Startups Manager

ABOUT FUTURE FOUNDERS

Future Founders is building the nation’s largest inclusive community of intentional young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-minded leaders. Our programs immerse youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and create their own opportunity. We believe this leads to a generation more determined, hopeful, and equipped as they engage the future.

Since 2005, we have served over 50,000 youth, and our national 18- to 30-year-old founders have generated $433M in revenue, secured $320M in capital, and created 2,400 jobs.

Join us as we empower the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. For more information visit

SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE

Reporting to the Head of Platform Strategy and working in close partnership with the organization’s leadership, the Startups Manager is a new role that will support our idea/early-stage founder programs for diverse 18- to 30-year-old entrepreneurs in Chicago and across the country.

A successful Startups Manager will be a strong workshop facilitator, listener, and connector. The Startups Manager will lead our Apprenticeship program and support our Startup Bootcamp program, which includes recruiting participants, program design and evaluation, leading content-based workshops, and conducting one-on-one mentoring sessions with our founders.

In the first year on the job, we hope to see the following in your work:

• You have taken the reins and run 1-2 successful cohorts of our Apprenticeship program (a cohort-based program empowering underestimated founders (ages 18-25) to test, build, and scale new businesses).
• You provided support for our idea/early-stage Startup Bootcamp program leading sessions, coaching founders, and assisting with program design.
• You have leveraged your facilitation skills to create a positive sense of community within your cohorts, and have built strong 1-on-1 relationships that you’ve used as a foundation to emotionally uplift and motivate founders and alumni.
• You are a strong networker and have built strategic relationships in the entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on underestimated communities.
• You demonstrate a consultative approach in serving our founders. You’re a great listener and able to connect the dots that help our founders succeed. You’ve immersed yourself in our network of entrepreneurs, alumni, mentors, and other stakeholders, leveraging their collective expertise to make a difference in the trajectory of our program participants.
• You’ve contributed to the team in organizing in-person retreats serving founders in our 18-30 programs. You were able to help our founders skill-up and create lasting peer and mentor relationships.
• You are a strong communicator, both virtually and in person. You’re able to connect with our network and clearly articulate ideas and expectations to people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. You excel at public speaking, leading workshops, and email communications. You are comfortable with social media posting/engagement.
• You consistently work with the senior leadership team to secure new funding for the programs and organization as a whole. As part of this, you will assist with fundraising, grant reporting, data collection, and program evaluation.
• You’re organized and developed strong systems to run your cohorts effectively and manage your founders’ goals and progress.
• You are detail-oriented, take initiative, and have a bias toward action. Your follow-up is thorough and we’re amazed at how quickly the meeting recap or introduction is sent after your conversations take place.
• Most importantly, you care about our mission of creating opportunity for young people from underrepresented backgrounds within entrepreneurship.

THE CANDIDATE

Our team is made up of entrepreneurs, educators, and people with non-profit backgrounds. We recognize that a team from diverse employment and life experiences makes us stronger.

Candidates should have either:

• Direct experience coaching idea/early-stage entrepreneurs from underestimated backgrounds to launch businesses.
• Direct founder experience starting their own business.

Some other things we’re hoping for in our ideal candidate:

• College graduate with 4+ years of professional experience.
• Strong community ties and network within Chicago.
• Possess high levels of emotional maturity, flexibility, integrity, and professionalism.
• Experience working with 18- to 30-year-olds in a professional or volunteer capacity.
• A passion and knowledge of the startup ecosystem.
• Capable of high levels of program management and innovation with a strong attention to detail.
• Commitment to high standards and confidence to uphold program expectations.
• Strong networker, able to recruit new mentors, program participants, and partners through a variety of channels.
• Self-directed with the ability to anticipate the needs of others (specifically founders and fellow team members).
• Technology-oriented with familiarity with tools like Google Workspace, Airtable, Zoom, and AI.
• You have a “can do” attitude and are ready to pitch in when needed.
• Fluent in feedback (giving and receiving).
• A sense of humor.

POSITION DETAILS

• Reports to: Head of Platform Strategy
• Type of Employment: Full-Time Position
• Salary & Benefits: $68,000 - $72,000 plus a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance, PTO and 401k plan.
• Start Date: Late October 2026
• Application Deadline: September 1, 2026 (candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis)
• Interviews will begin the week of September 7, 2026
• Location: Future Founders is headquartered in downtown Chicago in the Loop. The role includes the option to work from home, but our team does require meeting in-office 4-8 times a month and the candidate should be local to Chicago and have the ability to attend evening networking events.
• Work Hours: 8:45a-5p Monday - Friday, but some morning, evening and Saturday work time will be required throughout the year. This role will include 2-3 in-person/large scale retreats a year that include evening and Saturday work. Each weekend day worked will be compensated with a day off.
• Interview Process: The interview process will include a first-round interview conducted virtually, the submission of a work product if advanced to the next round, with second and final round interviews taking place in person.

We are a small, collaborative, mission-driven nonprofit and we hope you’ll have fun being a part of our team. Our leadership team takes your career advancement seriously. If you perform well in this position, we will strive to create advancement opportunities for you to build upon your initial responsibilities. Your network will expand significantly in this role and will include individuals from startups, venture capital, entrepreneurial serving organizations, and more.