Invest Detroit
ID Ventures is one of the most active pre-seed and seed investors in the Great Lakes region. We’ve backed more than 250 Michigan companies since 2010, manage $60M across traditional and Evergreen funds, and deploy several million dollars into early-stage founders every year. We’re part of Invest Detroit, a leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), bringing 25+ years of experience acting as a catalyst for economic development and investment.
We’re hiring an Analyst or Associate (title depends on what you bring) to join a seven-person investment team. You’ll touch every part of the deal cycle from week one: sourcing, screening, diligence, memo writing, and portfolio support. You’ll work alongside the partners making investment calls, not three layers down from them.
This is a real seat at a real fund, not a glorified internship or scouting role. Our community is the heart of our work and we are looking for someone that enjoys attending start-up events, meeting new founders and assisting with introductions.
What you’ll be doing
· Reviewing inbound pitch decks and running founder screening calls. We see hundreds of decks a year; you’ll be one of the first people to read them.
· Running diligence on companies we’re considering: market sizing, competitive analysis, customer calls, financial model review, cap-table math.
· Writing memos that go to investment committee. Risks first, then the case. We don’t bury bad news in adjectives. Memos here are tight, evidence-based, and take a position.
· Work closely with our V313 lead to assist with partner and funder coordination, data collection and reporting.
· Assisting with supporting more than 100 active portfolio companies: helping founders prep for their next round, building introductions to follow-on investors, and tracking the metrics that matter (revenue, runway, hiring, milestones to next raise).
· Showing up at startup events, accelerators, university programs, and pitch competitions across Michigan. Half of venture is who you know. You’ll start building that network on day one.
· Helping us run a sharper pipeline and a sharper portfolio. Better dashboards, better workflows, less manual work. If you see a way to improve how we operate, you’ll have the room to build it.
How we use AI
You should have relevant experience and be comfortable using AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Granola, NotebookLM, the next thing that drops next month) and opinionated about which workflows actually save time.
In practice, that means:
• Using AI to accelerate market research and pull primary data from filings, transcripts, and patent records
• Building lightweight automations for sourcing, CRM hygiene, and portfolio reporting
• Stress-testing your own thinking by having AI argue the opposite side of a deal
You don’t need to be an AI engineer. You do need to use these tools the way a sharp investor in 2026 should: to do more, faster, with better evidence. You should leverage AI to make your work product better but not rely on AI to be a substitute for your own work.
Who we’re looking for
No prior VC experience required. A few things matter more.
• You’re based in Michigan or willing to be. We’re a local fund. The job lives in this ecosystem.
• You can write. You can take a messy stack of facts and turn it into a clear recommendation that takes a position.
• You’re comfortable with numbers. We’ll teach you what is critical, but you know your way around a spreadsheet and financials.
• You’re curious about how businesses work. You enjoy digging into industries you don’t already know, spending time understanding new business models, and learning from founders and experts.
• You believe equitable access to capital matters. Women, minority, and immigrant founders are a meaningful part of our portfolio, and that shapes how we invest.
If you’re coming straight out of school, we want to see strong analytical chops, evidence you’ve built or led something on your own, and a real point of view on why venture and why Michigan.
If you have a few years of work experience (banking, consulting, startup operations, equity research, accelerator work, or any role where you learned to think rigorously about businesses), that’s a plus.
What you’ll get out of this
Working with a team that has been investing in early-stage companies for 12+ years and will teach you the craft. Real ownership of deals you bring in. Exposure to founders, LPs, and co-investors across the country. A view into how a fund actually runs: deal-making, fundraising, fund structure, portfolio management, LP relationships.
From here, the path can move to Senior Associate, Principal, and beyond. People also use this seat to launch into operating roles at portfolio companies or to start their own ventures. All are wins.
Logistics
• Title: Analyst or Associate, depending on background
• Comp: $95K-$115K base, plus benefits
• Location: Detroit / Ann Arbor preferred; Michigan required
• Start date: as soon as the right person is available.
At Invest Detroit, we believe that supporting our team is just as important as supporting our mission. We offer a people-centered work environment that values flexibility, balance, and growth. Our benefits include:
· Generous paid time off, including extended holidays and summer half-day Fridays
· Comprehensive health and life insurance coverage
· Annual performance bonuses (not guaranteed)
· Professional development opportunities to support your career growth.
To apply – PLEASE READ!!
Fill out our ID Ventures application form, attach a resume and your LinkedIn profile.
Invest Detroit is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace.
