Venture Capital / Investment Manager Robotics, HMI and Advanced Sensing
Emerald
Who we are
Emerald is a globally recognized venture capital firm building a sustainable future at the crossroads of industry and technology. Founded in 2000, it is a pioneer in open innovation, providing multi-national corporations with rich deal flow and insight in the sectors and markets of tomorrow. Emerald has managed and advised assets of over €1 billion from its offices in Zurich, Toronto and Singapore. The firm is dedicated to tackling big challenges in climate change and sustainability via over 500 venture transactions and five third-party investment mandates, including loan guarantees to over 100 start-ups.
To expand our investment team with dedicated sector expertise, we are seeking an entrepreneurial investment professional to join our Zurich-based team, with outstanding knowledge in the field of human–technology interface. The scope includes, but is not limited to, applications in automation, robotics, advanced sensing, and AR/VR—covering the full stack from sensor technologies to software platforms enabling human interaction with technology and machines. This role represents a unique opportunity to become part of a global investment team, expand our activities in this domain, and create tangible, sustainable impact in one of the fastest-evolving deep-tech sectors.
What you will do
- Analyze and assess trends, products, and solutions across the human–technology interface landscape, including (but not limited to) automation, robotics, advanced sensing, human–machine interaction, AR/VR, and enabling software platforms.
- Leverage broad industry, technology, and cross-functional networks to identify key industry challenges and growth opportunities, anticipate user and customer needs, and prepare well-founded investment strategy recommendations for these segments.
- Map market sub-sectors within human–technology interaction to identify the most compelling early- and growth-stage startup opportunities.
- Source and analyze companies from a technology, intellectual property, product, business model, and operational perspective, and prepare investment recommendations as part of a deal team.
- Coordinate and execute due diligence as part of a deal team, covering technology, market dynamics, business strategy, competitive positioning, regulatory considerations (where relevant), and management capabilities.
- Support portfolio companies post-investment, closely monitoring progress against key performance indicators and actively contributing to value creation initiatives toward successful exits.
- Play a key role in building and expanding Emerald’s expert network across human–technology interface domains, including researchers, industry leaders, corporates, and ecosystem partners.
- Travel as required to conduct due diligence, attend industry and technology conferences, engage with portfolio companies, and liaise with strategic investors.
- Engage and maintain strong relationships with Emerald’s strategic investors, with a particular focus on human–technology interface themes, supporting their open innovation and investment activities through frequent and substantive interaction.
What you will need:
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Electronics, Cognitive Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline. A strong interdisciplinary background is highly valued.
- MBA or equivalent postgraduate business qualification is a plus, but not a requirement.
- Several years of professional experience in relevant industrial, technology, or research-driven sectors, with deep insight into the key challenges and dynamics of human–technology interaction domains such as automation, robotics, sensing or AR/VR
- Hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies being developed, tested, and commercialized in these fields, with the ability to assess technical feasibility and scalability.
- Experience collaborating between start-ups and large established organizations (e.g. industrials, technology corporates, research institutions) is strongly preferred.
- Prior experience in venture capital, corporate venture, or technology investing is a strong plus, but not mandatory.
- Highly curious and analytically rigorous, with the ability to evaluate opportunities across technical, commercial, and strategic dimensions efficiently and independently.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage credibly with founders, technical experts, corporate partners, and internal stakeholders across disciplines.
- Entrepreneurial, energetic self-starter, comfortable working in a small, high-performance team and thriving in an environment with evolving priorities and fast-moving deliverables.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.
What we offer
- Employee first culture
- Public transportation coverage
- Monthly mobile phone allowance and budget for a new device
- Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning
- Hybrid work environment
- Extra paid leave for volunteering, further education and special life events
- Two weeks annually for remote work from any location
- Annual budget to support your further education and professional development
Emerald is committed to being a diverse and inclusive company. We consider diversity and inclusion critical to our long-term success. All qualified applicants will be considered equally without regard to their gender, age, culture, nationality, ethnicity, physical abilities, political and religious beliefs, sexual orientation and other attributes.