Program Associate

The Company 

Plug and Play Tech Center is the largest global innovation platform connecting over 570 corporations with more than 90,000 startups worldwide. Founded in Silicon Valley's Lucky Building in 2006 by Saeed Amidi, Plug and Play has expanded to over 60 cities globally with a portfolio of investments exceeding $12 billion in funding, including companies including Dropbox, PayPal, N26, Hippo and Einride.

In Italy since 2019, Plug and Play operates specialized innovation hubs across key cities: Milan focuses on Food & Beverage, Fintech, and Sustainability in partnership with industry leaders like Barilla, Tetra Pak, UniCredit, Eni, and A2A; Turin is home to aerospace initiatives with Leonardo, AVIO, and space agencies, including the dual-use technology program within NATO's DIANA network; while Catania specializes in Infrastructure working with Eni, Saipem, and other Italian industrial champions.

The Modena office, established in July 2021 and known as the Motor Valley Accelerator, represents a cornerstone of Plug and Play's Italian presence. Located in the heart of Italy's automotive excellence region, it focuses exclusively on automotive innovation through a comprehensive partnership network. The program operates in collaboration with CDP Venture Capital, CRIT, Fondazione Modena, and UniCredit as financial and institutional partners, alongside corporate partners STMicroelectronics, Dallara, Ferrari, Agrati, Unipol Assicurazioni, OMR Group, and Gruppo Hera. This strategic hub leverages the region's rich automotive heritage to accelerate next-generation mobility technologies and strengthen Italy's position in the global automotive innovation landscape. 

How will you make a difference?

As a Program Associate, you will own our Business Acceleration programs to foster the growth of our portfolio startups, lead the organization and execution of our most impactful annual events - including community gatherings, hackathons with top Italian universities, and our flagship Motor Valley Fest and Motor Valley Accelerator's EXPO - with the goal of creating an ecosystem that connects the best international startups with innovation leaders at some of the world's greatest automotive and motorsports companies.

Responsibilities

With the support of the team, the role will be responsible for the organization and execution of following activities:

• Own and develop Business Acceleration program to support portfolio startups growth


• Lead the organization and execution of key annual events


• Become the key point of contact for Corporate Partners (STMicroelectronics, Dallara, Ferrari, OMR, Agrati, Hera, Unipol) for everything related to events, program and marketing


• Manage event logistics, timelines, and stakeholder coordination


• Track and report on program metrics and success indicators


• Coordinate with the larger Italian team to align Business Development initiatives with overall activities


• Coordinate the creation of the promotional materials for programs and events and the social media campaign together with our media partners


• Build and nurture an ecosystem by developing and maintaining relationships with the key ecosystem partners


• Represent the organization at industry events

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree is a plus.


• Minimum 2 years of work experience preferably in a sector among events management, marketing, startup accelerator, venture capital firm, corporate open innovation


• Basic knowledge of Venture Capital and startup accelerators


• Basic knowledge of Corporate Innovation and Open Innovation best practices


• Fluency in both English and Italian is a strict requirement

Soft Skills

• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with prospects and industry contacts, especially with high level people from the corporate world


• Demonstrated people management skills


• Demonstrated management of complex and multi-stakeholders projects


• Detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment


• Excellent analytical, interpersonal and written communication skills (both in Italian and English)

Others

• Previous experience in the automotive / motorsport / mobility sector is considered a plus


• Strong interest in technology, innovation and startup world as well as a passion to help the Italian ecosystem grow


• Relevant work or study experience abroad are considered a plus


• Available as of May 2025

Our offer

• Large office space in the Modena city center with everything you need to perform at best


• Chances to work interacting with the Plug and Play’s international offices (in particular Stuttgart, Gothenburg, London, Detroit, Silicon Valley as our Mobility hubs)


• Flexibility between time at the office and work from home


• Annual Plug and Play EMEA-level retreat


• Ticket Restaurant for meals and groceries


• Performance-based bonuses