Venture Capital Manager

Role overview

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is seeking a Venture Capital Manager for a 12-month freelance contract supporting a strategic initiative in Abu Dhabi. DCT Abu Dhabi is the government body that leads the sustainable development of the emirate’s culture and tourism sectors and helps position Abu Dhabi as a leading global destination for culture, creativity, and tourism.

This position is part of a high-impact program aimed at building Abu Dhabi’s gaming ecosystem and improving access to venture capital for gaming studios. The selected professional will contribute to shaping the emirate’s gaming venture capital landscape and addressing the early-stage funding gap from pre-seed through Series B.

Venture capital strategy and design

• Support the expansion of venture capital activity in Abu Dhabi’s gaming sector to help local and international ventures grow.
• Develop the investment logic, preferred entry stages, ticket sizes, and the right balance between financial returns and ecosystem development.
• Evaluate and advise on deployment approaches such as anchor LP participation, fund-of-funds setups, direct investment vehicles, and collaborations with established fund managers.
• Design governance structures, key performance indicators, and operating models for investment vehicles.
• Assist in building business cases and leadership recommendations for funding partners.

Investor and fund manager engagement

• Develop and sustain relationships with gaming-focused venture capital firms, fund managers, and wider ecosystem stakeholders.
• Identify and assess specialist gaming investors and possible fund-manager partners across regional and global markets.
• Engage with accelerators, founder programs, and co-investors to help strengthen the local deal pipeline.

Startup diligence and investment evaluation

• Conduct diligence on gaming studios seeking capital support and contribute to investment decisions.
• Lead commercial, financial, and intellectual property review for early-stage through growth-stage studios.
• Draft investment memoranda and recommendations with a clear, evidence-based standard.

Requirements

• 6 to 8 years of experience in a fast-moving ecosystem, with a track record of internal progression.
• Background in MBB or a comparable top-tier strategy consulting firm, venture capital fund, corporate venture arm, or a similar environment.
• Hands-on exposure to investment assessment, due diligence, or transaction support work.
• Strong analytical ability and a structured approach to problem solving.
• Experience preparing investment theses, business cases, and strategic recommendations.
• Capability in financial modelling, valuation analysis, and scenario planning.
• Ability to assess opportunities and present findings in a clear and compelling way.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, evolving settings.
• Experience supporting innovation, venture capital, or corporate venture capital initiatives.
• Exposure to sourcing investments, building pipelines, and managing portfolios.
• Experience with commercial, financial, and operational due diligence.
• Familiarity with term sheets, cap tables, investment structures, and venture financing tools.
• Exposure to media, entertainment, interactive media, gaming, or creative industries is beneficial.
• Experience with fund-of-funds structures or anchor LP models is preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of AI tools and how they can support strategy, investment evaluation, and diligence.
• 3 to 5 years of GCC experience is preferred.

Contract details

This is a 12-month freelance contract based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Application note

Interested candidates may apply or submit their CV for consideration.