Venture Capital Associate - AI Focus

About Woven Capital

Woven Capital is Toyota's growth-stage venture capital division centered on shaping the future of mobility by advancing how people, goods, information, and energy move. Managing assets worth $1.6 billion, the fund invests in innovative companies driving emerging technologies, boosting industrial value chains, and accelerating sustainability and decarbonization. It connects pioneering entrepreneurs with Toyota's global platform to enhance current capabilities and unlock new future possibilities.

Position Overview

Woven Capital seeks an AI Associate for its expanding Venture Capital team. This role focuses on sourcing, evaluating, and managing strategic growth-stage investments aligned with Toyota's vision of future mobility. Additionally, the Associate will lead the internal AI initiative, developing intelligent agents and automation workflows to improve team efficiency and decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of AI agents to automate repetitive investment processes, identifying opportunities to save time and enhance decision quality.
• Train and enable the broader team to effectively use AI tools and workflows, establishing a long-term AI productivity roadmap.
• Proactively source and screen potential deals by conducting market research and nurturing extensive startup networks.
• Conduct comprehensive due diligence including technology, financial analyses, market evaluations, and risk assessments to assess investment suitability.
• Develop and maintain financial models to evaluate investment viability and returns; assist with investment memos and stakeholder presentations.
• Engage actively with portfolio companies to monitor performance, provide strategic advice, and identify value creation opportunities.
• Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics; contribute to thought leadership and market insight development.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience with advanced AI technologies.
• Bachelor’s in Engineering, Computer Science plus MBA OR Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or related fields.
• Minimum five years of experience across investment banking, venture capital, strategic consulting, technology development, or product management.
• Strong passion for technology, venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship.
• Ability to understand innovations in deep tech and hard tech sectors.
• Proven skills in deal sourcing, due diligence, financial modeling, and market analysis.
• Exceptional analytical abilities with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and effective networking capability.
• Patience and adaptability in cross-cultural communication and diverse decision-making contexts.
• Commitment to helping transform a traditional automotive company into a digital and frontier mobility leader.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise or knowledge of mobility sectors including autonomous mobility, software, EVs, batteries, electrification, and clean energy.
• Experience working or living internationally is a plus.
• Established connections within startup and venture capital ecosystems.
• Holding both STEM bachelor's and MBA degrees.
• Experience co-founding startups.

Compensation and Benefits

For roles based in Palo Alto, CA, base salaries range between $130,000 and $150,000 annually. Total compensation includes base pay, short- and long-term incentives, and a comprehensive benefits package tailored to individual qualifications and location.

Additional Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and wellness coverage.
• Robust 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Flexible vacation policies.
• Support for family planning and care.

Equal Opportunity

The company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. Personal information gathered during hiring is used solely for recruitment and onboarding purposes in accordance with privacy guidelines.