About Protocol Labs

Protocol Labs is an innovation network of 750+ teams, projects, and movements with a common mission: To drive breakthroughs in computing to push humanity forward. For us, decentralization is more than just a rallying cry; it’s an operational ethos and a belief system baked into the products we develop. Network members have been responsible for creating and building many of the core primitives that power the decentralized web: IPFS, IPLD, Filecoin, libp2p, and more. Even more, our focus goes beyond web3 protocols and spans a wide range of technologies, including neurotech, AI, virtual reality, and more. For more information on Protocol Labs and our focus areas, please watch Juan Benet’s talk from PL Summit 2023 and the 2024 PL Summit Video (Remote Update).

About Polaris

As an innovation network rooted in a culture of collaboration, Protocol Labs requires a fresh approach to advancing emerging technologies. Polaris builds the infrastructure that enables Protocol Labs teams, projects, and movements, and members to flourish. Our key focus areas include digital human rights, upgrading economies and governance systems, safe AI, and neurotech. We create the programs, tools, and events that connect, strengthen, and build the teams that drive breakthroughs in computing to push humanity forward. We manage network membership and track network data to continuously gauge the growth and state of maturity of Protocol Labs across a number of critical pillars, and manage the Protocol Labs brand and strategic marketing initiatives. At the core of everything Polaris does, is the Protocol Labs mission and the desire to progress innovation.

About the Role – Program Manager, PL Demo Day

We are seeking a Program Manager to lead the Protocol Labs Demo Day program—a recurring event designed to connect high-potential PL teams with top-tier investors, strengthen PL’s capital pillar, and amplify the Protocol Labs brand globally. This role requires overseeing the end-to-end Demo Day program, from product infrastructure and investor/teams coordination, to marketing and communications, to ongoing execution. You will manage and integrate cross-functional workstreams (product, investor relations, team coaching, marketing, data, legal) into a coherent, high-quality event experience that drives measurable fundraising outcomes for participating teams. As Program Manager, you will be both a strategic driver and a hands-on operator—owning program delivery, run-of-show execution, and post-event follow-through. You will also help shape Demo Day into a reusable and scalable PL product, firmly embedded in LabOS.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Execution

• Own the full lifecycle of the Demo Day program: planning, execution, and retros.
• Translate Demo Day’s vision and objectives into a detailed roadmap, run-of-show, and milestone plan.
• Serve as the central coordinator across all workstreams (product, investor relations, team coaching, marketing, data, and legal).
• Act as the ultimate problem-solver and escalation point, ensuring smooth cross-team delivery.

Investor Relations & Growth

• Partner with Investor Relations to curate, invite, and engage thousands of VCs, angels, and ecosystem partners.
• Ensure investor targeting aligns with team needs, PL’s capital pillar goals, and long-term network growth.
• Oversee investor onboarding into LabOS and Demo Day platforms, ensuring a seamless experience.
• Track investor engagement pre-, during, and post-event, ensuring follow-ups and conversion metrics are achieved.

Team Selection & Coaching

• Oversee team eligibility criteria and selection process to ensure high-quality, fundraising-ready teams.
• Coordinate prep sessions, narrative refinement, rehearsals, and content submission to ensure teams are pitch-ready.
• Ensure all team communications, expectations, and deliverables are clear and on time.

Product & Platform Oversight

• Oversee product readiness and functionality, including founder profiles, investor onboarding, engagement pathways, and analytics dashboards.
• Collaborate with Product and Data teams to scope requirements, ensure reliability, and capture engagement data for reporting.
• Drive continuous iteration of Demo Day as a reusable PL product integrated into LabOS.

Marketing, Brand, & Communications

• Oversee Demo Day branding, website, comms, and content across social, email, and outreach channels.
• Ensure messaging raises PL’s brand value and aligns with the strategic positioning of Demo Day and Protocol Labs.
• Coordinate video assets, promotional materials, and investor/team-facing communications.

Event Management

• Write and own the detailed run-of-show document.
• Manage flow on event day—cue speakers, coordinate transitions, troubleshoot technical issues.
• Partner with moderators/MC to ensure professional delivery of PL intros, investor-facing content, and team pitches.

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Define and track success metrics (e.g., investor participation, intros requested, funds raised, NPS from teams/investors).
• Conduct post-event analysis and retros to refine processes, improve conversion, and strengthen Demo Day as a scalable product.
• Build institutional knowledge, playbooks, and automation to make future Demo Days faster, stronger, and more repeatable.

What We’re Looking For

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in program management or product/program leadership roles.
• Proven success in running large-scale investor-facing programs, accelerators, or demo days.
• Strong background in cross-functional program leadership across product, marketing, and operations.
• Familiarity with venture ecosystems, investor networks, and startup fundraising.
• Experience in technical product oversight.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong program management and operational excellence skills; highly detail-oriented.
• Excellent written/verbal communication, with ability to craft compelling narratives for multiple audiences (teams, investors).
• Ability to synthesize inputs from diverse stakeholders (founders, investors, PL leadership) into cohesive execution.
• Comfort with data-driven decision-making and KPI tracking.
• Adept at balancing strategic vision with tactical delivery, especially in high-pressure event environments.

Mindset & Approach

• Strategic leader and hands-on operator who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• Collaborative team player—able to align diverse workstreams toward shared goals.
• Passionate about supporting startups, building investor networks, and designing high-leverage capital access programs.

Why Join Us?

• Lead a program that sits at the intersection of founders, investors, and breakthrough technology.
• Shape PL Demo Day into a scalable product that strengthens Protocol Labs’ global brand and capital pillar.
• Build a repeatable, high-impact program that drives real fundraising outcomes for dozens of frontier technology teams.
• Work alongside visionary founders, world-class investors, and pioneering builders pushing the frontier of computing.