Founder Associate Intern

About the Role

Join the core team of a rapidly expanding AI startup in its pre-seed phase, focused on revolutionizing talent acquisition for elite candidates aiming at top VC-backed AI companies. This unique opportunity places you alongside the founding members in a high-stakes, high-responsibility setting, where you'll directly influence the growth trajectory of an innovative platform reshaping a $600 billion global recruitment market.

The startup employs a candidate-centric approach that leverages AI to pair outstanding professionals with promising startups, facilitating warm and direct introductions without cold outreach. As a Founder Associate Intern, you will play a pivotal role in guiding numerous candidates through their job search journeys, connecting them with high-caliber startups worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the founders on daily operations, candidate engagement, and growth strategies.
• Manage complete workflows including sourcing, vetting, and nurturing relationships with top-tier candidates.
• Facilitate and organize meetings and introductions between candidates and leadership teams at leading VC-backed startups.
• Spot and implement improvements and automation within recruitment and candidate interaction processes.
• Work cross-functionally with founders, applicants, and client companies, communicating effectively both in writing and verbally.
• Lead impactful projects from day one, taking full ownership and delivering measurable results.

Candidate Profile

Mandatory Qualifications

• Willingness and enthusiasm to live and work on-site from a founder hacker house in San Francisco, eliminating commute times.
• Excellent communication skills, comfortable engaging with startup founders, candidates, and client representatives.
• Completion of at least one internship lasting three months or more in a dynamic environment such as consulting, sales, startups, or venture capital.
• Proven track record of autonomous, result-oriented work in entrepreneurial or fast-paced contexts.
• Exceptional credentials, demonstrated through a strong academic background, noteworthy projects, an active GitHub profile, or equivalent evidence of high performance.
• Ability and readiness to commit to working six full days per week.
• Capability to thrive in ambiguous situations with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous involvement in a founder-led startup from its early stages.
• Experience related to recruitment, HR technology, or talent operations.
• Familiarity with AI tools and workflow automation techniques.

Location and Work Environment

This position is exclusively on-site in San Francisco, California. The team shares a hacker house living and working space, fostering no commute, rapid feedback cycles, and strong camaraderie. The role demands an immersive, in-person commitment. Visa sponsorship is available for eligible candidates.

Compensation and Benefits

Specific remuneration details are not disclosed. The main advantage offered is unparalleled, hands-on experience working in close partnership with an early-stage founding team, gaining accelerated learning and substantial ownership opportunities within a high-growth AI startup.