking to apply their expertise to early-stage investing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Technology Research & Investment Origination

• Develop a deep understanding of emerging AI, machine learning, software, and digital infrastructure trends to identify promising technologies and investment themes.
• Conduct thematic research, sector mapping, and competitive analysis to identify high-potential companies at the pre-seed, seed, and early-growth stages.
• Build relationships with founders, AI researchers, technology entrepreneurs, universities, research institutions, venture capital firms, and other participants across the global innovation ecosystem.
• Develop investment theses around emerging technologies, identifying businesses with differentiated capabilities, defensible competitive advantages, and significant commercial potential.

2. Technical Due Diligence & Investment Evaluation

• Assess the technical foundations of prospective investments, including AI model capabilities, software architecture, data infrastructure, proprietary technology, product development, and deployment readiness.
• Evaluate the differentiation and defensibility of AI and software businesses, distinguishing genuine technological advantages from readily replicable solutions or incremental product enhancements.
• Examine the commercial applicability of emerging technologies, including product-market fit, scalability, customer adoption, competitive positioning, and potential barriers to entry.
• Assess the capabilities of founding teams and technical leadership, including their ability to execute product roadmaps, commercialise research, and scale technology into viable businesses.
• Integrate technical findings with market, commercial, and financial analysis to assess investment attractiveness, key risks, and potential returns.

3. Investment Execution & Decision Support

• Conduct comprehensive investment due diligence, including market sizing, business model assessment, financial analysis, valuation, and risk-return evaluation.
• Support transaction structuring, investment negotiations, and execution in collaboration with senior investment professionals and external advisers.
• Prepare investment memoranda, analytical reports, and presentations for internal Investment Committee deliberations.
• Translate complex technical concepts and research findings into clear, commercially relevant insights to inform investment decisions.

4. Portfolio Development & Value Creation

• Monitor portfolio company progress, technology development, commercial traction, financing activities, and strategic milestones.
• Work alongside founders and management teams to support product strategy, technology commercialisation, business development, and growth initiatives.
• Provide insights on industry developments, potential strategic partnerships, and emerging opportunities that could strengthen portfolio companies' competitive positions.
• Contribute to the firm's broader investment strategy, sector expertise, and international technology network.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Academic Excellence & Technical Foundation

• A Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Software Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering or another relevant scientific or technical discipline.
• Exceptional academic achievement is highly valued. Candidates with relevant PhDs in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Software Engineering or closely related technical disciplines will have a distinct advantage.
• Master's, PhD or postdoctoral research experience from leading universities and research institutions will be viewed favourably, particularly where the work demonstrates technical depth, rigorous analytical thinking, and potential commercial applications.
• Candidates with outstanding academic records, significant research contributions or a strong track record of translating advanced technical knowledge into practical solutions are particularly encouraged to apply.
• The ability to critically evaluate complex research, assess technological breakthroughs, and distinguish genuine technical innovation from incremental improvements is essential.

Relevant Professional Experience

Candidates may qualify through either of the following pathways:

• Investment pathway: At least four years of relevant experience in venture capital, private equity, corporate venture capital, technology investments or a related investment role, ideally with exposure to early-stage technology businesses and technical due diligence.
• Technical pathway: At least eight years of relevant experience in AI, software engineering, machine learning, technology research, product development or other deep-technology fields, with a strong track record of technical achievement and an interest in applying this expertise to investment decisions.

Candidates with exceptional academic credentials and outstanding technical capabilities will also be considered, even if they have not previously held a formal investment role.

AI & Software Expertise

Relevant experience may include one or more of the following areas:

• Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning.
• Generative AI, Large Language Models, and AI-native applications.
• Enterprise Software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and mission-critical software systems.
• Cloud Computing, Data Infrastructure and Developer Platforms.
• Software Architecture, Distributed Systems and Scalable Technology Platforms.
• AI Deployment, MLOps, Data Engineering and Production-grade AI Systems.
• Robotics, Intelligent Automation or other software-intensive deep technologies.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to evaluate technology beyond its surface-level functionality, with an appreciation of technical differentiation, scalability, implementation challenges and commercial viability.

Analytical & Interpersonal Capabilities

• Strong analytical reasoning, intellectual curiosity and independent critical thinking.
• The ability to synthesise complex technical, market and commercial information into structured investment insights.
• Excellent written communication, presentation and stakeholder-engagement skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with researchers, engineers, founders and investment professionals.
• A proactive, self-driven approach, with the maturity to exercise sound judgement and take ownership of assignments in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.
• A genuine interest in technological innovation, entrepreneurship and the role of capital in accelerating the development of transformative businesses.

ADVANTAGEOUS EXPERIENCE

The following would be viewed favourably:

• Previous involvement in early-stage venture investments, technology due diligence or investment research.
• Experience within an AI-native company, high-growth software business, technology start-up or innovation-led enterprise.
• A track record of translating scientific research or technical innovation into deployable products, commercial applications or scalable platforms.
• Experience working closely with founders, senior technology leaders, product teams or research organisations.
• Established networks across technology, entrepreneurship, research or investment communities in Asia and internationally.
• Fluency in Mandarin would be advantageous when engaging with regional founders, research institutions and business partners.

This opportunity is open to Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents only.

If you are passionate about technology and possess the intellectual rigour to evaluate businesses at the intersection of AI, software and investment, we would welcome the opportunity to hear from you.

Please submit your resume, including an investment and deal list where applicable, in strict confidence to Chong at *************, together with a LinkedIn invitation to connect.

PAN & COMPANY PTE LTD | EA Licence No. 18S9074 | EA Registration No. R1987417