Business Development & Deal Origination Associate

Adaptive TeamsZagreb, ZagrebRemoteFull-timeMid level, 2–5 yearsListed 1 hour ago

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About this role

The best deals start with the right relationships. Build them.

Help connect independent sponsors with capital for established, profitable businesses. This is a relationship-first role for someone who understands finance, knows how to follow up without being pushy, and wants to build a smarter deal origination engine—not just chase meeting targets.

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About the Company:

Private equity investment group connecting accredited investors with lower middle market acquisition opportunities. The firm provides equity capital to independent sponsors acquiring established, profitable businesses in resilient industries with durable demand. Its focus is on proven businesses, not startups or venture capital.

Location: Fully remote; open to candidates based in Latin America, South Africa, and Europe

Your Mission: Day to Day Responsibilities

- Manage outreach replies, follow-ups, introductory calls, and long-term nurture with independent sponsors.
- Research and connect with sponsors, M&A professionals, lenders, attorneys, and referral networks.
- Understand investment strategies, assess initial fit, gather transaction details, and prepare concise internal handoffs.
- Explain deal-by-deal private equity to suitable accredited investors using approved messaging—no hard selling or performance promises.
- Keep CRM records accurate, track next steps, and make sure promising contacts never fall through the cracks.
- Develop follow-up cadences, refine sourcing channels, and report on what generates meaningful relationships and qualified deals.

Success isn't about sending the most messages. It's about building trust, creating a pipeline of relevant opportunities, and making relationships compound over time.

Your Toolbox: Skills to be Successful

- Around 2–5 years of relevant experience in finance, investing, lending, M&A, financial services, or financially sophisticated B2B business development. Demonstrated ability matters more than a specific career path.
- Working familiarity with EBITDA, enterprise value, leverage, and equity financing.
- Strong written and spoken English, with a clear, concise, professional communication style.
- Excellent organization, CRM discipline, and follow-through.
- Persistence without pressure, sound judgment, curiosity, and the ability to qualify genuine opportunities.
- A proactive mindset: you can research new audiences, test sourcing channels, and build processes without waiting for a playbook.
- Comfort working independently in a lean, fast-moving environment.

Private equity expertise is a plus, not a prerequisite. You should already speak the language of business and finance, though.

Your Perks: What's in it for you

- Base salary plus a defined performance bonus.
- Shape the CRM, relationship-management process, sourcing strategy, and reporting systems.
- Work closely with senior leadership in a lean team, without layers of management.
- Progress from managing outreach and follow-ups to leading sponsor relationships and owning a meaningful part of the origination process.

The growth path: Learn the model and own the pipeline in month one; lead sponsor calls and nurture relationships in months two and three; become a trusted point of contact and improve the origination engine by months four to six.

A quick reality check: This isn't a high-volume SDR job, a pure investment-underwriting seat, or a role with a finished playbook. It's for someone who enjoys relationship building, operational detail, and creating opportunities over the long term.

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Why Adaptive Teams?
At Adaptive Teams, we don’t just fill positions – we create pathways to success. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, we’re here to help you grow, innovate, and make an impact. If you’re looking for exciting opportunities and, a team that’s as passionate as you are, this is the place to be.

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What to Expect from Our Application Process?
Once you apply, you’ll receive an email guiding you through the next steps, including an assessment tailored to the role. Be sure to check your inbox (and your spam folder , just in case) for further instructions.

We understand your time is valuable , so we strive to keep the assessment process under 45 minutes whenever possible, though some roles may require a slightly longer time investment.

Once selected, you’ll have the chance to schedule your first interview with our team. We aim to make the process as smooth and transparent as possible, so you’ll always know where you stand.