Associate (m/f/d)

Join a fast-growing, dynamic private equity firm known for its strong fund performance, cohesive culture, and entrepreneurial spirit. As an Associate, you will take on meaningful responsibility across the investment process — from deal origination and due diligence to portfolio company support and GP building. AI is an integral part of our investment thesis, our due diligence logic, and our daily work with portfolio companies. We are looking for a self-starter who combines strong analytical skills with an entrepreneurial mindset and genuine curiosity about how AI is reshaping the B2B software landscape.

Who we are

LEA Partners is a leading private equity and venture capital firm in the DACH-region with €2bn in capital commitments, located in Karlsruhe, one of European’s leading tech hubs. The firm is run by a dedicated team of tech enthusiasts and specializes in supporting founders and management teams of innovative B2B software and tech companies, helping them achieve significant growth and market leadership. AI is a core pillar of our investment thesis and shapes how we source, evaluate, and create value across our portfolio.

Drive investment identification, assessment and execution

• Identify and evaluate investment opportunities in the B2B software sector, including target screening, initial outreach, and investment memos — actively leveraging AI tools to accelerate research and structuring
• Build and maintain a network of founders, intermediaries, and industry contacts to support deal origination on relevant verticals
• Lead and coordinate due diligence workstreams, including financial modeling, market sizing, technology and AI capability assessment, and competitive analysis
• Prepare and present investment materials for pipeline meetings, IC presentations, and portfolio reviews
• Evaluate AI-native business models and their unit economics as part of standard investment assessment; validate AI-tool outputs critically and help build scalable analytical workflows

Contribute to portfolio management

• Support 1–2 portfolio companies in executing their value creation plans, including reporting, 100-day initiatives, org building, and M&A pipeline management
• Assist in the preparation of LPAC meetings, investor reports, and other GP documents
• Support the implementation and use of AI-powered analytics, communication, and operational tools across the portfolio

Help build the firm

• Actively participate in building out the investment team, including developing processes, tools, and best practices
• Represent LEA Partners at conferences, events, and within the broader founder and tech community
• Contribute to thought leadership activities, such as developing sector theses and trend analyses

• 2–4 years of experience in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, management consulting, or a fast-growing tech/SaaS company
• Strong interest in B2B software, technology, and AI — ideally with hands-on experience using AI tools in a professional context
• Strong analytical skills: financial modeling, market analysis, structured thinking
• Entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, self-directed, and comfortable with ambiguity
• Excellent communication skills in German and English (written and verbal)
• Team player with a high attention to detail and a strong desire to learn

• Direct collaboration with experienced investment professionals in an entrepreneurial environment
• Broad involvement across the full investment process — from identification to exit
• Access to a wide network of leading B2B software founders and tech companies in the DACH region
• A clear development path towards a senior role within the team
• Location: Karlsruhe, one of Europe’s most important tech hubs

Interested?

We look forward to your application — please send your CV and a brief cover letter to:

careers@lea.partners