Founders Associate

Job Description

Job Description

San Francisco, CA · On-site · Full-time Compensation: $120,000–$150,000 + equity (plus up to $30,000 annual bonus)

About the Company

Our client is a seed-stage startup building AI agents for electronic component distribution. Distributors still run quoting, sourcing, and supplier workflows on decades-old legacy ERPs, which means slow quotes, lost margin, and revenue left on the table. The product sits on top of the systems distributors already use — connecting ERP, pricing files, inventory, and email — so RFQ response, supplier management, and pricing run through modern AI instead of manual spreadsheet work. The traction is concrete: customers have cut quote turnaround time by 96% and sell 13% more per rep, and one top-10 independent distributor has grown revenue 21%.

Founded 2022 · 4–5 people · Industry: AI Tools

The Role

A generalist role sitting directly next to the founder on a small team, splitting across three areas: top-of-funnel and outbound sales (~30–40%), operations and internal systems (~30–40%), and founder-directed special projects (~20–30%). The work is deliberately unstructured, with no rigid KPI framework — it suits someone who is comfortable defining the work as much as executing it.

What you'll be doing

• Full-cycle outbound: prospecting, cold outreach, booking meetings, and running customer calls and product demos
• Building the internal operations engine behind the sales team — systems, tooling, and process design that raise output per rep
• Special projects assigned directly by the founder, such as new-market sizing and new-product evaluation
• Research and analysis that feeds go-to-market and product decisions, delivered fast and in a form the team can act on
• Picking up whatever is unowned and important in a five-person company, without waiting to be told

Requirements

• 1–5 years of professional experience
• Hands-on experience at an early-stage startup
• A genuine blend of full-cycle sales and operational, generalist range — someone who can both close and build the systems behind the work
• Based in or willing to relocate to San Francisco, and comfortable working on-site six days a week on startup hours
• Already authorized to work in the US — the client cannot sponsor visas or support relocation from outside the country

Nice to Haves

• A sustained record of self-directed pursuit — the kind of path (competitive athletics, independent projects) where progress meant failing repeatedly and pushing through
• Side projects or small ventures you built independently that generated real revenue
• Time at a YC-backed or similarly fast-moving early-stage company
• Analytical or consulting training paired with hands-on startup operating experience
• Exposure to supply chain, distribution, hardware, or industrial B2B markets
• A track record of building internal systems, automations, or tooling that lifted a team's throughput

Why Join

• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with the founder on a small team, reporting directly to the CEO
• Real, measurable traction this early in the company's life
• A broad, self-defined mandate spanning sales, operations, and founder-directed special projects
• Lunch and dinner provided in the office

Details

• Location — San Francisco, CA
• Work policy — On-site, 6 days/week in person, startup hours
• Compensation — $120,000–$150,000 + equity, plus up to $30,000 annual bonus
• Visa sponsorship — None available; must already be authorized to work in the US
• Employment type — Full-time