Overview
As startups continue to be a primary driver of innovation and wealth creation in the global economy, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) has launched the Startup Careers Community to help advance the careers of its Alumni in the sector. With roughly 1,000 Alumni in startups or with startup experience and $5.5B+ raised by Alumni-led ventures, our community is poised to shape the ecosystem from the inside out.
Connect with Us
If you are interested in hiring or are a VC investor or LP, connect with us at: startuppathways@mlt.org
Candidates can apply to join our Startup Arena initiatives down below.
Main Details
MLT’s Startup Careers Community is designed to:
- Advance the careers of MLT’s Alumni with startup experience by connecting them to meaningful job opportunities that accelerate their leadership and influence within the sector.
- Help Alumni at startups build high-performing teams and companies by connecting them with other Alumni who are ready to join their companies.
- Support aligned investors and high-growth startups in showcasing their brands with highly qualified talent ready to help their companies continue to scale and reach their next growth milestone.
- Build a robust and connected peer community of highly-qualified startup talent that will not only contribute to a company’s growth but also blaze the path for MLT’s startup-ready and committed talent in the future.
For Alumni with startup experience
The Startup Careers Community aims to connect with and support MLT Alumni who already have a proven track record of success at a startup in accelerating their career trajectory. MLT’s Startup Experienced talent can expect to join a peer talent community that includes access to exclusive roles sourced through MLT’s growing startup partnership network, regular local and virtual events for growing their network, access to regular virtual sessions on key topics within startups, curated digital startup content and resources, and access to discrete coaching opportunities related to open roles and navigating your career in the sector.
For Alumni ready for a career at a startup
The Startup Careers Community will provide a multifaceted learning environment that enables individuals to assess their readiness for a startup and offers both asynchronous and live opportunities to gain more clarity, exposure, and practice in preparing for a future transition into a startup role. The Startup Careers team will offer a personal startup readiness assessment, asynchronous and on-demand resources, and various virtual workshops designed to increase the exposure and readiness of this segment. Where appropriate, MLT’s talent placement service team and partners will share opportunities that are a fit for those ready and a good fit for their first role at a startup. The resources and associated programming opportunities for this audience will be released in Spring 2026. Share your interest in being the first to learn about our support below.
$5.5B+
raised by Alumni-led startups and VCs in venture funding
Interested in Partnership or Supporting MLT’s Startup Careers Work?
MLT’s Startup Careers initiative was launched in 2024 with the support of Pivotal Ventures to create an ecosystem where success breeds more success—where every person who breaks through, regardless of their background, helps others do the same. We view the startup arena as a critical sector not only for advancing the network, influence, and brand of MLT and its Alumni, but also as an incredible opportunity to contribute to the continuous cycle of innovation and wealth creation and to play an active role in building the world’s next enduring companies.
Our approach is built on several key principles:
Multiple Shots
Providing participants with multiple opportunities across different startup roles to maximize their chances of success.
Multiplier Effect
Ensuring that alumni who succeed in the startup ecosystem can hire, support, and mentor others, amplifying the impact.
Flywheel
Creating a self-sustaining cycle where successful alumni contribute back to the community, helping others launch and grow.
Limiting Risk
Reducing barriers to entry by sourcing roles through direct alumni and industry partner relationships and working with partner search firms to prepare talent to convert opportunities at a higher clip.
Connect with Us
If you are interested in hiring or are a VC investor or LP, connect with us at: startuppathways@mlt.org
Candidates can apply to join our Startup Arena initiatives down below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is an ideal fit for Startup Careers Community?
To start, we are prioritizing building a community with Alumni who have experience in one or more roles at a startup in their career. We define this group as someone who is ‘Startup Experienced.’ This candidate will often fit the needs and requirements of our startup and investor partners and be included in various retained or other searches for highly-qualified candidates that MLT is asked to source. In addition to roles, this candidate will have access to regular virtual and in-person events the MLT Startup Careers teams leads designed for expansion of your peer network, but also accessing MLT’s deep network across venture and startups via venture funds and partner companies.
What are some benefits of joining the Startup Careers Community?
Foremost, members of MLT’s Startup Careers Community will exponentially expanding their network with the venture-backed startup sector. MLT’s Alumni network already includes roughly 350 leaders at startup and another 700 individuals with prior startup experience in their career.
The other primary benefit is access to career opportunities and vetted candidates. If you’re looking for your next role, our team will be sure to include you in various searches we are asked to fill. If you’re growing your team as a manager or across other parts of your company, we’d love to help you find the right candidates in MLT’s expansive Alumni network.
Beyond the network impact and hiring opportunities, the Startup Careers will continue to lead events and programming designed to level up your career in the sector. These include expert panel sessions with senior executive startup leaders and/or investors, invites to exclusive events led by MLT and other startup events, and access to curated startup content on key topics and insights within the sector.
Is this open to non-MLT alumni?
At the moment, the Startup Careers Community is only open to Alumni of MLT’s programs. In 2026, we intend to announce opportunities to expand the community to invite others to join this growing and thriving community of startup professionals.
What are the expectations of members in the Startup Careers Community?
We expect those who join to make meaningful contributions in building relationships with the peer community and representing MLT’s network well with external partners.
We expect those who join to be active members to join regular virtual and in-person events, be responsive to outreach about job interviews arranged through MLT’s network, share resources, events, and opportunities with others in the community, serve as experts or mentors where appropriate, and make connections with peers through a variety of digital channels.
Does MLT provide placement services?
Yes, MLT offers referrals and interview support through our extensive network of venture capital partners and startup companies. We work closely with participants to refer them to suitable roles in startups based on their skills, interests, and career goals. Our placement services are designed to ensure that participants find positions where they can thrive and make meaningful contributions.
How does MLT work with industry partners, including startups and investors?
Company and investor partners are vital to the Startup Careers Community, delivering on its mission to grow the influence and impact of MLT’s network in the sector. We envision working with aligned companies by meeting with key senior leaders or hiring stakeholders, which may include our existing Alumni, as we see this as a key lever for building trust. From an intro meeting, we try to understand the culture, stage of growth, and needs around talent to assess partnership fit and where there’s an opportunity to collaborate. Upon formalizing a partnership, we will work closely with hiring managers and any other talent leaders to support sourcing, preparation, and hiring of candidates for specific roles.
With investors, we will work with relevant portfolio platform leadership to assess how we can support across companies in the portfolio in both driving high-quality talent to key roles, but also where we might support in building out strong HR practices and systems designed to scale as the company grows.
You can reach out to [email address] if you want to explore partnership further.
How does MLT work with founders in the network?
The Startup Careers Community is not currently focused on supporting Alumni interested in becoming a venture-backed founder. We do, however, support existing venture-backed founders who are Alumni in sourcing candidates as they grow and welcome a conversation if our community and search support can be helpful.
Why focus on scalable or high-growth startups?
High-growth startups offer opportunities for rapid career progression, leadership experience, and wealth creation, which are critical for narrowing the opportunity gap. By working with our Alumni in these environments, MLT aims to maximize their impact and long-term success.
