.png)
We are excited to open a search for an Analyst or Associate to join our technology investment team in San Francisco or New York.
This role is for someone who wants to be deeply involved in early-stage venture — actively sourcing opportunities, developing informed perspectives, and contributing meaningfully to investment decisions from the outset.
About Canaan
We are an early-stage venture capital firm with $7B+ AUM and nearly four decades of experience partnering with founders at the very beginning — when markets are still forming, and technology shifts are just starting to reshape entire industries.
We invest across enterprise, fintech, consumer, and frontier technologies, as well as healthcare and biopharma, working closely with founders building category-defining companies from the earliest days. We’re a tight-knit, highly collaborative team that values intellectual honesty, independent thinking, and ownership. Debate is encouraged, egos are kept low, and we believe the best ideas can come from anywhere on the team.
The Role
This is typically a 2–4 year role designed for someone who wants deep exposure to early-stage investing and meaningful responsibility early in their career. You can expect to be involved across the full investment lifecycle — from sourcing and diligence to internal discussions and post-investment support.
The role includes evaluating markets and business models, building financial models and investment memos, and participating in partnership conversations. You’ll also spend time developing informed perspectives on emerging technologies and building relationships across the startup ecosystem.
Post-investment, you’ll support portfolio companies through research, recruiting, or strategic projects, attend board meetings alongside partners, and take ownership of internal or external initiatives that help improve how we operate as a firm.
Key Responsibilities
Diligence & Investment Process
- Lead or support diligence across market sizing, competitive landscape, business models, and unit economics
- Build and review financial models, cap tables, and scenario analyses
- Develop clear investment memos and articulate conviction (or dissent!) in internal discussions
- Participate actively in partnership meetings
Source & Market Development
- Proactively source new investment opportunities through outbound outreach, ecosystem engagement, and thematic research
- Develop and own theses on emerging markets, technologies, and business models
- Build relationships with founders, operators, angels, and other investors to expand Canaan’s sourcing surface area
- Represent Canaan externally through events, community building, and thoughtful content or engagement
Portfolio & Firm Support
- Support portfolio companies post-investment where helpful (research, recruiting, strategic projects)
- Attend board meetings and assist with preparation and follow-ups
- Help manage Canaan’s CRM and deal pipeline to ensure high-quality internal tracking
- Own internal or external projects you’re passionate about from end to end
A Mentorship-Driven Path
Venture is an apprenticeship business, and we take that seriously.
People who’ve held this role at Canaan have gone on to join high-growth startups, attend top business schools, or continue building careers in venture capital. Our goal is for this role to provide real responsibility, close mentorship, and a strong foundation for whatever comes next.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re less focused on a specific background and more focused on how you think and work.
You likely have 1–3 years of experience, and you bring:
- A genuine obsession with startups, technology, and how businesses actually work
- Strong intellectual curiosity and a desire to form - and defend - a point of view
- The ability to independently source, evaluate, and develop conviction around opportunities
- Strong analytical skills, including comfort with financial modeling and key venture metrics
- Hustle and creativity in building relationships and community in the ecosystem
- Clear written and verbal communication skills
- Comfort operating in an unstructured, fast-moving environment with real ownership
Past successful candidates have come from startups, engineering, consulting, finance, product, or founder backgrounds. The common thread is initiative, thoughtfulness, and a genuine interest in how technology-driven businesses are built.
How to Apply
Please email hiring@canaan.com with the subject line: “Canaan Analyst/Associate – [Your Name]”
Include:
- Your resume (PDF)
- Links to LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Medium, GitHub, Substack, or other relevant work
- No more than half a page in PDF answering:
- What investment thesis are you actively tracking or believe in right now? What makes it compelling, and what would make you wrong?
- Within that area, which early-stage company do you find most interesting, and why?
We look forward to hearing from you.