About Lowe s Catalyze Lowe s is a Fortune-100 home improvement leader serving millions of customers across the US Lowe s India is our global capability centre building next-gen technology data and business capabilities that power the enterprise Catalyze is Lowe s open innovation and venture platform in India partnering with high-potential startups VCs accelerators and academia to solve real business problems build differentiated capabilities and shape the future of retail technology We run pilots forge strategic partnerships and are now also managing an investment pipeline aligned to Lowe s strategic priorities Role Overview We are looking for a Senior Manager - Innovation Ventures Catalyze to help scale Catalyze into a globally respected retail innovation and startup partnering platform This is a techno-business leadership role at the intersection of Retail technology and product innovation Startup partnerships pilots and venture investments Ecosystem building VCs accelerators academia corporates Internal stakeholder management with senior tech and business leaders You will own and drive key parts of the Catalyze charter from startup sourcing and evaluation to pilot design and execution to building the partnerships engine and demand-generation motion for Catalyze What You Will Own Drive 1 Problem Discovery and Solution Scoping Lead consultative workshops with internal stakeholders business and technology teams and external partners startups VCs Academia Accelerators and others to identify and prioritize critical pain points and innovation opportunities at Lowes Collaborate with startups to define and document clear problem statements solution requirements and integration strategies 2 Venture pipeline startup evaluation Build and manage a strong qualified pipeline of retail-tech startups across key focus areas AI GenAI e-commerce supply chain store tech prop tech etc Conduct first-level technology and business due diligence product walkthroughs architecture and integration feasibility scalability security posture and roadmap alignment Assess strategic fit and commercial potential for both partnerships and investments value proposition GTM model traction business model and alignment to Lowe s priorities Prepare clear insight-led assessments and recommendations for internal leadership including problem-solution mapping impact hypothesis and risk mitigation views 3 Pilot scoping program management ROI Work with internal product tech data and business teams to identify real problems opportunity areas that can be addressed via startups Translate these into well-scoped pilots POCs objectives success metrics timelines resource needs and integration points Run end-to-end program management for startup pilots governance cadence issue resolution risk management and stakeholder alignment Build business cases and ROI stories for impactful pilots revenue efficiency experience risk support scale-up recommendations and hand-offs to owning teams 4 Ecosystem partnerships VCs accelerators academia platforms Build and nurture strategic relationships with VCs CVCs accelerators incubators and academic institutions to access high-quality deal flow and co-innovation opportunities Create repeatable partnership models e g co-innovation programs themed cohorts challenge programs demo days joint research PoV development Work closely with the Catalyze leadership to evaluate co-investment opportunities and participate in investment-related workflows with the corporate venture finance legal teams 5 Internal stakeholder management influence Act as a trusted partner to senior leaders across Product Technology Data Operations and Business functions Shape and communicate compelling narratives that link startup solutions to Lowe s strategic priorities and business outcomes Drive cross-functional alignment for pilots and partnerships - ensuring expectations roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and governed 6 Marketing events demand generation for Catalyze Partner with marketing communications teams to build Catalyze s brand in the global startup ecosystem Own and drive flagship innovation events e g Innovation Xchange ecosystem roundtables themed showcases end-to-end - from concept to curation to on-ground execution Design and run a demand-generation engine for Catalyze open calls curated outreach themed scouting thought-leadership content and ecosystem engagement Represent Catalyze and Lowe s at external events panels and forums speaking credibly on innovation retail technology and startup collaboration 7 Process Improvement and Program Management Drive continuous process improvement for the evaluation selection and execution of startups and solutions Implement best practices for managing innovation programs ensuring efficiency and smooth execution of POCs Oversee reporting and communication to senior management providing updates on progress potential risks and key milestones 8 Internal Innovation and Thought Leadership Promote a culture of innovation within Lowe s by organizing paper presentations masterclasses workshops hackathons and other initiatives to engage and inspire employees Collaborate with Lowe s business and technology teams to foster an innovation culture and drive idea generation within the company 9 Staying Ahead of the Curve Continuously monitor and analyze industry trends emerging technologies and competitive landscape to identify new opportunities and inform Lowe s innovation strategy Disseminate knowledge and insights to internal stakeholders through reports presentations and workshops 10 Team Management Lead a small team to execute strategic innovation initiatives and manage programs from discovery to implementation Provide guidance and support to team members in their professional development and growth fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance Effectively delegate tasks monitor progress and provide constructive feedback 11 Communication and Reporting Communicate effectively with leadership cross-functional teams and external partners providing regular updates on progress challenges and opportunities Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations and reports showcasing the impact and value of Catalyze initiatives 12 Ways of working team leadership Bring structure urgency and discipline to a lean high-performing team with strong technical depth Mentor and upskill team members on business acumen stakeholder management communication and ecosystem engagement Help evolve frameworks playbooks and operating models so Catalyze can scale impact without losing agility What You Bring Must-have experience 10 years of total experience with a strong mix of Corporate innovation startup partnerships corporate venture OR Top-tier consulting VC accelerator experience with deep exposure to tech startups OR Product business roles in high-growth B2B technology startups bonus if in retail commerce SaaS data AI Proven track record of evaluating technology products and startups for fit feasibility and business impact Hands-on experience in designing and running pilots POCs from scoping to execution to impact measurement Demonstrated ability to work with senior stakeholders Director VP CXO level and influence decisions with structured thinking and clear communication Experience in ecosystem engagement - VCs accelerators communities academic programs or similar Techno-business acumen Strong understanding of contemporary technology stacks especially in areas like cloud data AI GenAI APIs integration and digital commerce Ability to go deep enough with engineering teams to understand constraints and integration considerations while also speaking the language of business leaders P L impact CX efficiency risk Skills attributes Strategic and structured thinker who can connect the dots between tech business and ecosystem dynamics Excellent communication skills crisp writing board-ready decks and comfort presenting to senior leaders Strong program management and execution muscle you can move complex multi-stakeholder work from idea to impact Partnership mindset long-term orientation win-win thinking and the ability to build trust quickly with startups and external partners High ownership curiosity and bias for action comfortable operating in ambiguity building playbooks where none exist Good to Have Prior experience in retail e-commerce or adjacent consumer sectors Prior role in corporate venture CVC fund investment team or exposure to early-stage investing Engineering technical degree with an MBA or equivalent business qualification Experience working across global markets US Europe APAC Why This Role Matters Catalyze is at an inflection point with growing visibility increasing startup and VC interest and a clear mandate from leadership to drive impact at scale As Senior Manager - Innovation Ventures you will be a key builder of this next phase shaping how Lowe s partners with the global startup ecosystem how we pick and scale the right bets and how innovation translates into real outcomes for the business If you thrive at the intersection of technology business and ecosystems and want to help shape the future of retail innovation at a Fortune 50 scale we d like to hear from you Lowe s is an equal opportunity employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race color religious creed sex gender age ancestry national origin mental or physical disability or medical condition sexual orientation gender identity or expression marital status military or veteran status genetic information or any other category protected under federal state or local law

📌 Sr Manager, Innovation & Ventures - Catalyze (Karnataka)
🏢 Lowe's Home Improvement
📍 Karnataka