Ensemble Innovation Venture Fund Academic Associate

Delta Dental of Colorado is seeking an Academic Associate for the Ensemble Innovation Venture Fund in Denver, CO. The role involves working with EIVF leadership on deal sourcing, due diligence, and financial analysis. Candidates should be second-year MBA or 2L JD students with skills in venture capital and business analysis. The position offers real-world experience in venture capital at $28 per hour, without health insurance or PTO benefits.
PROGRAM LEADERS

Associates will work closely with EIVF leadership.

Shannon Flahive, a Senior Associate of EIVF, is the Program Manager. Shannon has 15+ years of experience in early stage investing and consulting. She has worked with several dozens of companies from formation to exit in a variety of industries spanning from consumer goods to healthcare to deep technology. Shannon’s consulting experience includes time spent at Cambridge Associates, Boston Consulting Group, Treacy & Co and Egg Strategy. Within the Colorado venture capital ecosystem, she worked with Deming Center Venture Fund, Blackhorn Ventures and Service Provider Capital before joining Ensemble. Shannon is also an Executive Director of Seed Angel Forum, a local volunteer run non-profit organization that helps catalyze connections for Colorado founders and investors.

Brian Armstrong, a Managing Director of EIVF, is the Executive Sponsor for the program. Brian has more than 30 years of capital markets experience including venture capital investment and management, M&A, corporate finance and operations, and corporate strategy. He has been an advisor to dozens of companies spanning from venture to enterprise stage in financial services, high-tech, healthcare IT, life sciences, manufacturing, retail, and communications. More recently, he has helped corporate entities establish venture funds to catalyze impact and innovation. He has also advised academic and research venture entities with inception, fundraising, deal sourcing, asset management, and syndication.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION

EIVF is committed to supporting higher education institutions in the Front Range and providing an opportunity for CU and DU MBA/JD students to support the work of the Ensemble Innovations Venture Fund as they consider venture capital as a career. EIVF strongly believes that a more diverse group of professionals and perspectives will improve the impact and performance of venture capital across our communities and offers an opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to learn more about VC.

Associates will gain real-world experience by working with EIVF on deal sourcing, deal tracking, due diligence, financial analysis, transaction document review, ecosystem involvement and networking, participation and attendance at relevant venture capital forums and events, and development of internal presentations and discussions for the EIVF Investment Committee and the EIV Board, among other projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Potential Associates should be current second year MBA or 2L JD students and possess skills such as:
• Familiarity with principles of venture capital and asset management
• Familiarity with high-level investment fund activities and processes
• Comfort with conducting business analysis activities
• Strong quantitative and analysis skills – proficient in use of Microsoft Excel modeling
• Strong written and communicational skills – proficient in use of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Strong desire to get real world experience in venture capital
• No additional internships during the academic year that would conflict with EIVF work

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Associate will be paid $28 per hour and will be provided with a laptop; there are no health insurance or PTO benefits associated with this Program. Each Associate will determine their work and office schedule with EIVF leadership. The Program requires a commitment of five (5) hours per week with a maximum of 10 hours per week, one day per week in the EIVF offices (often a partial day), and a weekly check-in meeting with the Program Manager. The work is paid and will be conducted both virtually and out of Ensemble’s offices.

To learn more about EIVF, please visit our website at www.ensembleinnovationventures.com.

Compensation: This is a non-exempt, position at $28 per hour.

Posting Close Date: 4/14/25.

Delta Dental of Colorado is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local law.