Introduction
This article outlines the responsibilities and candidate requirements for a business development and partnerships role focused on startups, design, technology, and innovation ecosystems. It covers core tasks — market research, proposal and pitch deck support, CRM management, communications, cross-team collaboration, campaign and event support, and industry trend analysis — and the skills ideal for applicants seeking hands-on experience.
Core Responsibilities and Tasks
This role centers on supporting business development and partnership activities through targeted research, content creation, outreach, and coordination. Key responsibilities include:
- Conduct market research to identify potential partners, clients, and opportunities Carry out research activities focused on discovering and documenting potential partners, clients and new opportunities relevant to the organisation.
- Assist in developing proposals, pitch decks, and presentations Support the creation and refinement of proposals, pitch decks and presentations used for outreach and partnership conversations.
- Support business development campaigns, events, and networking initiatives Contribute to campaigns, events and networking initiatives that advance business development and partnership goals.
- Maintain and update CRM/database of leads and partnerships Keep the CRM or lead database current to ensure accurate tracking of contacts, leads and partnership status.
- Draft and circulate communications, emails, and reports Prepare and distribute written communications, including emails and reports, to support outreach and internal updates.
- Collaborate with internal teams (technical, design, operations) to align outreach with project goals Work with technical, design and operations teams to ensure outreach and partnership activities align with project objectives.
- Track and analyse industry trends Monitor and analyse industry trends to inform partnership targeting and business development strategies.
Candidate Requirements and Skills
The ideal candidate is a current student or recent graduate who supports the responsibilities above with the following qualifications and attributes:
- Education Current student or recent graduate in Business, Management, Marketing, Engineering or related fields.
- Communication and interpersonal skills Strong written and verbal communication and the ability to work with partners and internal teams.
- Research and analysis Ability to conduct market research and analyse findings to identify partners, clients and opportunities.
- Technical proficiency Proficiency in MS Office/Google Workspace; CRM knowledge is a plus.
- Sector interest An interest in startups, design, technology and innovation ecosystems.
- Personal attributes Self-motivated, detail-oriented and eager to learn while supporting business development and partnership efforts.
Conclusion
In summary, this role combines market research, proposal and pitch deck development, CRM upkeep, communications, campaign and event support, cross-team collaboration, and trend analysis. It is suited to current students or recent graduates with strong communication skills, research ability, MS Office/Google Workspace proficiency, interest in startups and innovation, and a self-motivated, detail-oriented mindset eager to learn and contribute.
