Project Lead - European Ecosystem Strategy (m/w/d)

Germany, München

Full-time

Permanent employee

Your mission

Start2 Group is looking for a Project Lead to drive our European growth strategy, build lasting connections across the continent's leading startup hubs, and shape how deep tech founders access new markets. This is a hands-on role at the intersection of ecosystem development, program design, and international partnership.

Develop and execute Start2 Group's European growth strategy, identifying where we can create lasting value across key hub markets
Build and maintain long-term relationships with startup hubs, accelerators, and ecosystem partners across Europe, turning ad-hoc connections into structural collaboration
Co-develop and guide market access and market discovery programs for startups, working with partners to create clear, repeatable pathways into new geographies
Structure and own our "Rise & Scale" event format, from concept and agenda design to speaker programming and delivery, ensuring it becomes a recognised platform for scaling-stage founders
Represent Start2 Group in joint ecosystem formats and keep internal and external stakeholders aligned throughout

Your profile

Substantive experience within the startup ecosystem, either as a founder, operator, early employee at a high-growth company, or in an investor, accelerator, or innovation hub context
Strong understanding of what it takes for a startup to scale: financing pathways, growth-stage challenges, market entry complexity, and the difference between early-stage and scaleup dynamics
Familiarity with the European innovation ecosystem: how hubs, universities, corporates, and investors interact, and how to get things done across institutional boundaries
Proven project management skills, ideally with a background that includes structured programme or management consulting work: you know how to break down complexity, hold a workstream together, and deliver against milestones in a multi-stakeholder environment
Experience leading or coordinating a team, with the ability to give clear direction, manage across priorities, and bring people along
Comfortable operating in English at a professional level across written deliverables, presentations, and international stakeholder conversations; German is a Must!
Proactive, organised, and calm under coordination pressure
Genuine interest in the deep tech and scaleup space

Why us?

Direct impact on a flagship European project shaping the continent's scaleup infrastructure
Work at the intersection of global startup ecosystems, cross-border innovation, and European policy
High ownership and room to shape how Start2 Group shows up within one of the most ambitious pan-European consortium projects in the innovation space
Collaborative, trust-based culture with real responsibility from day one and individual development paths in a growing organisation
Munich-based role with international travel to consortium locations and partner hubs across Europe

About us

Start2 Group is a global innovation leader taking your startup journey to the next level. As a premier startup ecosystem platform, Start2 Group serves as the ultimate destination for growth-oriented startups, corporations, investors, and governments to shape and scale ventures with growth potential.

Founded in 2008, Start2 Group has consistently played a pivotal role in the success stories of thousands of startups, guiding them seamlessly from initial fundraising to global expansion. We operate in key markets across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East, shaping the future of innovation on a global scale