The Atlantic Women’s Venture Fund is seeking an investment partner, someone who can identify target companies and negotiate investments for the fund expected to launch next year.

The Women’s Venture Fund is one of the most highly anticipated additions to the region’s ecosystem, and is set to launch next spring or summer. The founders are hoping to establish a for-profit fund amounting to about $20 million that will back high-potential ventures led by women.

It is now looking for a venture partner to join the fund’s investment team. This partner will help run the day-to-day operations of the fund, source and lead new investments, and assist in all aspects of fundraising. The position also demands the candidate manage the fund’s relationship with portfolio companies after investment, and take board seats where appropriate.

“This person will be expected to bring relevant experience and thinking to our discussions about the evolution of our fund thesis, composition and structure,” said the fund in its job posting. “Candidates must have both extensive venture investment experience and work experience in the tech sector itself.”

Though the fund would prefer someone with previous experience as a tech entrepreneur, what they are really looking for is someone with a strong, attributable track record of technology investing, either with established venture firms or as an angel investor.

The Atlantic Women’s Venture Fund began to take shape early this year when a group of business women from around the region came together to plan a way for women investors to work with women entrepreneurs.

Cathy Bennett, the former Newfoundland and Labrador finance minister and one of the founders of the fund, said that only 2 percent of the angel investors in Canada are female and the number may be even lower in Atlantic Canada. She added that the average female-led startup receives $900,000 in funding while the corresponding figure for companies led by men is $2.1 million.

Yet there are entrepreneurial opportunities that female entrepreneurs can pursue successfully – especially in the healthcare space – that male entrepreneurs may be unaware of. And a group of female investors would understand the opportunities better and therefore be more willing to invest and help grow these companies.

Anyone interested in the position should contact Rhiannon Davies, one of the founders of the fund, at rhdavies@gmail.com.