Investment Analyst (Private Equity / AI & Data) in Cambridge

Pale Fire Capital is a private equity investment group with a global presence. We have experience in building global digital platforms, physical manufacturing companies, and managing firms listed on the American NASDAQ. We are expanding our investment ambitions and aim to place €400M in private equity over the next few years, primarily targeting European companies with a healthy core and potential for transformation – generational changes, consolidation, technological acceleration. We are not a classic corporate fund; we are investors and entrepreneurs who stand behind our business with our own name and assets. We do not force companies to exit in five years. We build market leaders, not just numbers for IRR reports. We invest our own resources and choose when to enter a company and when is the right moment to exit, building companies with a long-term vision and commitment.

Our team includes individuals with experience from Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and LSE, and we have built and managed over 20 technology companies. We have experience with active ownership – we are not just 'money in a spreadsheet'; we actively engage with companies and change them. Technology and AI are part of our DNA, not just marketing buzzwords. Dušan Šenkypl, Partner at PFC, is among the leading advocates of AI in business in the Czech Republic. Internally, we have an AI engineer, work with tools like Claude or Gemini, and automate routines daily to focus on strategy and real decision-making.

Ownership – we take responsibility for our work. We do not wait for instructions; we think, propose, and execute.

Speed and iteration – we do not aim for a perfect first version. We try, refine, and push forward.

Simplicity – minimum politics, maximum openness. We say things as they are.

Hands-on approach – we are not just 'investors at the table'. We go into execution and improve companies.

Long-term thinking – we do not build companies for a quick exit but create long-term value.

AI-first mindset – we actively consider what should be done by humans and what by machines. Automation is a tool, not a buzzword.

The team is small, senior, and straightforward. Everyone has a real impact, which also means high demands and expectations – but also very rapid learning and growth.

Role Overview

We want to build our deal flow systematically, in detail, and as broadly as possible – of course, AI-enabled. We are looking for someone to help us build a system that enables this – not just to evaluate opportunities that come our way but to shift the entire way we think about and search for investments. The key is a combination of analytical thinking, technological skillset, and maximum proactivity. An Investment Analyst with us is not a classic junior support role. You will not just prepare materials for others. You will generate your own investment ideas, systematically build a pipeline, and work directly with Managing Partner Jan Černý. You will operate at the intersection of data, technology, and investment analysis. And importantly – from day one, you will have an influence on what we invest in.

Basic Parameters of the Role

• Mode: min. 3 days a week in the office (Monday is a fixed common day)
• Seniority: ideally 2-4 years of experience
• Start: as agreed (the start does not have to be immediate; we are happy to wait)

It is important for us that you are physically part of the team – this role is not suitable for full remote work. Many things are resolved quickly, ad hoc, in context, and together.

What You Will Do and Role Responsibilities

• Sourcing and Pipeline
  • Systematic market monitoring – generational changes, sector trends, M&A activity, fund exits
  • Building a pipeline of target companies and actively working with it
  • Generating your own investment ideas based on megatrend analysis (AI, demographics, consolidation)
• Screening and Analysis
  • Preparing screening memos with clear recommendations (go / no-go)
  • Sector deep dives, benchmarking, comparable analysis
  • Supporting due diligence – data collection, analytical materials, coordination, financial modelling of opportunities
• AI and Data Infrastructure
  • Developing automated workflows for sourcing and monitoring
  • Working with Python, SQL, and LLM tools
  • Building internal systems for working with market data
  • Thinking about what to automate and how to speed up decision-making
  • AI is a key part of your work – this will not be a role where you 'occasionally use' AI.

Who We Are Looking For (Must-Have & Plus Points)

• 2-4 years of experience in environments such as consulting, investment banking, private equity, or corporate finance – experience where you have worked with business, numbers, and decision-making
• Financial modelling and valuation – building models (DCF, LBO), working with assumptions and interpreting outputs
• Ability to read financial statements – understanding what is really happening in a company, not just 'what the numbers say'
• Analytical thinking – structuring problems, breaking them down, and reaching conclusions
• AI-native approach – actively using LLM tools, understanding their limits, and building your own workflows (automation, scripts, tool combinations)
• Fluent English – you will work with international sources and teams; we play in a global league
• Proactivity and ownership – you come up with proposals, not waiting for what you receive
• International experience (study or work)
• Experience with data (scraping, API, data pipelines)
• Python and/or SQL – at a level where you can work with data, automate, and build tools
• Own project/startup/side hustle
• Knowledge of tools like PitchBook, Orbis, or Bloomberg

Why Choose PFC

• Real influence on investment decisions from the start
• Combination of investing and execution – you see what happens to companies after investment and participate in their direction
• Working on transactions in the range of tens to hundreds of millions EUR
• AI-first environment with the latest tools and workflows
• Unique opportunity to build a significant PE platform from the ground up with direct access to senior partners
• Steep learning curve and rapid professional growth
• Opportunity to build new things – not just fit into an existing structure

At the same time, it is fair to say that this is not an 'easy job'. We have high expectations from our colleagues. It is a demanding environment, but with great learning and impact. We know how to enjoy the journey together.

Competitive salary + performance bonus tied to specific KPIs

Internal investment programme (co-investment in portfolio growth and PFC)

30,000 CZK per year for education of your choice

Flexible hybrid work model

Fully covered Multisport card

Snacks throughout the day at the workplace, including lunches from a private chef

Regular meetings and team events

Equipment of your choice

How the Selection Process Works

• Initial interview with HR – motivation, experience, fit for the team
• Practical task at home – analytical case study with an emphasis on AI
• Final round with Managing Partner and Deal Lead

If you want to join us, please send your CV through this advertisement and add a few details about yourself – what motivates you, how you think about business, what your values are, and why PFC makes sense for you. This will help us get to know you better right from the start.