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Capital Programs Lead
PL Job Board
Full-time
Remote
Posted on Sep 16, 2025
About Protocol Labs
Protocol Labs is an innovation network of 750+ teams, projects, and movements with a common mission: To drive breakthroughs in computing to push humanity forward. For us, decentralization is more than just a rallying cry; it’s an operational ethos and a belief system baked into the products we develop. Protocol Labs operates as an innovation network built to help breakthrough technologies move from bold R&D into real-world adoption. Through funding, mentorship, and deep network support, PL has enabled pioneering teams to cross the critical “R&D chasm” and bring transformative products to market. Our network has supported projects like IPFS, Filecoin, and libp2p, alongside emerging efforts in neurotech, AI, and digital rights, demonstrating the breadth of impact possible when world-class founders and investors connect through Protocol Labs. Our key focus areas include digital human rights, upgrading economies and governance systems, safe AI, and neurotech. For more information on Protocol Labs and our focus areas, please watch Juan Benet’s talk from PL Summit 2023 and the 2024 PL Summit Video (Remote Update).
About Polaris
As an innovation network rooted in a culture of collaboration, Protocol Labs requires a fresh approach to advancing emerging technologies. Polaris builds the infrastructure that enables Protocol Labs teams, projects, and movements, and members to flourish. We create the programs, tools, and events that connect, strengthen, and build the teams that drive breakthroughs in computing to push humanity forward. We manage network membership and track network data to continuously gauge the growth and state of maturity of Protocol Labs across a number of critical pillars, and manage the Protocol Labs brand and strategic marketing initiatives. At the core of everything Polaris does, is the Protocol Labs mission and the desire to progress innovation.
About the Role – Capital Programs Lead
The Capital Programs Lead will design and execute programs that strengthen Protocol Labs’ capital pillar—ensuring network teams have the funding and investor access needed to thrive.
- PL Demo Day: Run a repeatable, high-quality flagship event connecting PL teams with global investors.
- Builder/Capital Funnel Programming: Launch and iterate on additional initiatives (e.g. aspiring founder tracks, investor newsletters) that expand access to capital across the network.
- Fundraising Support: Develop systems and playbooks to help network founders raise efficiently.
- Capital Funnel & KPIs: Track investor and fundraising pipelines, measure conversion, and drive accountability to capital goals.
This is both a strategic and operational role: you’ll lead long-term program design while being directly accountable for execution.
Key Responsibilities
Capital Program Leadership
- Own the lifecycle of PL Demo Day and adjacent capital programs, from strategy through execution and retrospectives.
- Develop and scale reusable program playbooks (Demo Day, aspiring founder programming, etc).
- Serve as the integration point across product, data, investor relations, marketing, and network ops to deliver capital programs.
Investor Relations & Ecosystem Growth
- Partner with Investor Relations to source, onboard, and activate angels, VCs, and ecosystem funds into PL’s network.
- Build mechanisms to curate investor lists, match them with fundraising teams, and measure post-event outcomes.
- Contribute to the growth of PL’s investor base toward KPIs: thousands of angels, hundreds of active VCs, and billions in capital raised.
Founder Fundraising Support
- Develop systems, workshops, and resources to help PL teams improve fundraising outcomes (deck prep, narrative refinement, investor readiness).
- Provide ongoing coaching, tools, and access points beyond Demo Day to accelerate capital access.
Capital Funnel Tracking & KPIs
- Track the full fundraising funnel: investor onboarding, engagement, conversion, and capital deployed.
- Partner with Data Intelligence to evolve KPI dashboards and reporting—building a single source of truth for capital metrics.
- Ensure insights from capital programs directly inform PL’s broader network strategy.
Program Innovation
- Identify gaps and opportunities in the builder-to-investor journey.
- Design and pilot new initiatives (e.g. aspiring founder bootcamps, investor newsletters, capital matchmaking tools).
- Scale successful experiments into recurring capital programs.
What We’re Looking For
Experience
- 8+ years of experience in early stage startups, either as a founder or in an investing role (VC, accelerator, etc.) program management or product/program leadership roles.
- Proven success in running large-scale investor-facing programs, accelerators, or demo days.
- Strong background in cross-functional program leadership across product, marketing, and operations.
- Familiarity with venture ecosystems, investor networks, and startup fundraising.
- Experience in technical product oversight.
Skills & Capabilities
- Strong program management and operational excellence skills; highly detail-oriented.
- Excellent written/verbal communication, with ability to craft compelling narratives for multiple audiences (teams, investors).
- Ability to synthesize inputs from diverse stakeholders (founders, investors, PL leadership) into cohesive execution.
- Comfort with data-driven decision-making and KPI tracking.
- Adept at balancing strategic vision with tactical delivery, especially in high-pressure event environments.
- Data-driven approach to program iteration and KPI measurement.
- Strong attention to detail with software products, ensuring smooth coordination across product, data, and program tooling.
Mindset & Approach
- Strategic leader and hands-on operator who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
- Collaborative team player—able to align diverse workstreams toward shared goals.
- Passionate about supporting startups, building investor networks, and designing high-leverage capital access programs.
Why Join Us?
- Lead capital programming at Protocol Labs—shaping how frontier founders access resources to scale.
- Build scalable, high-leverage programs that become foundational to PL’s global network.
- Work alongside visionary founders, top-tier investors, and pioneering builders pushing the frontier of technology.
PL Job Board is an equal opportunity employer.