Venture CEO/co-founder

We are GHARAGE, the Vision Hub of Gebr. Heinemann, one of the world’s leading travel retailers. The GHARAGE was established to challenge the status quo of travel and retail and envision the traveler’s journey of tomorrow. We build and invest in ventures to make travel time more valuable for global travelers.

For our Venture Amber Island we’re looking for a CEO/Co-Founder with an entrepreneurial mindset, combined with a passion for whiskies and building a long-lasting, successful company, to join one of our portfolio companies.

Someone who has the courage, ambition, and resilience to build something exceptional. Experience in building companies, consulting and managing business units is desirable but not a must.

No prior experience as a Co-founder is required, important is the right mindset and confidence to become one

Amber Island is an early-stage startup. We are building a membership community of whisky enthusiasts and collectors. Our mission is to bring whisky collecting into the 21st century. We want to help the whisky community grow beyond its border by making whisky collecting easier, safer, more accessible and transparent using Blockchain technology and turning it into an experience.

Tasks
- As the CEO/Co-Founder you will be fully responsible for the strategy, growth, all aspects of operations and overall success of the company
- Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations to ensure efficiency, quality and scalability
- Build and implement a scalable organizational structure and streamlined processes
- Attract, retain and develop a high-performing team
- Manage a team of freelancers and providers, including Procurement Lead, Tech
- and Fulfilment Partner
- Foster a collaborative and motivated work environment
- Drive product development (member benefits, assortment, experiences and events)
- Drive the growth of our community of whisky enthusiasts and collectors, both in terms of membership and engagement
- Own all legal, financial and administrative matters
- Be the face of the company to the outside world, establish partnerships (e.g. whisky brands, training provider, e-commerce platforms or media outlets) and build a strong presence in the whisky industry
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations that drive revenue growth.
- Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders from GHARAGE and Gebr. Heinemann
- Drive fundraising efforts, including identifying potential investors and preparing pitch decks

**Requirements**:

- You are passionate about spirits, especially whisky, and get other people excited about it
- You have 5+ years of experience in spirit industry, D2C and/or e-commerce
- Strong background in Economics or Finance
- You have leadership experience
- You love building a business and do whatever is needed to make it happen
- You know how to convince a conservative industry to open up to new products
- You believe in a long-term vision and can manage uncertainty
- You are extremely driven and willing to go above and beyond to make this company a success
- You are a strategic thinker and problem solver with a hands-on mentality
- You are a fantastic executor, who is not afraid to take decisions and make mistakes
- Ideally, you have some previous startup experience so that you understand the fundamentals of VC funding - direct involvement in fundraising is a plus
- Fluent in German and English, both written and verbal.

**Benefits**:

- Work in the intersection of the start-up and corporate world
- Backed and supported by one of the industry leading companies in travel retail
- Work in a entrepreneurial driven environment based on trust
- Work in the heart of Hamburg in an open loft space. Remote working possible
- We will provide domain expertise and the network to help you
- We support you with our experience in raising capital and provide you access to our VC and exclusive network
- Competitive compensation with shares

If you believe you’ve got what it takes, we’re happy to hear from you, even if you do not check every box.

GHARAGE Vision Hub is completely dedicated to the continuous innovation of the future of Gebr. Heinemann. We are a diverse team of designers, strategists, researchers, and business creators, who design, build, and transform the future of travel and retail.

With an open-minded way of thinking, a curious mindset, and a passion for innovation, we live the culture to thrive. GHARAGE was founded to create and accelerate business models, products and experiences to enrich people's travel time. Entirely dedicated to shape the next era of travel retail.