CEO - Upstate Venture Connect

About this role

UVC is seeking its next Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization's continued growth and impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will be responsible for UVC's strategy, fundraising, external relationships, team, and financial sustainability. This is a highly external, entrepreneurial role for someone who can build relationships, raise resources, connect people, and identify opportunities to strengthen entrepreneurship across Upstate New York.

Prior nonprofit experience is not required. Experience as a founder, investor, business leader, fundraiser, or ecosystem builder may be equally relevant.

About UVC

Founded in 2010 by entrepreneurs, Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) is a 501c3 nonprofit working to build a more connected, entrepreneur-led economy across Upstate New York. UVC supports founders building high-growth, venture-backable companies by helping them access the relationships, experience, capital, customers, talent, and other resources they need to scale while remaining in the region.

UVC serves as the connective tissue among Upstate New York’s regional startup communities. Our Founder Network is free to join and provides entrepreneurs with personalized introductions to other founders, investors, experienced operators, mentors, advisors, corporate partners, and potential customers. UVC is tracking more than 800 high-growth companies across Upstate NY and facilitates more than 550 curated introductions for them every year.

Its broader network includes more than 18,000 contacts and startup supporters. (More info: UVC 2025 Annual Report )

UVC’s Community Advocate network provides a locally based presence across Upstate New York. Community Advocates act as regional connectors, scouts, and champions. They identify and engage founders, organize local gatherings, build partnerships, make strategic introductions, and connect entrepreneurs in their communities to UVC’s nationwide network. This model allows UVC to strengthen individual startup communities while connecting founders to opportunities beyond their immediate region.

At the center of UVC is the UNY50 Leadership Network , an invitation-only group of accomplished entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders committed to giving back. UNY50 members volunteer their time, experience, and networks to help emerging founders navigate the challenges of building and scaling companies. The majority are also active early-stage investors.

UVC hosts more than 20 curated events per year.

Its programming centers on four types of gatherings: regional Office Hours , which give founders access to personalized feedback from UNY50 members, investors, and mentors; multi-day Founder Roadshows , which connect select Upstate companies with investors, customers, and entrepreneurial networks in major markets like NYC, Boston and Washington, DC; curated founder and leadership dinners, designed to build trusted relationships among experienced and emerging entrepreneurs; and Unleashed , UVC’s annual invitation-only founders retreat.

These programs create opportunities for meaningful connections that can help founders access capital, customers, talent, mentorship, and other resources needed to scale.

UVC’s work is funded through foundation support, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and program revenue. Its impact is also made possible by a statewide community of corporate and community partners, universities, financial institutions, investors, board members, advisors, volunteers, and founders who share a commitment to creating more high-growth opportunities in Upstate New York. ( UVC Partners)

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising & Growth: Own UVC's fundraising and revenue strategy with a goal towards long term financial sustainability. Build and maintain relationships with corporations, foundations, financial institutions, government partners, donors, and sponsors.
• Network & Partnerships: Build and maintain relationships with founders, investors, executives, universities, economic development organizations, and other partners across New York State and beyond.
• Ecosystem Leadership: Serve as a visible ambassador for UVC and Upstate NY’s entrepreneurial community; grow and engage the regionwide network, and connect founders to capital, customers, talent, mentors, and other opportunities.
• Strategy, Operations & Leadership: Set organizational priorities with the Board and lead their execution. Develop and oversee the annual budget that balances strategic goals with the resources available to the organization. Manage UVC's team and financial resources to support the strategy and stay compliant with regulatory requirements. Oversee the Community Advocate network and execution of UVC's programs and gatherings, and identify new opportunities for partnerships, programs, and growth.

Requirements

• The Ideal Candidate will have
• A strong affinity for UVC's mission and entrepreneurship in Upstate New York
• Demonstrated success building relationships, partnerships, and networks
• Experience fundraising, generating revenue, developing and managing to a budget, selling, or securing financial support from individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations and/or government sources
• An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to move between strategy and hands-on execution
• Credibility with founders, investors, business leaders, funders, and community partners

- Strong communication and public speaking skills

• Comfort with emerging tech including use of AI
• Experience leading a team, managing a budget, and driving organizational priorities
• This position has a base salary of $110,000-$130,000 plus opportunity for incentive compensation

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits including health insurance coverage and 401K savings accounts.