Head of M&A (gn) @ High-Growth PropTech AI Start-Up, Berlin

This is an Atlantic portfolio venture. Find out more about us and other opportunities in our portfolio here.

About the Venture

We are building the AI operating system for short-term rentals. We acquire and operate STR property management companies at scale through a proprietary AI-native platform that automates and optimises every layer of property operations, from stay to distribution. Our model is acquisitive, not operational: we acquire and scale STR property management companies through flexible deal structures, local brand preservation, and a seller-friendly approach that has resonated strongly with operators across Europe. Our pipeline is growing faster than we can deploy capital.

About the Role

This is the person who runs our deal engine. You will identify, qualify, structure, and close the acquisitions that fuel our growth, working directly with the CEO with significant autonomy and real accountability. We are looking for someone who has closed many transactions and is ready to step out of a traditional fund environment into a founder-led company where every deal matters. You will also build and lead the M&A team as we scale across multiple countries.

What you'll do

• Build and own our proprietary M&A pipeline, developing direct relationships with STR property managers, property owners, communities and networks across target markets

• Design and execute outbound origination strategies including direct outreach, broker relationships, and sector events

• Develop and maintain a systematic approach to tracking, qualifying, and prioritising acquisition targets

• Represent the company in the market as the face of our M&A effort, earning trust quickly with founders and operators

• Build out our community of STR CEOs across Europe and the US through regular knowledge exchanges and events

• Lead deal structuring from first conversation to signed term sheet, working across earn-outs, vendor finance, equity rollovers, and other flexible instruments

• Negotiate commercial terms directly with founders and owners, balancing financial discipline with our seller-friendly positioning

• Coordinate due diligence across legal, financial, and operational workstreams, managing external advisors and keeping deals on track

• Work closely with the CEO on deal structures, CFO on financing and legal, COO on synergies and post-merger integration

• Support investment committee presentations, board updates, and fundraising narratives tied to deal pipeline

• Build, lead, and scale the M&A team across multiple countries and develop a scalable incentive structure for the investment team

• Carry the vision for a product-led M&A process and dedicate time each week to eliminating redundant tasks in origination, due diligence, and communication using AI tools

About You

You have spent your career doing deals and you are good at it. You come from mid-market PE or you have built a business that involved M&A on both sides of the table. You are leaving the traditional fund world because you are entrepreneurial at heart: you spot opportunities, you move quickly, and you do not wait for consensus to act.

• 5+ years of M&A experience in mid-market private equity, or equivalent entrepreneurial M&A experience on both buy and sell side

• A track record of closed transactions you are proud of

• Exceptional at building rapport quickly, reading counterparties well, and holding a firm line without damaging relationships

• End-to-end owner mentality, from cold outreach to close, including targets with complex shareholder structures and multiple stakeholders

• Commercially sharp, with a deep understanding of deal economics and the ability to stress-test assumptions on the fly

• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and limited support. This role requires someone who takes an existing playbook and scales it

• Curious about AI and actively using tools to improve how you work

• Fluent in German and English. Berlin-based or willing to relocate

Nice to have:

• Experience in real estate, hospitality, or property tech

• Exposure to platform acquisitions or roll-up strategies

• Spanish, French, or Italian language skills

• Network within the STR or hospitality operator ecosystem

Why Join

Our pipeline is real, our model is differentiated, and the sector has not been consolidated at scale before. You will work directly with the CEO and leadership team with no layers between you and the decisions that matter. The business is founder-led, lean, and international, based in Berlin with a team that operates with urgency. This is a chance to own M&A at a company where every acquisition you close tangibly changes the trajectory of the business.