Head, Startup Support

Company Description

CcHUB is Africa's leading innovation and creative ecosystem builder, dedicated to nurturing talent, ideas, and startups across the continent. In 2010, we began as Nigeria's premier innovation center, dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity in Nigeria. We have since grown our physical presence to five cities (Lagos, Abuja, Kigali, Nairobi, and Windhoek) across Africa, and we work closely with stakeholders - including entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, government, and private sector - to identify and nurture novel solutions to social challenges in Africa.

In 2017, Co-Creation HUB launched Growth Capital in partnership with Omidyar Network, Bank of Industry, and Venture Garden Group to provide early-stage funding for startups driving social change. In February 2019, Co-creation HUB opened a Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda, focusing on Research and Development and Human-Centered Design to enable innovation for social impact. Our Kigali Centre collaborates with global stakeholders to explore the application of technology in addressing Africa's systemic problems in education, public health, governance, and other areas of our work. In September 2019, we expanded our footprint by acquiring iHUB in Nairobi, Kenya, strengthening our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and innovators across the continent. In 2020, we launched CcHUB Syndicate, an investment vehicle designed to improve capital access for startups and bridge the funding gap in Africa's innovation ecosystem. In 2021, we established the Creative Economy Practice to drive the growth of Africa's creative economy by applying innovation and technology. In 2023, we further expanded our presence by opening the Co-creation HUB in Windhoek, Namibia. These expansions have been intentional in contributing to our vision to be Africa's leading pan-African creative and innovation ecosystem enabler.

Since its establishment, CcHUB has supported the development and launch of over 10,000 innovative technology companies that address social challenges across Africa in areas such as budget transparency, agtech, education, fintech, healthcare delivery, the creative economy, and sustainability.

Job Description

Job Purpose

The Head of Startup Support will be responsible for leading and executing a cohesive strategy to support startups across the venture lifecycle - from ideation and early-stage incubation to acceleration, investment readiness, investment (through various dilutive and non-dilutive instruments), and portfolio management. This role will oversee the design and implementation of high-impact support programs, guide startups toward sustainable growth and investment opportunities, and foster strong partnerships with investors, corporations, and ecosystem stakeholders.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of the African Innovation and Startup Ecosystem, with experience in venture building, scaling startups, and portfolio management. They are capable of managing cross-functional teams while aligning with the organization's innovation and impact goals.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership, Cross-Functional Collaboration, and Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight and direction for startup support operations and partnerships across all CcHUB locations and supported hubs continent-wide, developing and executing a cohesive strategy that covers the entire venture lifecycle, from pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration to post-investment portfolio support, in alignment with the organization's vision and strategy.
• Oversee the integration and coordination of three core pillars of the CcHUB Startup Support approach: Venture Programs, Portfolio Management, and Investment Management.
• Work closely with executive leadership to align startup support with broader organizational objectives and innovation priorities.
• Work closely with sector Practice Leads (Education, Health, Creative) and the Design Lab to ensure Start-up Support programs align with strategic focus areas and support sector pipelines
• Collaborate with the Innovation Hub Strengthening Unit to share best practices and support partner hub setup and performance across Africa

Program Design and Delivery

• Guide the Venture Programs Sub-Lead in the design and implementation of tailored support programs (e.g., pre-incubation, incubation, acceleration) that respond to the unique needs of startups at different maturity levels.
• Ensure programs reflect global best practices, incorporate local insights, and address current ecosystem trends and future challenges.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging data and feedback to refine offerings and enhance program impact.
• Ensure that startup support programming incorporates emerging technologies (such as AI, DPI, and green tech) and promotes sustainable innovation.

Startup Growth & Portfolio Success

• Oversee the Portfolio Management Sub-Lead in maintaining strong relationships with startups post-program, tracking growth metrics, and delivering value-added support.
• Provide strategic guidance to portfolio startups, supporting them in scaling their products, refining their business models, and entering new markets.
• Implement frameworks to evaluate startup performance and ensure startups remain aligned with growth milestones and investment expectations.

Investment Readiness & Capital Access

• Support the Investment Management Sub-Lead to design and deliver investor readiness initiatives, including pitch training, financial modeling, and due diligence prep.
• Work collaboratively with the Investments team to source and assess investment opportunities, providing critical input on startup viability and scalability.
• Cultivate relationships with local and international investors to unlock funding opportunities for startups in the portfolio.
• Support the Managing Director's board duties for portfolio companies and manage governance engagement for CcHUB fund subsidiaries (Growth Capital and the Syndicate), working closely with Portfolio and Investment Leads to ensure effective oversight, reporting, and alignment with CcHUB's strategic investment objectives.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

• (Co)lead proposal development and long-term funding partnerships to sustain startup support activities
• Develop and nurture relationships with key partners, including investors, corporate sponsors, industry leaders, and service providers (including fund managers supporting programs as applicable), to enhance CcHUB's value proposition for startups.
• Work with partners to create opportunities for startups, including funding, market access, business development, and joint ventures.
• Build a vibrant community of our startup alumni, mentors, and other stakeholders by facilitating various activities, including knowledge sharing in collaboration with the Community Practice Lead.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead a cross-functional team of Sub-Leads and startup advisors, driving a high-performance, impact-oriented culture.
• Ensure alignment, collaboration, and communication across the three pillars of the startup support team.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to promote continuous growth and learning among team members.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning

• Work with the Program Management Unit to develop and maintain systems for tracking the progress and success of startups, integrating MERL frameworks and aligning all reporting with organizational impact metrics.
• Drive the creation of thought leadership content that showcases insights, methodologies, and innovation trends emerging from the startup portfolio and CcHUB's work within the Startup ecosystem in Africa.
• Provide regular reports to the executive team on the impact of our startup support programs and the progress of the startups.

Year 1 KPIs will include:

1. Strategic Integration & Team Cohesion

2. Program Excellence & Venture Pipeline

3. Portfolio Performance & Capital Access

4. Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement

5. Team Development & Leadership

6. Monitoring, Learning & Reporting.

Qualifications

Key Skills & Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university. A Master's Degree in Business Administration is desirable.
• 8–10+ years of experience in entrepreneurship support, venture building, startup acceleration/incubation, or venture capital in Africa

Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of the different stages of startup development, from ideation to scaling, including familiarity with the latest trends, emerging technologies, and key players in the startup ecosystem.
• Ability to provide strategic advice and mentorship to startups on business development, product strategy, marketing, and fundraising.
• Management Expertise in designing, executing, and improving startup support programs and initiatives that address the needs of startups.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage a diverse team of advisors, program managers, and support staff to deliver high-quality programs.
• Ability to develop strategic partnerships with external organizations, corporations, and investors to create opportunities for startups in the startup support programs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to address both operational and strategic challenges faced by startups and the startup support team.
• A mindset geared towards innovation and the ability to think outside of conventional approaches to solve complex startup issues.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills to effectively represent CcHUB at industry events, conferences, and to different stakeholders.
• A strong focus on delivering measurable outcomes, including startup growth, investment raised, and business milestones achieved.

Additional Information

The role is hybrid (upon confirmation), with onsite work required in Lagos, Nigeria

Co-creation HUB (CcHUB) is an equal opportunity employer. The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Company conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.