Scope The Junior Business Developer supports Start Attractor’s mission to connect companies, startups, and academic research by contributing to business development activities , stakeholder engagement and the promotion of innovation and venture-building services. The role focuses on:

a. supporting the identification of new business opportunities for Start Attractor’s services (collaborative research and innovation projects between companies and universities; continuing professional development programmes for companies; Start Club membership services for startups; venture-building programmes for startups;)

b. supporting the preparation of service proposals and presentations tailored to the needs of prospective corporate clients;

c. supporting the management of relationships with Start Attractor’s stakeholders, including corporate partners, SMEs, startups, investors and institutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Development and Sales: support the identification and qualification of new business opportunities with large corporates, SMEs and institutional partners; conduct needs analysis and help identify prospective clients and collaborators; contribute to the preparation of proposals for collaborative research and innovation projects between companies and universities, venture-building programmes for startups, continuing professional development programmes for companies, and Start Club membership services for startups; support senior team members in preparing commercial offers, presentations and supporting documentation; support the negotiation and closing of agreements in coordination with senior management.
2. Account and Relationship Managements: assist in maintaining long-term relationships with corporate partners, SMEs, startups and institutional stakeholders; support follow-up activities and stakeholder communications; contribute to customer satisfaction monitoring, collecting feedback and identifying opportunities for improvement and upselling.
3. Market Intelligence & Service: Monitor trends related to innovation, venture building, startup ecosystems, AI,



digital and green transition (with a focus on Start Attractor’s priority sectors); map relevant ecosystems (companies, startups, hubs, investors, clusters, industry associations) and support the identification of potential partners and clients; provide input on new services or formats (e.g., programs, events, training modules) based on market feedback and customer needs.
4. Support to Communication and Events: contribute business-oriented content for presentations, brochures, website and social media; support the promotion of programs and events; actively participate in and occasionally support the organization of networking events, workshops, pitch days, roadshows, representing Start Attractor in a professional and credible way. Reporting and Administration: maintain an up-to-date CRM/contacts database (companies, startups, institutions); support reporting activities related to pipeline management, closed deals, and key KPIs, aligned with Start Attractor’s business plan; ensure that all activities are carried out in compliance with Start Attractor’s Code of Ethics, Corporate Handbook, Model 231, and internal procedures (including those on data protection and use of AI tools).

Required Qualifications and Experience a. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Management, Engineering, Innovation Management, or related fields; a PhD degree is considered a plus;

b. Ideally 2–4 years of relevant professional experience in at least one of the following areas: business development/sales (B2B); innovation management / open innovation; startup incubation/acceleration or venture capital; consulting (strategy, innovation, digital transformation);

c. strong interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems and emerging technologies;

d. good understanding of at least some of the following domains: open innovation, startup ecosystems, venture building,



AI and digital transformation, green transition, or technology transfer;

e. excellent spoken and written English (minimum C1); good working knowledge of Italian (or commitment to reach it in a short time);

f. participation in startup projects, entrepreneurial initiatives, research activities or student associations will be considered a plus.

Key Skills and Competencies

1. Technical / Professional Skills: ability to conduct needs analysis and analyze business opportunities; basic understanding of business models, basic financials, and value proposition design; good presentation and pitching skills, both in person and online; ability to work with CRM tools, office productivity tools (Office/Google suite), and basic collaboration platforms; interest in working with data and KPIs to track performance.
2. Soft Skills: strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills; entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, opportunity-driven, comfortable in dynamic environments; team player with the ability to work in cross-functional and multistakeholder contexts; problem-solving attitude and ability to work with partial information; excellent communication skills, clarity, and listening ability; high standards of ethics, integrity, and confidentiality.

What we offer a. A structured growth path within the innovation ecosystem;

b. Mentoring and direct exposure to Start Attractor’s leadership team;

c. Training opportunities in business development, innovation management and startup ecosystems;

d. The opportunity to work at the intersection of universities, companies, startups and institutions, contributing to impactful innovation projects;

e. a dynamic, collaborative environment with exposure to high-level partners, mentors and investors;

f. training and professional development opportunities aligned with the role;

g. employment contract in line with the Italian National Collective Agreement for the Commerce sector (CCNL Commercio);

h. gross annual salary (RAL) ranging from €28,000 to €34,000, commensurate with skills and experience.

Contacts: [email protected]

📌 Business Developer Associate (Pisa)
🏢 Fondazione Start Attractor
📍 Pisa