The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage science and technology-based companies. The program’s objective-setting process enhances the performance of technical founders who learn from the insights of experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their probability of success. CDL is run as a partnership between CDL Global (based at the University of Toronto) and the business schools of ten leading universities. The universities act as a convener of talent, bringing together mentors, world-class scientists, and economists to accelerate and enable investment. CDL is a unique not-for-profit program. It does not charge participating entrepreneurs and takes no equity in their companies. CDL-Seattle operates from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and will accept 40-50 deep-science companies from within and outside UW for the 2022/23 program year. CDL-Seattle currently specializes in companies operating on the frontier of Biology and Computing. Companies which have advanced beyond the concept stage apply (at no cost to them) to participate in CDL. Once companies are selected for participation, they participate in a 9-month long program, with 5 intensive full-day sessions with CDL mentors every eight weeks. At each session they assess progress and set new short-term objectives. Mentors are typically successful entrepreneurs from the local region or broader CDL community.
The director’s role and responsibilities extend beyond the Foster School. The success of CDL will depend on the director’s ability to bring great technology-company founders together with superb mentors (entrepreneurs who themselves have founded and built great companies), venture capitalists, leaders of other area accelerators, technology corporations and UW technologist and economists. To make this work, the director must work widely across campus and build partnerships with the College of Engineering, School of Medicine, and CoMotion to get their help to underwrite the program financially and encourage their faculty and students to participate. The CDL educational curriculum will draw students from across campus and include non-Foster STEM PhD students, as well as MBAs and undergraduates. As of 2021, the Allen School, College of Engineering and CoMotion are all committed as co-founders for the first three years. The director must work with other Washington state research institutions as companies in the program will draw from PIs far beyond the UW. The director will also need to be deeply involved in the Seattle entrepreneurial community, speaking at local and national events, and keep in constant awareness with the evolving state of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Fund-raising is a continual activity, and CDL will be supported by several active multi-year donations, all of which will be raised by the director working closely with UW Advancement. The director will also be responsible for a high-school outreach program to engage URM high-school students in participate in CDL.
Site Leadership
• Develop and manage relationships with key CDL stakeholders including, Fellows/Associates (mentors), Scientists, venture investors, and funding organizations.
• Develop long-term strategies and goals to increase the success of the CDL site program in collaboration with the CDL-Global team.
• Collaborate with CDL-Global team to manage all aspects of quality at CDL-Seattle (including overseeing risk registry process) and produce all required reporting in accordance with the MOU.
• Act as figurehead and spokesperson for CDL-site both inside and outside the University.
Site Operations
• Oversee CDL-site operating team, which is responsible for event planning and logistics, venture recruiting, venture management, and implementing processes.
• Ensure CDL-Global Standard Operating Procedures are implemented and adopted at CDL-site, provide mentorship and performance management to CDL Venture Managers.
• Ensure CDL-site team is achieving its targets based on CDL KPIs (equity value creation and maximizing net promoter score from Fellows/Associates and ventures.
• Ensure quality of all CDL documentation and external facing material.
• Lead CDL-site event execution including objective-setting sessions, recruitment and admissions events, networking events and others.
Partnerships
• Assist site lead in securing financing from high-net-worth individuals and corporate partners to contribute to funding CDL-site operating budget.
• Manage CDL corporate and government partners to ensure partner satisfaction and engagement with CDL ventures.
Supervision
This position will direct and manage a staff of four (4), with planned grow of an additional 2-3 positions in 2022/23.
• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum 4 years’ experience in a senior management position or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
• Experience leading teams and working with senior startup/technology leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of business models and drivers of success in startups across several verticals.
• Financial literacy and experience with fundraising and venture deals.
• Highly motivated with a strong interest in all aspects of business development and relationship management.
• Ability to analyze and systematically evaluate ventures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and public speaking skills.
• Passion to consistently meet or exceed performance objectives.
• Strong, team-oriented work ethic with a willingness to work independently and autonomously.
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration
• Previous experience founding a startup
• Experience working as a consultant or advisor to a startup company
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.