Investment Associate

Company Overview: Nova Labs (subsidiary of Conant Capital Holdings) is a private holding company founded to systematically identify high-potential industry themes, uncover market gaps, and launch 1–3 differentiated companies through a structured Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) model. Each launched company will be capitalized with dedicated pools of capital to execute a platform acquisition and drive subsequent growth through M&A, de novo expansion, and organic initiatives. We operate at the intersection of private equity rigor, founder-led hustle, and deep strategic exploration—building businesses that can compound for decades. This is an Investment Associate role that sits at the nexus of venture creation, private equity, and strategic operations. You will be a critical thought partner to the Founder, driving the strategic direction of the firm. About the Founder & Advisors: Faraz Karbasi is the Founder @ Nova Labs and Managing Partner at Conant Capital. Previously, he Co-founded & served as Co-Chief Executive Officer at Aesthetic Partners - a leading medical aesthetics and plastic surgery company that was founded as a search fund, and partners with high-end, physician-led, and patient-centric practices. AP currently has $100M+ in revenues and operates 30+ clinics in 6+ states. Prior to AP, he held several roles in healthcare investing, consulting and operations. He received a B.A.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and a B.A. in Economics from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Investors & Advisors: · Kent Weaver · Courtney Ellenbogen · Christian Seale Role Overview: We are seeking a Investment Associate to help build Nova Labs from the ground up and play a central role in the strategic decisions that shape our future. We’re looking for an exceptional, multifaceted leader—someone who brings the judgment of an investor, the executional drive of a founder, and the ownership mindset of a true operator. The ideal candidate thrives in zero-to-one environments, brings rigor to ambiguity, and has the ability to create structure, momentum, and measurable results.     Key Responsibilities:  1. Market & Theme Exploration · Lead deep dives into industry ecosystems, macro trends, value-chain structures, and competitive landscapes. · Identify market gaps, white-space opportunities, and structural inefficiencies across targeted sectors. 2. Opportunity Assessment & Validation · Build investment theses and incubation briefs. · Conduct customer/industry expert interviews, primary research, and financial modeling. · Assess unit economics, acquisition roll-up potential, and scalability. 3. Business Development, Sourcing & Pipeline Building · Develop BD frameworks and sourcing processes for each incubation track. · Build relationships with founders, bankers, brokers, and industry stakeholders. · Manage CRM pipeline tracking and outbound sourcing initiatives. 4. M&A Execution · Lead deal sourcing, preliminary screening, and CIM review. · Drive diligence workstreams across commercial, financial, operational, regulatory, and legal areas. · Support structuring, valuation, and negotiations through close. 5. Operational Strategy & Company-Building · Partner with the founder to design operating models, organizational plans, growth strategies, and 100-day post-close plans. · Step into interim or long-term leadership roles across portfolio companies as opportunities arise. What We’re Looking For: · 1-3 years of progressive experience in a high-performance environment, with a strong preference for backgrounds in Investment Banking or top-tier Management Consulting. · Demonstrated track record of leading complex diligence processes, financial modeling, and transaction execution. · Exceptional analytical, quantitative, and communication skills. What We Offer: · Competitive base compensation, and an attractive performance-based bonus. · Equity participation in launched companies. · A front-row seat to a differentiated, high-velocity incubation engine.