UCT GSB Venture Studio - 4|>lay Ecosystem Manager

# UCT GSB × 4|>lay Venture Studio ## Ecosystem & Platform Manager ### Role Purpose The Ecosystem & Platform Manager is responsible for driving the adoption, activation and day-to-day operation of the **4|>lay platform within the UCT GSB**. The role positions 4|>lay as a **venture-building operating system and institutional co-founding ecosystem enabler**—connecting entrepreneurial talent, validated opportunities, expertise, capital and institutional support to enable the creation of new ventures. The Ecosystem & Platform Manager acts as the operational bridge between **UCT GSB, 4|>lay, students, venture builders, founders, mentors, investors and ecosystem partners**, ensuring that the platform is actively used and that ventures progress from application and validation through to team formation, venture building and pitching. ### Core Responsibilities #### 1. 4|>lay Platform Adoption & Operations * Drive the adoption and ongoing use of the 4|>lay platform across the UCT GSB entrepreneurial ecosystem. * Position 4|>lay as the school's venture-building operating system and digital infrastructure for venture creation. * Administer and oversee the platform, including venture, applicant, founder and ecosystem activity. * Maintain oversight of the venture pipeline and ensure applications, profiles, validation activity and venture development are progressing. * Identify opportunities to improve platform engagement, participation and institutional integration. * Act as the primary operational point of contact between UCT GSB and 4|>lay. #### 2. Cohort Recruitment & Application Launch * Plan and execute the launch of applications for each new 4|>lay venture-building cohort. * Coordinate communications and outreach across relevant UCT GSB student and alumni networks. * Host information sessions and themed **4|>lay Fireside Chats** to introduce students and prospective venture builders to entrepreneurship, venture creation and the platform. * Manage the applicant journey from initial interest through to platform registration and application. * Monitor the applicant pipeline and support prospective venture builders through the process. #### 3. Venture Validation * Oversee the venture validation process for ideas and opportunities submitted through the platform. * Coordinate validation activities designed to test customer problems, market opportunities and venture hypotheses. * Ensure ventures progress through defined validation milestones before entering the co-building process. * Work with relevant mentors, experts and ecosystem partners to provide validation support. * Maintain visibility over the status and development of ventures on the platform. #### 4. Founder & Co-Founder Matching * Facilitate the matching of validated venture opportunities with potential co-founders and venture builders. * Identify complementary skills, experience, interests and entrepreneurial capabilities within the applicant ecosystem. * Coordinate introductions and matching processes between venture ideas and prospective founding teams. * Support the transition from individual applicants and ideas into structured venture-building teams. * Track and support successful matches as they progress into venture creation. #### 5. Venture Oversight & Ecosystem Coordination * Maintain an overview of ventures being developed through the UCT GSB × 4|>lay ecosystem. * Coordinate access to mentors, subject-matter experts, investors, operators and strategic partners. * Identify support gaps within ventures and facilitate relevant ecosystem connections. * Maintain regular engagement with venture teams throughout the programme. * Capture venture progress, outcomes and ecosystem activity through the platform. #### 6. Events & Ecosystem Activation * Lead the planning and coordination of the annual 4|>lay venture-building calendar at UCT GSB. * Host themed Fireside Chats and other founder and ecosystem engagements throughout the year. * Coordinate workshops, founder sessions, ecosystem events and venture showcases. * Manage relationships with speakers, mentors, investors, sponsors and strategic partners participating in activities. * Ensure events actively contribute to venture creation, founder development and ecosystem engagement. #### 7. Annual Pitch Event * Lead the operational planning and coordination of the end-of-year 4|>lay Venture Pitch Event. * Coordinate participating ventures, judges, investors, sponsors, speakers and ecosystem stakeholders. * Manage timelines, communications, event logistics and venture preparation. * Ensure the event showcases the strongest ventures emerging from the 4|>lay platform. * Use the event to create opportunities for ventures to secure investment, partnerships, customers and further support. ### Key Performance Indicators The role should be measured by the **activation and outcomes of the ecosystem**, rather than simply the number of events delivered. Key indicators include: **Platform Adoption** * Number of students and ecosystem participants registered on 4|>lay * Platform engagement and active users * Number of ventures created or managed through the platform **Venture Pipeline** * Applications received per cohort * Applicants progressing through validation * Ventures successfully validated * Co-founder matches facilitated * Founding teams formed * Ventures progressing into active build **Ecosystem Activation** * Mentors and experts activated * Investors and capital partners engaged * Strategic partnerships established * Founder and ecosystem connections facilitated **Programme & Events** * Fireside Chats delivered * Cohort application campaigns executed * Founder participation and engagement * Annual pitch event delivered * Investor and ecosystem participation **Venture Outcomes** * Ventures progressing through the venture-building pipeline * Capital raised * Strategic partnerships secured * Customers or pilots acquired * Founders retained and actively building ### Position Within the Ecosystem The Ecosystem & Platform Manager is the **operational owner of 4|>lay's activation within UCT GSB**. Their role is to ensure that: **UCT GSB's talent → enters the 4|>lay platform → opportunities are validated → founders are matched → teams are formed → ventures are built → ventures are showcased → capital and ecosystem support are unlocked.** In this way, 4|>lay becomes more than a programme or accelerator. It functions as a **venture-building operating system and institutional co-founding layer for UCT GSB**, with the Ecosystem & Platform Manager responsible for making that system work in practice.