Location: Nairobi, Kenya
The Venture Development Officer will support the development and growth of health innovations, start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures within the Health Innovation Hub. The role helps innovators translate ideas, research outputs and prototypes into viable, market-oriented and sustainable ventures, with a focus on business modelling, market validation, customer development, financial viability, commercialization and venture growth.
Key responsibilities:
- Venture Development: support innovators and start-ups to develop viable business models and growth strategies; provide business advisory support; support business plans, value propositions and revenue models; guide ventures from ideation and validation through market entry and growth.
- Market and Customer Development: support market research and validation of health innovations; help ventures identify customers, users and market opportunities; support customer acquisition, sales and market-entry strategies; facilitate linkages with customers, healthcare organizations and industry.
- Financial & Commercial Advisory: support basic financial modelling, costing, pricing and revenue planning; help innovators assess commercial viability and sustainability; provide financial literacy and business management guidance; support investment-readiness materials.
- Commercialization & Venture Growth: support the transition of innovations from prototype to market-ready solutions; develop commercialization and growth strategies; identify opportunities for adoption, scale and market expansion; track the growth of ventures within the Hub.
- Incubation & Mentorship: support incubation, acceleration, innovation challenges and entrepreneurship programmes; mentor students, innovators and entrepreneurs; coordinate business development workshops, venture clinics and pitch preparation.
- Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement: build relationships with businesses, healthcare organizations, industry and entrepreneurs; represent the Hub at innovation and entrepreneurship forums; support collaboration with universities, research institutions and ecosystem partners.
- Monitoring & Reporting: track progress and growth of supported ventures; monitor market validation, customer development, commercialization and growth indicators; prepare periodic venture development reports; document success stories, lessons learned and venture impact.
Qualifications and experience:
- Bachelor's degree in commerce, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Marketing or a related field.
- 2–5 years' relevant experience in business development, banking, sales, entrepreneurship, venture development or customer relationship management.
- Experience working with startups, sales, recruitment of new customers, managing clients' portfolios and financial records is an added advantage.
Key competencies: advanced Excel; market and customer development; venture and business development; loans management, financial advisory and commercial analysis; sales and relationship management; coaching and mentoring of enterprise founders; stakeholder engagement; communication and presentation skills; problem-solving and analytical skills.
Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience. The closing date will be 10th November 2026 .
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit your application with a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience, via the application link. The closing date is 10th November 2026.