Head of Portfolio Marketing and Events

M12 is Microsoft’s venture fund, focused on investing in and supporting early-stage startups in key strategic areas. As Microsoft’s Venture Fund, we leverage Microsoft’s extensive platform to help promising startups accelerate growth and build strategic partnerships A critical part of this value-add is the Portfolio Marketing and Events function, which provides marketing support and opportunities for our portfolio companies to increase their brand visibility, connect with customers and partners, and integrate with the Microsoft ecosystem.

We are seeking an experienced leader to head Portfolio Marketing and Events for M12. In this high-impact role, you will lead the strategic direction and execution of marketing initiatives, brand management, and communication efforts for M12’s portfolio companies. You will also drive the planning and execution of key events that showcase our startups and facilitate connections with customers, partners, and Microsoft’s network. This role offers the opportunity to build a foundation and take our portfolio support to the next level. As the Head of Portfolio Marketing and Events, you will work closely with M12 leadership, portfolio company founders, and cross-functional teams across Microsoft to optimize the growth of our portfolio through innovative marketing strategies. Your mission is to drive portfolio growth and enhance market presence by telling our startups’ stories, amplifying their successes, and creating opportunities for them to engage with the industry and customers. 

This is not a Demand Generation role.  The person in this role would be a scrappy, team of one who partners with two agencies.  You will have the opportunity to work a hybrid work schedule from our beautiful Redmond or Bay Area office.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will lead a broad range of marketing and event initiatives to support M12’s portfolio. Responsibilities include:  

• Develop and Execute Portfolio Marketing Strategy: Create and drive comprehensive marketing strategies for M12’s portfolio companies to build their brand positioning, enhance digital presence, and boost content marketing efforts. This includes crafting compelling messaging and value propositions for startups in diverse industries.  
• Marketing Communications & PR Support: Provide hands-on marketing communications support to portfolio companies, particularly around major news and milestones. This involves PR strategy for investment announcements and partnership news, drafting or refining press releases, and securing amplification through M12’s channels and Microsoft’s platforms. You will ensure M12 is referenced appropriately as Microsoft’s venture fund and coordinate investor quotes or media opportunities as needed.  
  • Example: Guiding a startup through a funding announcement – from press release drafting to distribution – and leveraging Microsoft’s LinkedIn and X (Twitter) channels for amplification. 
• Content Creation and Storytelling: Champion storytelling and thought leadership for our portfolio. Work with founders to surface their stories and insights: 
  • Organize “Founder Features” and thought-leadership content (e.g. blog posts, interviews, LinkedIn articles) that highlight founders’ vision and experience.
  • Conduct brand positioning and storytelling workshops to help startups craft messaging that resonates with target audiences. 
  • Develop case studies and success stories showcasing how portfolio companies have achieved milestones or strategic wins, especially where collaboration with Microsoft was a factor. These stories will be used in M12 marketing, on our website, and in Microsoft’s internal communications to illustrate the value of our portfolio. 
• Event Planning and Execution: Plan, coordinate, and execute high-impact events that drive exposure and connections for portfolio companies. This includes: 
  • Microsoft and Industry Event Participation: Identify and secure speaking slots, demo opportunities, or showcases for portfolio startups at Microsoft events (e.g. Microsoft Build, Inspire) and relevant industry conferences. Prepare founders for executive briefings and presentations to customers, partners, or Microsoft product teams. 
  • Portfolio Summits and Networking Events: Organize exclusive events such as portfolio founder summits, networking sessions with venture partners, and ecosystem gatherings to facilitate meaningful introductions (customers, partners, advisors) for our startups. 
  • Executive Briefings: Leverage Microsoft’s Executive Briefing Center (EBC) and other forums to arrange meetings between startup CEOs and ente