We are global private markets specialists delivering tailored investment solutions, advisory services, and impactful, data driven insights to the world’s investors. Leveraging the power of our platform and our peerless intelligence across sectors, strategies, and geographies, we help identify the advantages and the answers our clients need to succeed.
The team you’ll join
The Portfolio Impact team helps StepStone stand out by supporting both the investors we work with and the startups we invest in. We help our portfolio companies grow by connecting them with potential customers, partners, and potential acquirers.
To do this, we introduce the startups we back to leaders at major companies — like Fortune 500 and Global 2000 firms — and help them find ways to work together. Because of our unique investment model, we have insight into about 70,000 startups. This means that when a big company wants to find new ideas or partners in a certain area, we can quickly share the best options and explain how they compare, giving us an advantage over others.
About the role
The Portfolio Impact Summer Associate will work alongside the Portfolio Impact team to support our portfolio companies through strategic business and corporate development. Specifically, you will build relationships with technologists at global companies and provide thoughtful, curated recommendations of StepStone portfolio companies that are relevant to their interests and priorities. Those recommendations are based informed by research and insights we gather via fund and portfolio company relationships.
This unique role provides meaningful exposure to some of the top investors and operators within venture capital. Further, the Summer Associate position is an excellent opportunity to gather perspective on the venture industry, hone your business development skills, and develop an understanding of the technology trends shaping our future.
What you’ll do
- Conduct Market Research: Identify potential customers or partners for portfolio companies by researching industry trends, key players, and target markets.
- Support Relationship Building: Assist in nurturing relationships with key contacts by organizing meetings, sharing relevant materials, and ensuring a professional follow-up process.
- Collaborate with Portfolio Companies: Work closely with portfolio company teams to understand their product offerings, target customer profiles, and sales strategies.
- Facilitate Warm Introductions: Coordinate and execute outreach to potential customers, using email, phone, or events, to introduce portfolio companies and their solutions.
- Develop Target Lists: Maintain the firm’s database of corporate relationships and identify new prospective partners, leveraging tools like LinkedIn, CRM platforms, and industry directories.
- Track and Report Progress: Monitor the status of introductions, follow-ups, and outcomes; provide regular updates to the firm and our portfolio companies.
- Optimize Introduction Processes: Propose and implement improvements to the introduction workflow to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
What we’re looking for
- Graduating from an MBA program in Winter 2027 or Spring 2028
- Prior experience in sales and/or business development roles
- Demonstrated track record of academic and professional success
- Willingness to go above and beyond to generate exceptional results for the team
- Compelling and charismatic communicator who is comfortable interfacing with senior executives
- Strong understanding of and interest in technology and venture ecosystem; pays close attention to technology trends and can articulate prospective long-term implications for the industry
Why join us?
At StepStone, we foster a supportive and inclusive team culture where collaboration and learning are the core of what we do. Our collegial atmosphere encourages teamwork, mentorship, and professional development. This summer internship is a great opportunity to gain practical experience and develop critical skills that will help you launch a successful career in venture capital.
Click here to learn more about the intern experience.
Salary: $105,000 / year
The salary is an estimate of pay for this position. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related factors that can include location, education, skill, and experience. The salary does not include any benefits or other forms of possible compensation that may be available to employees.
#LI-Hybrid
At StepStone, we believe that our people are our most important asset and crucial to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to create an environment that empowers our employees and allows them to be heard, regardless of title or tenure. Our organizational community features multiple Employment Resource Groups as well as mentorship programs to enhance the employee experience for all.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, StepStone does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old to apply.
Developing People at StepStone
Skills Required
- MBA degree, graduating Winter 2027 or Spring 2028
- Prior experience in sales and/or business development roles
- Compelling and charismatic communicator comfortable interfacing with senior executives
- Strong understanding of and interest in technology and the venture ecosystem
- Demonstrated track record of academic and professional success
- Willingness to go above and beyond to generate exceptional results
- Familiarity with LinkedIn, CRM platforms, and industry directories
- Must be at least 18 years old
StepStone Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about StepStone Group and has not been reviewed or approved by StepStone Group.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as generous with multiple plan options, and in some cases employee‑only premiums are fully paid. Feedback suggests wellness resources and plan choice enhance the overall value of the package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings include a 401(k) program that is viewed favorably. Feedback suggests long‑term incentive elements complement core retirement benefits.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental support includes leave coaching, paid parental leave, and resources for new parents alongside related travel and logistical supports. Feedback suggests these policies are a meaningful part of the benefits package.
StepStone Group Insights
What We Do
StepStone Group (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to our clients. StepStone’s clients include some of the world’s largest public and private defined benefit and defined contribution pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, as well as prominent endowments, foundations, family offices and private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth and mass affluent individuals.StepStone partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes.
