Qureos Mentor

1957 Ventures

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 Role Overview
 
 
 
 The SVP of Direct Investments is a senior leadership role with accountability for driving the firm&rsquo;s direct equity investment strategy, portfolio growth, and ecosystem impact. You will set investment priorities, originate and execute high-quality deals, and represent 1957 Ventures at the highest levels&mdash;with founders, co-investors, regulators, and boards.
 
 
 This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on deal execution, requiring a proven investor who can balance vision-setting with operational rigor. As a senior member of the investment leadership team, you will influence firm strategy, mentor junior talent, and shape the fintech ecosystem across MENA.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Key Responsibilities
 
 
 
 
 Strategic Leadership &amp; Ecosystem Building
 
 
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 Define and refine investment theses aligned with the firm&rsquo;s strategy.
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 Build thought leadership and represent 1957 Ventures at boardrooms, industry forums, and with government/regulatory stakeholders.
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 Act as an ambassador for the firm, building strategic relationships with LPs, family offices, corporates, and global funds.
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 Deal Origination &amp; Market Coverage
 
 
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 Lead proprietary sourcing efforts in fintech and adjacent sectors (payments, lending, infra, embedded, insurtech, proptech, AI-enabled finance).
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 Develop and maintain senior-level founder and investor relationships across MENA and globally.
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 Oversee market mapping and sector deep-dives to identify actionable opportunities.
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 Investment Execution &amp; Structuring
 
 
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 Oversee end-to-end diligence processes (commercial, product/tech, regulatory, financial, legal).
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 Negotiate and structure term sheets, SPAs/SHAs, governance, and incentive frameworks.
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 Ensure smooth progression from LOI to close, with senior oversight of advisors and cross-functional teams.
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 Governance &amp; Board Leadership
 
 
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 Sit on portfolio company boards and provide active oversight and value creation support.
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 Lead portfolio governance&mdash;KPIs, covenants, reporting structures, and risk management.
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 Present to the Investment Committee with clear, thesis-led recommendations and strategic framing.
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 Portfolio Value Creation &amp; Exits
 
 
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 Partner with portfolio leadership to drive growth, strategic pivots, and partnerships.
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 Support co-investment syndication, secondaries, M&amp;A, and IPO readiness.
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 Map and execute exit strategies to maximize investor returns.
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 Team Leadership &amp; Development
 
 
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 Mentor, coach, and develop associates/analysts; foster a high-performance investment culture.
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 Champion cross-functional collaboration with venture building, legal, and operating pods.
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 Requirements
 
 
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 10+ years in VC, CVC, PE, or growth equity with a track record of leadership and closed transactions.
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 Fintech expertise (payments, lending, infrastructure, embedded finance) and strong familiarity with adjacent verticals. Keen appreciation of the disruption potential created by AI.
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 Proven origination capabilities with strong networks in MENA and beyond; Arabic a plus.
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 Board-level experience with portfolio companies, including governance and strategic oversight.
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 Advanced financial modeling, valuation, and structuring expertise
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 Demonstrated ability to influence IC/boards and manage senior stakeholder relationships.
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 Track record of mentoring teams and scaling investment functions.
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 Critical Competencies
 
 
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 Strategic Vision: Ability to define long-term theses and shape firm strategy.
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 Leadership &amp; Influence: Gravitas in board and IC settings; trusted advisor to CEOs/founders.
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 Execution Excellence: Track record of leading high-quality deals to close.
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 Team Building: Strong leadership in developing high-performance teams.
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 Resilience &amp; Adaptability: Thrives in high-growth, dynamic, and sometimes ambiguous environments.
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SVP Direct Investments

Join 1957 Ventures and explore 1   exciting career opportunities. They're hiring for various roles with options for remote or on-site work. Apply today and become part of their innovative team.

1957 Ventures

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SVP Direct Investments