[Hiring] Freelance Startup Program & Ecosystem Strategist @JUNI gGmbH

Role Description

We are now looking for an experienced Startup Program & Ecosystem Strategist to help us develop the next generation of our startup support model.

The Challenge:

• Understand what the best accelerators, incubators, VC platform teams, and startup support organizations do differently.
• Translate insights into a distinctive model for JUNI.
• Key question: What support do startups and scale-ups really need at different stages, and how can JUNI deliver it in a way that creates measurable value?
• Develop a practical JUNI Startup & Scale-up Playbook for everyday use.

Your mission:

• Evaluate leading international startup ecosystems, accelerators, VCs, incubators, and scale-up support models.
• Identify the most important needs and bottlenecks of startups from formation to scale-up.
• Interview founders and ecosystem experts to validate findings.
• Identify interventions that create the greatest value for startups.
• Define where JUNI should build its own capabilities, partner with others, or simply connect.
• Develop a practical framework for diagnosing startup needs and matching them with the right support.
• Define how JUNI can measure the actual impact of its support.
• Translate findings into the JUNI Startup & Scale-up Playbook v1.0 .

A key strategic question throughout the project will be: What should JUNI become exceptionally good at?

Qualifications

• Strategic thinking.
• Strong research capabilities.
• Real startup ecosystem experience.
• Experience in VC platform/portfolio operations.
• Experience at a leading accelerator or incubator.
• Experience in venture building with an excellent track record.
• Experience as a founder or in a startup/scale-up.
• Experience in Deep Tech commercialization or university entrepreneurship.

Requirements

• Understanding of the different needs of early-stage startups and scale-ups.
• Strong bias towards practical solutions rather than theoretical frameworks.
• Experience with Deep Tech, science-based startups, VC portfolio support, or scale-up organizations is particularly valuable.

Benefits

• Project Duration: approx. 8–12 weeks.
• Location: Berlin / Remote.
• Start: ASAP.
• Close collaboration with the JUNI management and program team.
• Access to startups, universities, corporates, investors, and ecosystem partners across our network.
• Potential opportunity for a permanent role at JUNI for the right person.

Company Description

JUNI serves as the central hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Berlin-Brandenburg. We bring together students, researchers, founders, universities, corporates, policymakers, and investors to create a dynamic and collaborative ecosystem. Our mission is to make the startup journey as straightforward as possible, enabling founders to focus on what they do best: building impactful companies.