Founder-in-Residence at a Venture Studio

Overview

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate white-space opportunities in specific industry verticals to determine commercial viability.
• Conduct extensive primary customer research to validate pain points and demand for proposed solutions.
• Build and test low-fidelity prototypes to gather user feedback and iterate on product features.
• Develop comprehensive business models including go-to-market strategies and financial projections.
• Recruit the initial core team members and advisors for the emerging startup entity.
• Pitch the finalized business concept to the venture studio's investment committee for seed funding.
• Manage the initial operational setup of the new company including legal and financial foundations.

Qualifications

• Prior experience as a founder or an early-stage employee at a high-growth technology startup.
• Demonstrated ability to build products from scratch and lead cross-functional development teams.
• Strong competency in financial modeling and strategic business planning.
• Proven track record of raising venture capital or securing significant corporate investment.
• Exceptional communication skills for pitching to stakeholders and negotiating partnerships.
• Analytical expertise in market sizing and competitive analysis.

Nice to have

• Deep domain expertise in a specific sector such as Fintech, SaaS, or Healthtech.
• An established network of potential hires, investors, and industry advisors.
• An advanced degree in business administration or a technical field like computer science.
• Experience with agile development methodologies and rapid prototyping tools.

Work environment

• Work is typically performed in a collaborative, open-office venture studio setting with options for remote flexibility.
• The culture is fast-paced and milestone-driven, mirroring the urgency of a traditional startup environment.
• Frequent interaction with studio partners, investment professionals, and other founders is standard.
• Standard business hours are common, though significant extra time is often required during launch phases.
• Digital tools for project management, data analysis, and remote collaboration are used extensively.

Benefits & growth

• Compensation typically includes a base salary during the incubation period and a significant equity stake in the resulting startup.
• Successful residency leads directly to the role of CEO or Founder of a newly capitalized company.
• Access to a centralized pool of resources including legal, HR, and design services reduces personal risk.
• The role provides high visibility within the venture capital ecosystem and networking opportunities with senior investors.
• Continuous professional development occurs through hands-on experience in every facet of company creation.