Start-Up Accelerator Lead

Designation: Start-up Accelerator Lead
Organization: SwitchON Foundation
Location: Kolkata (Candidates from Kolkata or willing to relocate)
Work Experience: 8 - 12 years of relevant experience
Compensation: 14-18 Lpa (Annual CTC will be decided based on experience, skills, and role fit)
Language Proficiency: English; Hindi or regional languages preferred
About SwitchON
SwitchON Foundation (est 2008) is a mission-driven organization working to strengthen sustainable agriculture, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience. We partner with Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), Climate startups, investors, and institutions to build scalable solutions that create both economic and social impact.
Our growing enterprise platform combines acceleration, advisory, market access, capacity building, and investment facilitation to help FPCs and agri-enterprises and other climates become sustainable, growth-oriented businesses. Through strategic partnerships and ecosystem support, we enable enterprises to scale their impact and reach.
The SwitchON Foundation is part of the ON Universe, which operates an accelerator, impact fund and advisory that is dedicated to supporting proximate climate startups / social entrepreneurs and FPCs. Through the Greenovation and ONganic Accelerator—which runs challenges, bootcamps, and cohort-based programs—and the EarthON Fund, which leverages blended capital approaches, we address complex climate challenges across the Global South.
Position Summary
The Startup Accelerator Lead manages the day-to-day execution of our climate innovation accelerator programs, supporting both climate tech startups and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). This role focuses on sourcing, evaluating, and supporting entrepreneurs and agri-collectives through structured acceleration initiatives. You'll work with founders, FPO leaders, mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners to help them achieve business readiness, investment readiness, and scale their climate and agricultural solutions.
This is an operational yet strategic role requiring strong execution capabilities, deep understanding of both startup and agricultural ecosystems, and the ability to bridge commercial innovation with ground-level rural impact.
Key Responsibilities
Startup & FPO Sourcing & Pipeline Development
Build and maintain high-quality pipelines of climate startups, tech-enabled social enterprises, and Farmer Producer Organizations
Design and execute recruitment campaigns across India
Lead application review and evaluation processes aligned with accelerator criteria
Manage cohort formation and maintain balance between startup, FPO, and sector diversity
Startup & FPO Support & Acceleration
Provide mentorship, guidance, and strategic support to portfolio startups and FPOs
Identify and address critical gaps in capabilities, business models, market fit, and operational efficiency
Facilitate meaningful connections between startups/FPOs and mentors, investors, and strategic partners
Track progress against KPIs and provide ongoing feedback tailored to each entity's stage and context
Program Management & Execution
Design and deliver cohort-based acceleration programs (bootcamps, workshops, pitch events, farmer field schools)
Oversee program curricula, logistics, and participant experience for diverse audiences
Manage batches from application through demo day/showcase and post-acceleration support
Build systems for monitoring progress, outcomes, and learning metrics
Mentor & Investor Network Management
Curate and engage networks of mentors, technical experts, domain specialists, and agri-experts
Facilitate introductions between startups/FPOs and ecosystem stakeholders
Build relationships with angel investors, early-stage VCs, and impact funders
Organize networking events, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions
Ecosystem & Partnership Development
Build relationships with corporate partners, universities, government agencies, and NGOs
Develop partnerships for co-acceleration, pilot programs, market access, and distribution channels
Collaborate with complementary accelerators, agricultural organizations, and ecosystem enablers
Represent the accelerator at industry events and ecosystem convenings
Program Quality & Reporting
Ensure high-quality execution across all accelerator initiatives
Build monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems for continuous program improvement
Maintain accurate reporting on cohort composition, startup/FPO metrics, and outcomes
Generate insights and recommendations for program optimization
Fundraising & Ecosystem Support
Support efforts to secure grants, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic funding
Develop compelling program documentation and impact narratives
Engage with donors and ecosystem funders to communicate value and results
Required Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in Management, Entrepreneurship, Business, Agriculture, Engineering, Development Studies, Environmental Science, or related field
Master's degree preferred
Experience
8-10 years of relevant experience in one or more of:
NGO/non-profit sector (required)
Accelerators, incubators, or startup ecosystems
Agricultural development, farmer collectives, or rural enterprise programs
Program management in innovation, entrepreneurship, or social impact spaces
Venture development or advisory roles
Demonstrated experience working with farmer organizations, agricultural collectives, or rural communities
Strong understanding of climate tech, sustainability, agri-innovation, or rural livelihoods sectors
Proven track record of supporting entrepreneurs/social enterprises and building pipelines
Preferred Skills & Competencies
Core Competencies
Dual Ecosystem Knowledge: Understanding of both startup ecosystems AND agricultural/rural development ecosystems
Leadership & Stakeholder Management: Ability to manage diverse stakeholders—founders, farmers, investors, NGO partners, government officials
Program Management: Experience designing and executing programs with measurable outcomes for different audiences
Communication: Excellent ability to communicate with founders, FPO leaders, mentors, investors, and rural communities
Strategic Thinking: Balancing operational execution with ecosystem development and long-term impact
Technical & Domain Skills
Understanding of climate innovation, sustainability, renewable energy, or green livelihoods
Familiarity with agri-tech, agricultural innovation, sustainable farming practices, or rural development
Experience with startup evaluation frameworks and investment readiness criteria
Knowledge of farmer collectives, FPC models, cooperative structures, and agricultural supply chains
Understanding of blended finance or impact investing models (preferred)
Operational Skills
Strong organizational and project management capabilities
Ability to build systems and processes that work across different contexts (urban startups and rural FPOs)
Comfortable with data tracking, analytics, and performance reporting
Proficiency with startup ecosystem tools and digital platforms
Personal Attributes
Entrepreneurial mindset with strong execution focus
Passion for climate innovation and rural/agricultural impact
Ability to thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments
Strong work ethic and comfort with ambiguity and multitasking
High emotional intelligence and coaching ability
Genuine interest in bridging the gap between technology innovation and ground-level agricultural transformation
Comfort working across different contexts—urban tech spaces and rural communities
Reporting & Collaboration
Reporting To: Leadership
Key Collaborations:
Founder community and portfolio startups
FPO leaders and farmer communities
Mentor and investor networks
Ecosystem partners (corporates, governments, universities, NGOs)
Internal teams (Operations, Impact & Learning, Fundraising)
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is:
NGO-rooted: Brings deep experience and understanding of the non-profit sector and community-based approaches
Dual-focused: Equally comfortable working with tech-savvy startup founders and with farmer leaders in rural areas
Execution-oriented: Drives tangible results and builds systems that work in diverse contexts
Impact-driven: Passionate about both climate solutions and agricultural t

Work arrangement
No