Business Development Manager

Director of Business Development/Business Development Manager

Cambridge-Based Deep Tech Startup
Nanophotonics & XR Technology
£70,000 - £80,000 base + up to 2% equity + performance bonus
Full-time | Cambridge (4-5 days/week on-site preferred)

About Our Client
Our client is a Cambridge University spin-out at the forefront of breakthrough optical technology thats set to revolutionize the Extended Reality (XR) industry. Backed by leading VCs and Innovate UK, they've recently closed a successful seed round and are now preparing for Series A in Q2 2025.

The Role
This is a brand-new, strategic hire reporting directly to the CEO. Your primary mission in Year 1 is to lead and close the Series A fundraise by Q2 2025, while building foundations for long-term business development and revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising (Primary Focus - Year 1)

• Own the Series A process end-to-end: pitch deck refinement, financial modelling, investor targeting, outreach, meetings, due diligence, and closing
• Build and manage investor pipeline and CRM
• Craft compelling narratives that communicate deep tech value to non-technical investors
• Leverage founders VC network while bringing your own connections and sourcing new opportunities
• Prepare all investor materials, data room, and board reporting
• Target close: Q2 2025

Business Development & Partnerships

• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with AR/VR hardware companies, automotive OEMs, and other enterprise customers
• Support commercial discussions with existing and prospective partners
• Build qualified pipeline for future revenue growth
• Represent the company at industry events, investor forums, and customer meetings

What We re Looking For

• Proven track record leading Series A, B, or C fundraises (ideally having personally closed £5M+ rounds)
• Deep tech or hardware startup experience (optics, photonics, semiconductors, XR/AR/VR, robotics, or similar technical domains)
• Strong existing investor network in UK/EU venture capital
• Ability to translate complex technical innovation into compelling investment narratives
• Experience managing end-to-end fundraising process including pitch refinement, financial modelling, due diligence, and term sheet negotiation
• Self-starter mentality - comfortable owning outcomes in an early-stage, fast-moving environment

Whats On Offer

• £70,000 - £80,000 base salary
• 1-2% equity (4-year vest with cliff) - significant upside in a company with genuine breakthrough technology
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Ground-floor opportunity in a business with established partnerships and clear path to market
• Work alongside world-class technical founders from Cambridges Centre for Photonic Devices and Sensors
• Cambridge location - heart of the UKs deep tech ecosystem (4-5 days/week on-site preferred)

Looking forward to speaking with suitable candidates and getting interviews booked in soon.