Investor Relations Lead

About Protocol Labs

Protocol Labs is an innovation network of more than 750 teams, projects, and movements, advancing breakthroughs in computing to push humanity forward. Network members have created foundational technologies that power the decentralized web—including IPFS, Filecoin, IPLD, and libp2p—and continue to explore a wide range of frontier technologies spanning cryptography, AI, neurotech, virtual reality, and more. Across the network, decentralization isn't a slogan—it's an operating principle. Protocol Labs teams work independently but are purpose-aligned around long-term impact, open systems, and durable infrastructure.

About PLC

PLC (Protocol Labs Capital) is the venture capital arm of Protocol Labs, investing across stages and focus areas through a growing family of funds. PLC provides the operating infrastructure across a fund lifecycle, from fund inception, marketing and fundraising, investing process support, and business operations. To scale PLC, we are investing in the operational rigor, tooling, and reporting that high-net-worth, family offices, and institutional LPs expect. At the core of everything PLC does is the commitment to compounding capital in service of Protocol Labs mission to drive durable, network-driven innovation.

Position Overview

The Investor Relations Lead will join PLC's fundraising function with two fundraises currently in market, one focused on neurotech and the other on cryptographic infrastructure. PLC also has an active SPV strategy, and is hiring separately for that role.

PLC's fundraising go-to-market strategy innovates GP-led prospect development to a one:many content-driven approach where social media becomes the trust-building funnel (content, thought leadership, and brand).

In close collaboration with PLC's Chief Marketing Officer, the Investor Relations Lead will own the planning and execution of this shift: converting content and network activity into qualified pipeline, and building the intermediate touchpoints — conferences, network activation, warm intros — that leverage GP time to develop and propagate content, further engagement with that content, and to engage deeply with significant investors rather than lead initial conversations and meetings for all investors. The Lead owns the fundraising outcome itself — capital committed against PLC's close calendar across both raises — not just the pipeline and touchpoints that produce it.

The Investor Relations Lead will collaborate with the team building the future state of fundraising to deploy cutting edge technology and data strategies. The Investor Relations Lead will complement this strategy with their own set of existing investor relationships deployed alongside other PLC fundraising and executive resources.

A successful candidate will be interested in innovating the Investor Relations function to leverage technology and data in novel ways, and be comfortable with rigorous analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• LP Targeting & Pipeline Strategy (Joint with Marketing)
  • Own LP targeting, segmentation, and prioritization strategy for each fund, maintaining deliberately separated outreach lists, materials, and messaging across the two concurrent raises.
  • Own the prioritized LP segmentation strategy and target pipeline — translating strategy into an actionable, ranked target list in Affinity that the Lead is accountable for converting into outreach and closed commitments.
  • Build and maintain a comprehensive, prioritized prospect universe using LP research platforms (Dakota, Preqin, and similar) and public data (SEC EDGAR Form D, LinkedIn).
• LP Relationship Management & Direct Outreach
  • Convert top-of-funnel qualified pipeline into active conversations, which progress through engagement phases to achieve target commitments within target timelines.
  • Lead LP conversations independently once a prospect is qualified, coordinating with the GP on tier-one, anchor-caliber relationships and closing calls.
  • Build and personally hold a portfolio of LP relationships across the fund's life — not solely GP-shadowing.
  • Represent PLC at investor conferences, family office forums, and industry events, converting relationships built there into qualified pipelines.
• Fundraising Materials and Due Diligence
  • Build and maintain a best in class marketing data room and due diligence data room.
  • Collaborate with the Chief Marketing Officer to craft the messaging and content for fund marketing materials, including brand and design standards.
  • Ensure that the content of the data rooms meet expectations for sophisticated investors, and convinces them of the fund's and PLC's operational due diligence excellence.
  • Manage required filings tied to investor closings (AML, KYC, Blue Sky, SEC-required filings, etc), and prepare quarterly compliance reporting.
  • Oversee subscription document workflows and LP onboarding to the fund's administrator.
    • Escalate side letter terms, MFN questions, and any negotiation of fund economics to the GP and counsel; out of scope for this role to negotiate independently.
• CRM, Data Architecture & Reporting
  • Own Affinity CRM architecture and data hygiene standards for the IR function, including LP profiling fields for secondaries interest and liquidity preference.
  • Direct weekly pipeline reporting — coverage, stage distribution, and commit forecast — for the GP and BusOps.
  • Ensure CRM logging discipline across the IR team, with all activity logged before the next touch is scheduled.
• Investor Communications, Annual Meeting & Team Leadership
  • Manage quarterly investor letters, impact/portfolio updates, and other LP communications.
  • Plan and execute the Annual Investor Meeting and manage LPAC relationships.
  • Manage, mentor, and build out the Investor Relations function, directly addressing single-point-of-failure risk as fundraising volume scales across multiple funds.
  • Partner with Marketing on LP targeting, PPM/DDQ, LP letters, and re-up prep per the firm's joint-ownership model.

Success Metrics

• Capital committed against the close calendar is met on schedule. Potential bottlenecks are anticipated and escalated with a corrective plan before the next close.
• Qualified pipeline coverage against each upcoming close meets the ratio needed to reach it.
• GPs' time is focused on content development for one:many outreach and development of anchor relationships and engagement with larger investors.
• Sequencing of LP engagement and development is structured and coordinated, not ad hoc.
• LP pipeline is complete, current, and actionable in Affinity at all times, with no lapsing relationship going unflagged.
• Cold-to-warm conversion improves measurably each quarter, closing the documented gap at the family office and institutional tier.
• No committed LP experiences a documentation, compliance, or onboarding delay.
• The Investor Relations function is no longer a single point of failure, with a working coverage plan between the Lead and other resources.
• Annual Investor Meeting and quarterly LP communications are delivered on schedule and to an exceptional level of quality.
• LP filings and reporting are error free.

Candidate Experience

• 5-10 years as an investor relations or fundraising VP, Director, IR Lead at an asset manager, private equity firm, or venture fund, with direct experience owning the LP lifecycle from sourcing through closing and onboarding.
• Hands-on experience preparing PPMs, DDQs, and investor due diligence materials, plus direct exposure to SEC filings, AML/KYC, and Blue Sky processes.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (Affinity or comparable) and experience evaluating or implementing IR/fundraising technology.
• Comfortable representing the firm directly to institutional and HNW investors across multiple regions.
• Prior experience in a first-time or emerging fund environment is a plus; comfortable operating without a large existing team.