Co-founder jobs in Santa Clara, CA - 124 jobs

FutureSight is seeking an experienced and visionary Founding CEO to lead the launch of a new AI data infrastructure venture serving the $20B+ employee benefits ecosystem across brokers, MGAs, and mid-market employers. Today, brokers and HR teams struggle to make data-driven decisions because benefits data is often locked in carrier portals, PDFs, and spreadsheets, leading to opaque renewals, manual reporting, and poor cost control. Our venture is building an AI-powered data platform that automatically extracts and standardizes benefits data from carriers and brokers, producing instant renewal models, benchmarking insights, and compliance-ready dashboards. The result: faster renewals, clearer cost transparency, and smarter plan design. As Founding CEO, you will Win customers - Run pilots, shape pricing, and validate retention + expansion. Build the product - Work with FutureSight's product/engineering pod to launch V1. Raise capital - Lead the seed round with our initial investment. Build your team - Hire your founding team and set the cultural foundation. About FutureSight FutureSight is a venture studio that co-creates and invests in B2B SaaS and Vertical AI startups alongside exceptional entrepreneurs. We give founders an unfair advantage - pairing hands‑on studio support with early capital, thereby reducing risk and increasing the odds of success by 10x. We're led by a cross‑functional team of builders and investors. Kevin Nguyen and Alan Smith lead venture design and product strategy. Prathna Ramesh applies her experience as a venture investor with capital strategy in every new business. Dennis Ensing mentors our ventures with operational and strategic expertise, Krista LaRiviere brings years of entrepreneurial and marketing experience as a multi‑time exited founder, and Anupama Joshi drives founder excellence. John Carbrey (San Francisco), a successful software entrepreneur and people leader, adds deep insight into scaling startups from 0 to 1, having built and exited multiple prior SaaS ventures. What We Bring Validated problem - You will enter a venture with a proven market need and strong momentum toward building and scaling. Studio bench strength - Designers, engineers, growth marketers, and fundraising pros are embedded from Day 1. Capital commitment - Initial pre‑seed funding for early hires and building the MVP with potential for follow‑on funding, and access to our investor and advisor network. What You Bring Founder‑level drive - You're motivated to co‑found a new venture as the CEO. With or without us, this is your calling. Startup scrappiness - You know what you're signing up for. You're familiar with the scrappiness of owning something from start to finish. Previous founding experience - You have co‑founded a product company or B2B SaaS venture or have been at a venture‑backed company. Risk appetite and capacity - Read more on our post on the Entrepreneurial Risk Profile. GTM chops - Proven success in B2B SaaS sales, marketing, and customer engagement. Fundraising fluency - Able to craft investor narratives and close capital; well‑networked in fintech and early‑stage communities. People leadership - Magnet for top talent; coach and culture carrier. Industry experience - Background in employee benefits, brokerage, or insurtech / HR data products. What You Can Expect Daily active engagement with our team to: launch initial product, achieve initial market traction and prepare for seed fundraise. Full P/L ownership of the new entity. A significant equity stake in the business. This is a full‑time role; we are looking for someone to commit full‑time and exclusively to building and owning a new SaaS venture. Ready to build? If this is the perfect opportunity for you, we want to hear from you! Submit your Resume and LinkedIn profile and tell us more about why you think we should chat! FutureSight is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. #J-18808-Ljbffr

FutureSight is hiring an experienced and visionary Founding CEO for a B2B WealthTech advisor AI copilot. The new venture is revolutionizing how financial advisors process information to deliver proactive, personalized guidance at scale. Targeting small to mid-sized wealth management firms, our solution enables advisors to deliver better client experiences, boost retention, and accelerate AUM. Wealth management is approaching a critical inflection point with $70T intergenerational wealth transfer underway and a projected shortage of 100,000+ advisors by 2034. Today's advisors are overwhelmed by fragmented tools, nonstop headlines, and the pressure to deliver high-touch service across hundreds of clients. Weli acts as a second brain for advisors - surfacing insights, anticipating client needs, and streamlining engagement. Work has already begun in the studio. The idea has been validated through customer interviews, and pilot conversations are in motion. As Founding CEO, you will: Lead the roadmap - Own customer discovery, refine the wedge, and translate insights into a focused GTM plan Build the product - Work with FutureSight's product/engineering pod to launch V1 Win customers - Run pilots, shape pricing, and validate retention + expansion Raise capital - Lead the seed raise with our support, backed by real traction Build your team - Hire your founding team and set the cultural foundation About FutureSight FutureSight is a leading venture studio that co-creates world-class software companies with values-driven entrepreneurs from inception to exit. We are a team of founders, operators and designers with experience successfully bringing software to market at scale. You'll co‑create with a proven studio team including: John Carbrey - 4x founder, bootstrapped to $100M ARR Joshua Auslander - Seasoned CFO and strategic advisor with $200M aggregate exits Kevin Nguyen - Product leader with 0 → 1 SaaS scale‑up experience Alan Smith - Globally recognized early stage validation expert, 24 products launched, an exit, 5M+ books sold Prathna Ramesh - Early‑stage investor and capital strategy advisor What We Bring to the Table Validated problem & early market pull - You will enter a venture with a proven market need, early adopter interest, and strong momentum toward building and scaling Studio bench strength - Designers, engineers, growth marketers, and fundraising pros are embedded from Day 1 Capital commitment - Initial pre‑seed funding for early hires and building the MVP with potential for follow‑on funding, and access to our investor and advisor network What You Bring to the Table Founder‑level drive - You're motivated to co‑found a new venture as the CEO. With or without us, this is your calling. Startup scrappiness - You know what you're signing up for. You're familiar with the scrappiness of owning something from start to finish Previous founding experience - You have co‑founded a product company or B2B SaaS venture or have been at a venture‑backed company Risk appetite and capacity - Read more on our post on Entrepreneurial Risk Profile GTM chops - Proven success in B2B SaaS sales, marketing, and customer engagement Fundraising fluency - Able to craft investor narratives and close capital; well‑networked in fintech and early‑stage communities People leadership - Magnet for top talent; coach and culture carrier Bonus: Exposure to WealthTech, AI agents/LLMs, or highly regulated industries What You Can Expect Daily active engagement with our team to launch initial product, achieve initial market traction, and prepare for seed fundraise. Ready to Build? If this is the perfect opportunity for you, we want to hear from you! Submit your Resume and LinkedIn profile and tell us more about why you think we should chat! FutureSight is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A tech startup in San Francisco is seeking a Head of Community to build a vibrant network of early-stage founders. This role involves leading community initiatives, organizing impactful events, and fostering deep relationships in the founder ecosystem. Ideal candidates will have a track record in fast-paced environments, strong community engagement experience, and a passion for AI and modern go-to-market strategies. Competitive salary and meaningful equity included. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A leading investment firm in San Francisco is seeking experienced Investment Partners who play active roles in decision-making and partnership with founders. This role demands strong judgment, strategic input across multiple domains, and a commitment to long-term equity creation. Ideal candidates are former founders or seasoned operators who can contribute to refining investment theses and mentoring new teams. This is a significant opportunity for those looking to make a real impact in the investment landscape. #J-18808-Ljbffr

A leading startup accelerator in California is seeking ambitious entrepreneurs to own and build their startups. As a fellow, you will receive ample support including salary during startup development, one-on-one coaching with experienced founders, and access to a network of over 50,000 professionals. The program focuses on intensive personal growth and funding readiness, enabling you to raise significant investment for your enterprise. This opportunity is perfect for those eager to innovate, specifically in fields like AI. #J-18808-Ljbffr

About Nightfall: Nightfall is the AI-native, unified data loss prevention and insider risk management platform that protects sensitive data across SaaS apps, GenAI tools, email, endpoint devices, and more. Hundreds of customers, spanning AI innovators to top 10 banks, trust Nightfall to detect and stop data exfiltration at scale. Nightfall enables organizations to innovate freely without the risks of losing intellectual property or exposing customer data. Our agentic platform helps security teams regain their time by putting data loss prevention on autopilot. With automatic remediation, security violations can be resolved automatically before they become incidents, and end-users can be automatically trained and coached in the moment to self-heal violations that they introduce. Nightfall is backed by leading VC firms including Bain Capital Ventures (Enrique Salem - former CEO of Symantec), Venrock (early investors in Cloudflare), WestBridge Capital, Pear VC (early investors in Dropbox and Doordash), and a cadre of cybersecurity leaders including Frederic Kerrest (founder of Okta), Maynard Webb (former COO of eBay), Ryan Carlson (President of Chainguard), Kevin Mandia (founder of Mandiant), and many others. About the role: This is a high-leverage, high-impact role that works directly with our founders and executive team to scale the business and shape the foundation of a world-class AI company. You will have a front-row seat and a very direct role in tackling our highest-priority strategic and operational challenges as we continue to grow. You will drive strategic initiatives across the company, identify key areas for improvement, build processes, and ultimately get things done. You may be a good fit if you: * Are a past founder, or have ambitions of becoming one in the future * Are a killer operator who thrives in fast-paced environments, has extremely high ownership, and enjoys wearing multiple hats to take on new and ambiguous challenges * Are comfortable owning projects end-to-end, from identifying the problem to implementing scalable solutions * Believe in first-principles thinking: you're extremely good at analyzing problems and using data to inform decisions, optimize processes, and track performance * Are an excellent communicator who can partner with cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization * Are passionate about building from the ground up, with a strong bias toward action and intensity

Job DescriptionAbout the Role AI Fund is launching a new venture in and seeking a Founder in Residence (FIR) to lead it from concept to company. This is a ground-floor opportunity for a product-oriented, technical builder with proven 0-1 product experience to shape, execute, and scale a venture. As Founder in Residence, you will define the product vision, lead technical execution, and serve as the company's CEO. You'll apply deep GenAI expertise and product intuition to solve meaningful user problems-working in close partnership with a Product Builder, Technical Builder, and AI Fund leadership. This role demands high ownership, rapid iteration in ambiguous environments, and a founder mindset. About PC: EmbedFi is bringing a modern diligence stack to the lease and loan process for SMBs looking to get essential hardware and materials for their operations- from IT to construction equipment. Currently, hardware manufacturers offer steep terms or push small businesses to retail channels because it's too risky and too costly to diligence those businesses. EmbedFi provides the ticket to entry for SMB's by providing trusted, comprehensive risk analysis that enables them to get great terms fast and build trust by working with multiple lenders over the lifetime of their business.What You'll Do: Lead technical execution from early experimentation through MVP Partner with a Product Builder to define and evolve the product vision Explore and apply the latest GenAI capabilities to real-world use cases Build and ship prototypes using LLMs, agents, RAG pipelines, eval frameworks, and more Architect scalable, full-stack systems using modern cloud infrastructure Engage directly with users to gather insights, iterate rapidly, and refine the product Operate with a founder mindset, making bold decisions with incomplete data and driving execution forward Set and maintain a high bar for engineering and product quality while moving fast Required Qualifications: Strong technical fluency in GenAI, LLMs, and modern ML frameworks Hands-on experience shipping full-stack, cloud-native applications Proven track record of building and launching 0-1 products Comfortable leading in ambiguity and acting without perfect information Strong cross-functional collaboration skills (product, design, GTM) Excellent leadership and communication skills that inspire alignment and trust Nice To have: Prior startup or founding engineer experience Familiarity with fundraising or technical stakeholder communication Domain expertise in the SMB Fintech space What Sets You Apart: Initiative & Grit: You own outcomes, move fast, and thrive in chaotic environments User-Obsessed: You actively seek feedback and design with the end user in mind Scrappy & Resourceful: You deliver results despite constraints Technically Curious: You continuously explore new tools and approaches, applying them creatively Builder Energy: You're energized by creating from scratch and making bold bets If you're a hands-on technical leader eager to co-found and build a GenAI venture from the ground up, we'd love to meet you. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

About the Role AI Fund is launching a new venture in and seeking a Founder in Residence (FIR) to lead it from concept to company. This is a ground-floor opportunity for a product-oriented, technical builder with proven 0-1 product experience to shape, execute, and scale a venture. As Founder in Residence, you will define the product vision, lead technical execution, and serve as the company's CEO. You'll apply deep GenAI expertise and product intuition to solve meaningful user problems-working in close partnership with a Product Builder, Technical Builder, and AI Fund leadership. This role demands high ownership, rapid iteration in ambiguous environments, and a founder mindset. About PC: EmbedFi is bringing a modern diligence stack to the lease and loan process for SMBs looking to get essential hardware and materials for their operations- from IT to construction equipment. Currently, hardware manufacturers offer steep terms or push small businesses to retail channels because it's too risky and too costly to diligence those businesses. EmbedFi provides the ticket to entry for SMB's by providing trusted, comprehensive risk analysis that enables them to get great terms fast and build trust by working with multiple lenders over the lifetime of their business.What You'll Do: Lead technical execution from early experimentation through MVP Partner with a Product Builder to define and evolve the product vision Explore and apply the latest GenAI capabilities to real-world use cases Build and ship prototypes using LLMs, agents, RAG pipelines, eval frameworks, and more Architect scalable, full-stack systems using modern cloud infrastructure Engage directly with users to gather insights, iterate rapidly, and refine the product Operate with a founder mindset, making bold decisions with incomplete data and driving execution forward Set and maintain a high bar for engineering and product quality while moving fast Required Qualifications: Strong technical fluency in GenAI, LLMs, and modern ML frameworks Hands-on experience shipping full-stack, cloud-native applications Proven track record of building and launching 0-1 products Comfortable leading in ambiguity and acting without perfect information Strong cross-functional collaboration skills (product, design, GTM) Excellent leadership and communication skills that inspire alignment and trust Nice To have: Prior startup or founding engineer experience Familiarity with fundraising or technical stakeholder communication Domain expertise in the SMB Fintech space What Sets You Apart: Initiative & Grit: You own outcomes, move fast, and thrive in chaotic environments User-Obsessed: You actively seek feedback and design with the end user in mind Scrappy & Resourceful: You deliver results despite constraints Technically Curious: You continuously explore new tools and approaches, applying them creatively Builder Energy: You're energized by creating from scratch and making bold bets If you're a hands-on technical leader eager to co-found and build a GenAI venture from the ground up, we'd love to meet you.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Job Description BURKE+CO. ******************* THE GIST: Our client, an accomplished tech founder & CEO, seeks an experienced Estate Manager to support them in Atherton, CA. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience supporting UHNWIs in a personal capacity and can expertly oversee the day to day of multiple properties. This is a great opportunity to work for a visionary leader in tech and grow within the role! THE NITTY GRITTY: Act as executive's trusted right-hand and represent them with poise & polish in all interactions Manage multiple residences in the Bay Area & US (mainly based in Atherton, CA) Respond to any household emergencies or issues, sometimes outside of traditional business hours Plan & execute dinners, social events, and family gatherings Act as main point of contact for projects & renovations, oversee logistics, and manage timelines Collaborate with vendors, contractors, and property maintenance teams Oversee household & property staff Run daily errands and oversee general household operations Keep track of expenses, invoices, and payments Assist with other projects and tasks, as needed THE ESSENTIALS: 10+ years of experience as an Estate Manager Bachelor's degree required Experience supporting a UHNWI or high-level executive required Ability to respond to issues after hours and be onsite if needed Flexibility to travel to other US-based properties on an annual basis Expert ability to anticipate the needs of others and service-oriented mindset Proactive and adaptive approach to issues & opportunities Keen attention to detail and a meticulous approach to work Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality Poised & professional communication style THE CHERRY ON TOP: Work alongside an impressive principal with an opportunity for stability + longevity! LOCATION: Atherton, CA (Onsite- some flexibility to WFH when executive is traveling ) COMPENSATION: $150,000-$300,000/yr base salary + benefits (exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, and expertise) What are you waiting for? BURKE UP! Email your resume to ********************* You can view our other open jobs at: ******************* (Refer a friend + get a taste of our generous referral program!)

Embedding VC backs engineering, product, and research visionaries building the next generation of AI-native companies. We partner early with founders inventing new paradigms in intelligence - from applied agents to infrastructure to creative computing. We're opening applications for our Founder-in-Residence (FIR) program - a hands-on residency designed for exceptional builders who are ready to start their next AI venture. You'll work side by side with our partners in San Francisco Bay Area, exploring new ideas and building from 0→1 with direct support from the Embedding VC network. About the Role As a Founder-in-Residence, you'll collaborate with our partners and portfolio founders to define, prototype, and launch a new AI company. You'll have access to capital, technical talent, and co-building support to accelerate your path from idea to company formation. You'll: Work closely with Embedding VC partners to explore high-potential problem spaces. Prototype rapidly, test assumptions, and validate early traction. Collaborate with our network of AI researchers, engineers, and operators. Access funding, design, and recruiting support once your direction is clear. About You Experienced founder or PM/designer/engineer/growth hacker with a track record of building products end-to-end. Deep curiosity for AI systems, developer tools, or applied reasoning technologies. Independent thinker who moves fast, iterates often, and thrives in ambiguity. Comfortable working in-person part of the week in San Francisco Bay Area. Bonus if you've explored: LLM-based systems, agents, or AI developer tools. Previous startup founding or early technical leadership experience. Why Join as FIR Start your next company with Embedding VC as your earliest partner. Work in a founder-led environment designed for speed and creativity. Tap into a strong AI ecosystem of technical advisors and investors. Hybrid flexibility, with in-person collaboration. Location: Hybrid, Palo ALo If you're ready to build at the frontier of AI, we'd love to meet you. Apply via Embedding VC to join our next Founder-in-Residence cohort.

At Toma, we're building something unorthodox-a fully AI-driven workforce for the $2T automotive space. Our small team (from Scale AI/Uber, Braze, Columbia, Berkeley, and Waterloo) spent months living and breathing dealerships to learn the ropes. We've built an in-house voice AI and agentic workflow orchestration platform, grown $100k ARR MoM purely through word-of-mouth, and raised capital from the best of the best investors in Silicon Valley on our way to create the world's first “ghost dealerships.” About this Role We are seeking a non-technical Ex-Founder with experience in turning ideas into revenue-generating companies. If you are a former founder and you want to help make Toma a billion-dollar company by any means necessary, this is the right role for you. Responsibilities Whatever you are good at Whatever we need Required Qualifications Founding (co-founder/1-10th employee) experience at a startup with over $50k ARR Preferred Qualifications Founding (co-founder/1-10th employee) experience at a startup with over $500k ARR Experience building AI companies Benefits Free lunch and dinner in the office Free health and dental insurance Free trips around the country for customer visits

Ex-Founder Total Compensation: $130k - $205k / year At Virio, we're looking for an exceptional Ex-Founder to join our founding team. You've built something from scratch before - hired a team, closed deals, figured things out when no one had the answers. Now you want to do it again, but with more firepower behind you. You'll work directly with our CEO on whatever matters most: sales, recruiting, ops, partnerships. The role is intentionally broad because early-stage startups need people who can context-switch and execute across the board. Skills & Qualification Founded or co-founded a company from the ground up Experience in building a strong team and culture. B2B SaaS experience, ideally selling to marketing, content, or growth teams Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal Scrappy, organized, type-A, motivated, founder mentality Responsibilities Work directly with the CEO on business strategy and execution Building and managing a high-performing team Identifying and recruiting top talent, with a focus on finding individuals who align with our company culture and values Build and maintain internal systems and processes Coordinate across the team to make sure nothing falls through the cracks Support the CEO on whatever needs to get done Keep the trains running - manage day-to-day operations so the team can focus Benefits $70K-$120K base, $130k-$205k TC 100% paid Health, Dental, Vision Insurance 401(k) $1,000/month wellness & meals stipend

⚠️ Please read first This is a full-time, in-person role based in San Francisco (Presidio) - we work from the office 5 days a week. You must be based in the Bay Area or willing to relocate before starting. We require US work authorisation, but are open to O-1 visa sponsorship for truly exceptional candidates. As in the description: you should have context so you can join with little onboarding if you have incredible credentials (incredible = raised more than 5mm as a founder, got a product to 500k ARR, main person responsible for an amazing product at a bigger company) apply and let's have a chat! ps: we're backed by spark capital, felicis, and y combinator ($30m seed - biggest out of YC round) but we still work like a seed startup. you'll be one of the first people showing the world how to build with AI in plain english.

Help us to increase the number of successful products in the world! 🌍 Location: We are full-remote and globally distributed! Our current team is distributed between GMT-8 and GMT+2 so we currently only hire in these timezones. 🎤 Interview process: Read more about our interview process. 🖥️ Team: Customer Success 💼 Manager: Dana 💰 Compensation: Please check our compensation calculator. 🦔 Read more about how we hire and how we think about Diversity & Inclusion. About PostHog We're shipping every product that companies need from their first day, to the day they IPO, and beyond. The operating system for folks who build products. We started with open-source product analytics, launched out of Y Combinator's W20 cohort. We've since shipped more than a dozen products, including: A built-in data warehouse, so users can query product and customer data together using custom SQL insights. A customer data platform, so they can send their data wherever they need with ease. Max AI, an AI-powered analyst that answers product questions, helps users find useful session recordings, and writes custom SQL queries. Next on the roadmap are CRM, messaging, revenue analytics, and support products. When we say every product, we really mean it! We are: Product-led. More than 100,000 companies have installed PostHog, mostly driven by word-of-mouth. We have intensely strong product-market fit. Well-funded. We've raised more than $100m from some of the world's top investors. We're set up for a long, ambitious journey. Default alive. Revenue is growing 10% MoM on average, and we're very efficient. We raise money to push ambition and grow faster, not to keep the lights on. We're focused on building an awesome product for end users, hiring exceptional teammates, shipping fast, and being as weird as possible. Things we care about Transparency: Everyone can read about our roadmap, how we pay (or even let go of) people, our strategy, and how we work, in our public company handbook. Internally, we share revenue, notes and slides from board meetings, and fundraising plans, so everyone has the context they need to make good decisions. Autonomy: We don't tell anyone what to do. Everyone chooses what to work on next based on what's going to have the biggest impact on our customers, and what they find interesting and motivating to work on. Engineers lead product teams and make product decisions. Teams are flexible and easy to change when needed. Shipping fast: Why not now? We want to build a lot of products; we can't do that shipping at a normal pace. We've built the company around small teams - autonomous, highly-efficient groups of cracked engineers who can outship much larger companies because they own their products end-to-end. Time for building: Nothing gets shipped in a meeting. We're a natively remote company. We default to async communication - PRs > Issues > Slack. Tuesdays and Thursdays are meeting-free days, and we prioritize heads down building time over perfect coordination. This will be the most productive job you've ever had. Ambition: We want to solve big problems. We strongly believe aiming for the best possible upside, and sometimes missing, is better than never trying. We're optimistic about what's possible and our ability to get there. Being weird: Weird means redesigning an already world-class website for the 5th time. It means shipping literally every product that relates to customer data. It means building an objectively unnecessary developer toy with dubious shareholder value. Doing weird stuff is a competitive advantage. And it's fun. Job Summary You'll be working with some of the fastest-growing startups in the world while being able to shape how early-stage teams adopt analytics, feature flags, experimentations, LLM analytics, and more. This is an exciting role to influence product direction by bringing consistent, high-signal feedback from high-growth founders. You get to own a unique high-impact segment: companies that grow quickly and often become major PostHog customers. Note: The compensation for this role is under the "onboarding specialist" role. What you'll be doing Own relationships with YC companies spending $20k-$50k/year under the PostHog credits program. Help YC founders and early engineers implement PostHog correctly: instrumentation, schemas, metrics, and multi-product usage. Provide technical guidance on analytics, feature flags, experimentation, and replay. Monitor growth signals to determine when YC companies will exceed the $50k threshold and transition to TAM ownership. represent YC user needs in all the things Offer lightweight, high-leverage guidance appropriate for early-stage teams. Ensure YC companies are set up for long-term success before they become revenue-generating. What you won't be working on ❌ Enterprise-style renewals ❌ contract negotiation ❌ heavy account management, or deep expansion work Requirements Strong technical aptitude; able to work directly with engineering teams. Experience at an early-stage startup (preferably YC) - ideally a former YC founder or early employee. Ability to guide teams on event modeling, instrumentation, and analytics best practices. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage a portfolio of 30+ accounts and prioritize effectively. Based in the Bay Area to meet customers as needed Nice to have Experience working with similar technologies, ie. developer tools more broadly, or specifically product analytics, session replay, feature flags, A/B testing, data warehouses, or data pipelines. If you have a disability, please let us know if there's any way we can make the interview process better for you - we're happy to accommodate! #LI-DNI

About the Role This role sits at the intersection of talent scouting, venture creation, and ecosystem building. Instead of hiring for existing jobs, you'll identify and engage people who should be founders-and help shape the early teams that will build new startups. You will run the full lifecycle of founder discovery: mapping the ecosystem, sourcing prospects, forming relationships, conducting strategic conversations, and shaping early hypotheses around potential company formation. This is both strategic and hands-on, suited for someone who thrives in fast-moving environments, enjoys experimenting with unconventional channels, and operates comfortably without step-by-step playbooks. Compensation: $180, 000 - $200, 000 base salary (negotiable based on experience) plus bonus and equity. Location: In-office in San Francisco, with flexibility for occasional remote work. Candidates must live in the San Francisco area and be willing to work primilarly onsite. What this company offer you: Medical Dental Paid Holidays Flexible PTO options 401(k) investment retirement account access The ability to shape the future of many tech company customers Opportunity to grow into more senior level roles with the company as we grow Responsibilities Lead a structured sourcing and engagement motion that identifies high-potential founders, operators, technologists, and builders. Design and manage a pipeline of future-founder talent, including outreach, relationship development, evaluation, and partner alignment. Conduct deep conversations that assess founder mindset, leadership style, risk tolerance, strategic thinking, and venture potential. Map and activate talent networks across startup, venture, product, engineering, consulting, and academic ecosystems. Create and refine narratives, touchpoints, and micro-experiences that attract entrepreneurial talent (content, dinners, events, roundtables, etc.). Explore non-traditional channels such as founder collectives, open source communities, operator networks, and early-stage programs. Work closely with leadership to synthesize signals, evaluate founder-market fit, and accelerate high-potential opportunities. Build a perspective on patterns of success and failure in early-stage talent, and use that insight to refine sourcing strategies. Maintain a fast, experimental approach to talent discovery-testing new tactics, iterating, and continuously optimizing for velocity and quality. Who You Are A high-energy, ecosystem-oriented operator who loves meeting people, exploring problems, and connecting dots across markets, technology, and talent. You enjoy autonomy, ambiguity, and extreme ownership. You can think strategically, communicate clearly, and move quickly between research, execution, and relationship building. Preferred Experience (3-6 years) Experience in one or more of the following areas: Venture capital (analyst, associate, platform, or fellowship programs) Strategy consulting or MBA-track roles with early-stage exposure Founder's Office, Strategy, or Chief of Staff roles in early-stage tech Early talent builders at small startups (first or second recruiter) Startup generalist roles with broad responsibility and fast execution Key Traits Highly extroverted, charismatic, and comfortable networking daily Sharp, fast learner who can synthesize information quickly Strategic thinker with the ability to discuss markets, theses, and ideas Creative problem-solver who enjoys experimentation Proactive operator who owns outcomes end-to-end Humble, curious, adaptable, and coachable What You Must Bring Ability to run sourcing motions independently without operational support Comfort navigating ambiguous, dynamic environments High emotional intelligence and conversational depth Strong writing, communication, and synthesis skills Ability to influence technical or entrepreneurial talent Who Will Not Be a Fit Traditional recruiters from large, process-driven environments Candidates who rely on rigid playbooks or structured orgs People looking to impose their own founder agenda Ego-driven “chief of staff” archetypes Talent that requires heavy direction, templates, or guardrails Where Strong Talent Often Comes From (Not requirements, just signals.) VC analyst/associate cohorts and platform programs Early-career founder-support roles at seed-stage companies Early-stage recruiters who operated with high independence Startup Chief of Staff / Founder's Office with genuine ecosystem orientation Recent grads (1-4 years out) from top universities with early-stage experience What You'll Gain A rare opportunity to influence multiple startups from day zero Direct access to founders, operators, and investors shaping new ventures Career pathways into company leadership, venture, or founding roles Competitive compensation and meaningful equity Ideal Profile Summary This role is not about running a talent acquisition function. It's about identifying high-potential founders before they start companies, building trusted relationships, and helping shape opportunities worth pursuing. The strongest fits tend to be: Early-career venture or strategy talent who wants to be closer to creation, or Small-startup generalists who “did everything” and thrive in unstructured work. If you enjoy thinking about markets, talking to entrepreneurial people, attending events, testing ideas, and building relationships that lead to company formation-this role offers an unusually high leverage platform. Who is Rainier Recruiting? Rainier Recruiting is a boutique, award winning national staffing agency and executive search firm. Using an approach that “treats every candidate like an executive search”, we offer positions in contract-to-hire, Full-Time, and executive search. Named the #1 Best Workplace in Washington State in 2022, recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm, and identified as a top recruitment firm by multiple business journals, Rainier Recruiting is fast becoming a respected company. We are no longer the “best recruiters you have never heard of”. Rainier Recruiting is also proud to share our clients have a 93% repeat business rate. Rainier Recruiting is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and for the candidates we represent. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of every organization that we partner with.

Job DescriptionFounder Transform your vision into a funded, scalable venture. At Initio Capital, founders don't wait for permission - they take initiative. As a Founder in our ecosystem, you gain a direct line to investors, advisors, and operators dedicated to helping you build, fund, and scale your company. We bridge the gap between ambition and execution, equipping you with capital access, mentorship, and growth infrastructure that accelerates your path from idea to industry leader. What You'll Experience Direct Access to Investors Submit a short video pitch directly to Initio Capital's investment team. Our in-house partners and investor network review applications weekly - no gatekeepers, no waiting for introductions. Advisory & Mentorship Network Collaborate with experienced founders, venture operators, and industry specialists who guide you through fundraising, product development, GTM strategy, and operational excellence. Capital & Growth Acceleration Access pre-seed to Series A funding pathways, investor introductions, and Initio's growth enablement suite - including RevOps infrastructure, fractional leadership, and AI-powered sales systems. Operational Ecosystem Tap into exclusive founder tools, software discounts ($4M+ in value), job and talent pipelines, and a curated calendar of global startup and investor events. Build alongside a network of venture-backed companies scaling fast. Career & Community Opportunities Founders can also invest in other startups, refer partners, or join as advisors and venture partners within the Initio ecosystem - expanding influence and upside. Ideal Founder Profile Ambitious and execution-driven, building a product that solves a tangible, scalable problem. Transparent, data-informed, and committed to long-term value creation. Ready to raise capital, grow revenue, and join a high-performing global community of founders and investors. Interested in leveraging Initio Capital's ecosystem to accelerate sales, partnerships, and capital access. Investment Focus At Initio Capital, we invest in business infrastructure - the systems, platforms, and tools that power modern companies. Our mission is to provide the backbone for global business innovation, funding founders building foundational technologies across these sectors: HRTech Talent acquisition, performance management, and workforce analytics tools helping companies hire, retain, and scale high-performing teams. LegalTech Solutions that automate contracts, streamline compliance, and modernize legal workflows to reduce risk and accelerate transactions. MarketingTech Customer engagement, data-driven attribution, and marketing automation platforms that drive predictable pipeline and ROI. Sales Enablement CRM optimization, sales intelligence, and revenue operations systems that increase deal velocity and empower modern go-to-market teams. FinTech Payment processing, expense management, and capital access tools optimizing financial operations and liquidity. AccTech (Accounting Technology) Automated bookkeeping, audit readiness, and real-time financial analytics ensuring accuracy and compliance. Productivity & Collaboration Workflow automation, communication platforms, and project management systems improving cross-functional efficiency and output. Data Infrastructure Analytics, integration, and business intelligence tools transforming raw data into actionable insights. DevOps & Cloud Infrastructure Cloud-native deployment, observability, and DevOps tools that enable scalable, secure, and resilient application delivery.

About UsAt Encord, we're building the AI infrastructure of the future. The biggest challenge AI companies face today is not half as glamorous as the outside world may think: it's all about data quality. In fact, the success of any AI application today relies on the quality of a model's data - and for 95% of teams, this essential step is both the most costly, and the most time-consuming, in getting their product to market. As ex-computer scientists, physicists, and quants, we felt first-hand how the lack of tools to prepare quality training data was impeding the progress of building AI. AI today is what the early days of computing or the internet were like, where the potential of the technology is clear, but the tools and processes surrounding it are still primitive, preventing the next generation of applications. This is why we started Encord. We are a talented and ambitious team of 100+, working at the cutting edge of multimodal AI and deep learning, backed by top investors, including Next47, CRV and YC, leading industry executives like Luc Vincent, former VP of AI at Meta, and other top Bay Area leaders in AI. We are one the fastest growing companies in our space, and consistently rated as the best tool in the market by our customers. We have big plans ahead and are looking for a rockstar Founder's Associate to join us and help us scale. The RoleThis is a unique opportunity for an ambitious, multi-talented individual who wants to see the inside of a fast-paced scaleup and work closely with the co-founders and senior team. The ideal candidate is a superstar who is willing to work hard, roll up their sleeves and support the founders in their day-to-day tasks, while learning about every aspect of what it takes to run a fast growing business. You will work directly with Encord's senior team and get unique visibility into an exciting, high-growth, mission-based scaleup. ResponsibilitiesYour responsibilities will involve:- Working directly with the co-founders and other members of the senior team on a variety of projects/ tasks: from presentations and spreadsheets, to basic reporting and various growth initiatives- Research: ranging from customer research to identifying new opportunities to supporting strategic decisions - Tracking the ROI of various growth channels to improve resource allocation and identify new growth curves- Designing, releasing & improving a careers page to attract the next wave of Encord talent- Ensure we keep our start-up atmosphere as we scale: plan and coordinate activities and events (e.g., team outings, in-office events etc.)- Be integral part in growing the business - support Encord's presence on social media, conferences and more - Crunching numbers on customer's usage of the product to help inform our Customer Success team's quarterly success planning About you - 2+ years of experience in high-intensity, high-velocity 1) startups, as an early-employee or founder 2) top-tier consulting, IB, PE or similar fast-paced environments.- You're a do-er. You are happy to roll up your sleeves and get stuff done - from slides for an internal meeting to a demo for a client.- You're an expert at taking end-to-end ownership of broad, ambiguous problems and thinking from first principles to achieve a result.- You're obsessed with achieving an objective and getting results. You work best when given an outcome to aim towards, and iterating autonomously (collaborating with the rest of the team/pulling people in as needed) to find a way there. You don't take no for an answer; you are scrappy and resourceful.- You're an entrepreneur and want to be a part of building a business from the ground up. You're good at context-switching and jumping from a candidate interview, to an excel model, to a vision-pitch draft.- You're probably happiest when working really hard and solving challenging problems. You know this requires dedication and some sacrifice but you think it's worth it. You work hard and smartly - you're always thinking of ways to accomplish more with the time and energy you have.- You're detail oriented and organized, and you proactively pull others in when you need help before you get stuck. Your team is always up to date on where projects are and rarely do you find things slip, even when covering a large surface area. What We Offer - Competitive salary, commission and equity in a hyper growth business.- Strong in-person culture: most of our team is in the office 3+ days a week.- Generous holiday allowance + public holidays.- Annual learning and development budget.- Paid trips to visit prospects, attend conferences, host events across UK, Europe and US.- Company lunches twice a week.- Monthly socials & bi-annual off-sites.

About UsPlatform Venture Studio (platformstud.io) was created for founders by founders. We provide the infrastructure for founders from all backgrounds to build groundbreaking companies that tackle the world's biggest problems. Our tried and true methodology helps startups reach escape velocity faster, cheaper, and while having a lot more fun. Our studio team does real work, we don't waste time, and we've seen the traps that most startups fall into so we can help you steer clear of the potholes along the way. Platform's creators, serial entrepreneur Jeremy Burton and 2020 Midas List investor Tim Connors, have 60+ years of combined experience developing highly successful startups. In addition to support from our studio team and other portfolio companies, we have an 80,000+ strong community of coaches, investors, future customers, and advisors for you to lean on. We value results. We worship data. We don't chase fads. We build companies that change the world for the better. About the Founder-in-Residence Role A Founder-in-Residence (or "FIR") is an entrepreneur we partner with to build a venture-backed company that solves an Unmet Need. Typically, we begin a partnership with a FIR to develop an idea that is still in its infancy Please review our Founder Deck here for more information: ************************************* If you have already raised capital, or already found product-market fit and your unit economics work, then you are likely too late for our Founder-in-Residence program. We do make a select few traditional pre-seed investments in highly thematic companies. If you are interested in pitching for direct investment, please use Platform's DeckSend tool to send your deck for consideration: *************************************** We recommend reviewing this blog post prior to applying to determine if it makes sense for you to apply: ********************************************************************** What Platform FIR's Get Validated startup idea: A clear, unmet need in the real estate market with significant de-risking. Initial capital and access to our investor network: You will receive the funding needed to get off the ground and the backing of our extensive network of investors. Tried and true glide-path to success: We provide a roadmap of specific, measurable milestones to guide your journey, based on our extensive experience in building startups Talented, flexible, remote-first studio team: Our team brings deep expertise in design, engineering, research, talent, and growth to help you build, launch, and iterate efficiently. Shared ops, HR, and G&A functions: Including legal, finance, etc., to let you focus on building. Access to Platform Guild: Our network of ~80K trusted advisors and subject-matter experts. Coaching: Continuous guidance to keep you on track. Compensation: While the primary motivation to build a startup should be the upside from ownership, we will compensate you for your time. What We're Looking For Coachability: Being coachable is crucial for startup founders. It's about being open to learning, adapting, and growing from feedback. Successful founders refine their vision through continuous feedback, improving both their product and their sales strategies. Coachability keeps you aligned with the market, ready to pivot, and committed to solving problems in the best way possible. It's a key trait that shows you're ready for the startup journey. Sales Aptitude: Sales are everything in the early days of a startup. From fundraising to hiring to closing deals, everything revolves around selling. Instead of focusing on elaborate systems, start selling right away-get out there, make calls, and close deals. Sales aptitude is essential for getting your business off the ground. Ambiguity Tolerance: Embracing ambiguity is vital for startup founders. High ambiguity tolerance means being comfortable with uncertainty and staying adaptable. It's about moving forward confidently even when the path isn't clear, which is essential in the unpredictable world of startups. Venture-Backed & Tech Domain Knowledge: Experience in venture-backed startups and tech, including AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), is a significant advantage. It helps founders navigate the funding process, pitch to investors, and make smart technology choices, particularly in leveraging AI to enhance their products and services. Understanding LLMs allows founders to integrate advanced AI capabilities, improve user interactions, and scale their operations more effectively. This knowledge is crucial for building scalable systems, managing growth, and staying competitive in an increasingly AI-driven market. Note: Please do not pitch us in this application. We don't want to hear why you think your idea is the greatest thing ever. Instead, we want to hear about why you want to partner with us to solve a problem and engage in a process to discover the right solution. If you don't feel like you have a bulletproof, perfect answer to some of these questions, that's normal. Do your best and show your work. We most want to understand who you are: your story, your motivation for being a founder, why you care about the problem you're trying to solve, and how you think about and approach problem-solving. Take this opportunity to tell us who you are and let it serve as a reflective exercise for yourself as a founder.

SirenOpt helps manufacturers make better, safer, and more reliable micro- and nano-materials. These materials are the building blocks of critical sectors of the global economy such as batteries, computer chips, aircraft components, and power systems. But, surging material demand and growing complexity are pushing production to unprecedented scales and speeds, leaving manufacturers effectively flying blind. Small, undetected variations during production lead to wastage, lower performance, higher costs, and safety risks. SirenOpt is changing this. Our manufacturing intelligence platform scans materials, revealing critical internal information without damaging them. Using a novel combination of cold atmospheric plasma, physics-informed machine learning, and predictive analytics, SirenOpt creates unique, real-time fingerprints that capture material signals no other method can access. These insights give manufacturers unprecedented visibility into how materials behave as they are made. We turn hidden data into actionable intelligence to help manufacturers reduce variability and thus increase yield and performance. The technology can be deployed as a standalone tool or integrated directly into factory production lines. SirenOpt is currently deploying early versions of its platform with some of the largest industrial manufacturers in the world across North America, Europe, and Asia. Our first commercial product will be released in 2026. Job Description The Founder's Associate works directly with the CEO. This role is ideal for a highly analytical, execution-oriented generalist who wants exposure to company-building at the earliest stages-spanning strategy, operations, market research, external communications, GTM execution, and fundraising. You will act as a force multiplier for the founder, owning critical projects that shape how SirenOpt grows, sells, and raises capital. This role offers a unique blend of responsibilities, from high-level strategic planning to hands-on execution, making it ideal for someone eager to learn and grow in a fast-paced startup environment. We're looking for someone who has strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to turn ambiguity into action plans. Experience in strategy, consulting, GTM, operations, investing, or early-stage startups roles is essential. In this role you will focus on the following areas: Go-to-Market & Market Strategy Work with CEO to perform market research, ICP definition, and buyer persona development Conduct competitive analysis and positioning work to inform sales, pricing, and product strategy Support GTM planning across sales motions, vertical prioritization, partnerships, and pilots Translate insights into clear recommendations, briefs, and execution plans for sales and product teams Fundraising & Investor Support Support fundraising strategy by preparing materials, analyses, and narratives for investor conversations Build, organize, and maintain the company's investor data room, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and readiness Track investor outreach, diligence requests, and follow-ups in coordination with the founder Develop supporting analyses for pitch decks, metrics, market opportunity, and traction storytelling Founder & Strategic Initiatives Own special projects across strategy, operations, and growth as the company evolves Create structured updates, memos, and dashboards to support founder decision-making Act as a cross-functional connector between product, sales, and leadership Marketing & External Communications Support development of SirenOpt's external narrative, including positioning, messaging, and key talking points Assist with marketing content such as website copy, pitch materials, thought leadership, and announcements Coordinate external communications related to fundraising, partnerships, and product launches Ensure consistency across investor, customer, and public-facing materials You must have: 4+ years of experience in consulting, investment banking, private equity, advanced manufacturing, startups or venture capital Highly proficient using corporate development tools like Excel and PowerPoint to build clear financial models and beautiful slide decks. Demonstrated skills and experience with market research, financial modeling and data analysis (Excel/Sheets, slides) Exceptional written and verbal communication skills High ownership mindset, attention to detail, and discretion in handling sensitive information Nice to have: Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, finance, or a related field. Experience in the semiconductor, battery manufacturing, or advanced materials industries. Experience in a fast-paced startup environment, ideally at a top tier Series A or Series B-stage company Background in operational finance or fractional CFO experience at an early-stage company. An MBA or other advanced degree (Finance, Engineering Management, or Operations). Multilingual capabilities or experience working across diverse cultural and business environments. Base Pay Range $130,000 - $175,000 USD Benefits Equity and Salary compensation depends on experience Health, Dental, Vision plans provided 401k matching provided Time off: 20 days of PTO per year, plus approximately 15 paid US holidays per year