Company: Keyhorse Capital, an initiative of Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC)

Location: Currently Kentucky-based or willing to relocate to Kentucky before start date.

Type: Full-time, Remote/Hybrid

Reports to: Kelby Price, Managing Partner, Keyhorse Capital

About KSTC: Since its founding in 1987, the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC) has been a pioneering force in driving science, technology, and innovative economic development throughout Kentucky.

Vision and Mission: We envision a future where KSTC and Kentucky are recognized as national leaders enabling high-performing innovation ecosystems, where Kentucky ranks in the top half of states for innovation-driven economic development, and KSTC is recognized among peers as setting the benchmark for others to follow. With this vision in mind, our mission is clear: We champion innovation in knowledge, talent, and investment to accelerate the state's economic growth and competitiveness, securing a better future for all Kentuckians.

About Keyhorse Capital: Keyhorse Capital, an initiative of KSTC, manages early-stage venture funds that support Kentucky-based startups with critical early capital and strategic resources. Over the past 20 years, we’ve invested over $80 million in 280+ companies and continue to back a dynamic portfolio of 150+ startups. We go beyond funding—partnering with founders, investors, and institutions to help companies scale. As we expand our platform, we’re focused on reducing friction in the investment process to make capital more accessible and founder journeys faster.

Role Overview

This role is a strategic, systems-focused role responsible for transforming how Keyhorse Capital onboards companies, delivers support programs, and generates actionable insights to inform investment decisions. This position operates at the intersection of early-stage analysis, founder enablement, subject matter expert (SME) coordination, and platform system design. The core mandate is to distinguish signal from noise across the portfolio, enabling data-driven allocation of support resources—including capital—based on structured insight and portfolio segmentation.

Key Responsibilities

Company Onboarding & Intelligence

• Design and lead a structured onboarding process for new portfolio companies.
• Conduct intake assessments to surface strategic and technical needs.
• Activate and manage tools to track support history and future needs.
• Ensure data and narrative readiness for follow-on memos, governance, and visibility. 

Resource Activation & Coordination

• Deploy portfolio support resources—such as Summer Analysts, Traction Partners, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)—based on founder needs, signal strength, and potential for follow-on investment.
• Identify, evaluate, and coordinate relevant SMEs to support technical, regulatory, or strategic challenges; maintain light-touch advisory relationships for ongoing diligence and governance value.
• Activate support inputs (e.g., asynchronous deal prep, analyst assignments, expert consults) in alignment with each company's trajectory and resource worthiness.
• Use resource deployment as a source of insight—tracking where support drives meaningful progress or uncovers deeper risk. 

Signal Intelligence & Resource Allocation Systems

• Develop and manage structured processes (e.g., onboarding assessments, surveys, analyst memos) to capture company signals from intake through ongoing engagement.
• Analyze these inputs to guide resource allocation decisions—including follow-on readiness, SME support, governance prep, or strategic deprioritization.
• Use insights to segment companies into actionable tiers and determine optimal engagement levels.
• Maintain tracking systems (dashboards, tags, tiers) to visualize company momentum and prioritize firm attention.
• Deliver internal and external reports synthesizing founder data, support activity, and investment implications.
• Ensure internal and external systems like CRM, Airtable, Notion, GetProven, Crunchbase, and Pitchbook are accurate and support real-time intelligence.
• Collaborate across Ops and Investment teams to coordinate data flows, survey cycles, and follow-on prep.
• Track how resource decisions affect founder outcomes and follow-on potential, using this feedback loop to evolve prioritization strategy over time.
• Conduct portfolio-wide meta-analysis to test the predictive power of signals and improve future allocation frameworks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2–5 years of experience in consulting, venture, ecosystem organizations, or early-stage startups.
• Strong analytical thinking and curiosity for business models and founder journeys.
• Excellent program coordination, process design, and relationship-building skills.
• Confident working across functions: founders, interns, SMEs, and internal teams.

Ideal Candidate

• Technical Fluency & Depth: Preferably holds a degree or experience in a technical field (e.g., biotech, software, analytical sciences) with proven ability to master complex domains and apply analytical rigor.
• Analytical Judgment: Combines strong analytical skills with intuition—able to ask incisive questions, validate assumptions, and synthesize insights from companies and subject matter experts.
• Discernment & Curiosity: Demonstrates excellent judgment in evaluating expertise, proactively seeks information, and shows genuine curiosity about emerging technologies and founder journeys.
• Collaborative Communicator: Builds trust with diverse stakeholders and can tailor conversations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Organized & Proactive: Brings structure and initiative to fast-paced, dynamic environments; capable of managing multiple priorities effectively.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Motivated to support innovation within Kentucky’s startup ecosystem and thrive in a flexible, impact-driven role.

What We Offer

• Exposure to Kentucky’s entrepreneurial and startup landscape. 
• Exposure to various aspects of venture capital investing and post-investment support for founders and startups.
• Collaboration with a small team of experienced venture professionals.
• Opportunity to collaborate across Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation’s statewide programs and initiatives—spanning innovation, research, education, and investment—and help shape a more connected, high-impact community infrastructure through KSTC and our partners.
• Salary range: $70-90k/year.
• Competitive benefits package including paid leave, health, dental, eye care, life insurance, and retirement benefits.

Application Process

Applications are now being accepted and processed as they are received, with screening for interviews beginning immediately.

KSTC is an equal opportunity employer and offers a competitive salary and benefits package.