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AINAD - Founder-in-Residence
AINAD is a London-based venture studio and venture-building platform focused on creating and scaling AI-native companies across sectors including health, education, fintech and sustainability. We provides portfolio companies with hands-on support across product, engineering, growth, capital formation and operations, helping early-stage ventures move faster with more structure and access to specialists. We are looking for a Founder-in-Residence who will take end-to-end ownership of building and scaling our AI-native portfolio company, with a clear and structured pathway into the Chief Executive Officer role.
The Role
As Founder-in-Residence, you will act as the de facto founder/CEO-in-waiting of the portfolio company. You’ll own strategy, product, growth and operations from day one, working closely with AINAD’s partners and shared services. As you achieve key milestones (product–market fit, early scale, core team in place), the role transitions into the formal CEO position with corresponding equity and governance.
This role is ideal for an entrepreneurial leader who wants to build a company from the ground up with the backing of a venture studio, rather than joining a fully formed organisation.
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What You’ll Do
- Define and evolve portfolio company’s vision, strategy and roadmap, in partnership with AINAD.
- Lead customer discovery and product development to achieve product–market fit in target segments.
- Design and execute go-to-market and growth strategies, including local market launches and partnerships.
- Build and manage the initial core team across product, growth, operations and support.
- Set up lean operations, processes and metrics to track performance and drive disciplined execution.
- Work with AINAD on fundraising, investor materials and strategic partnerships as the company scales.
- Gradually assume full CEO responsibilities as milestones are met (team, traction, revenue, governance).
What We’re Looking For
- Experience as a founder/co-founder or senior operator in a high-growth startup.
- Proven track record of taking something from zero to one (and beyond) – launching products, driving growth, and owning outcomes.
- Strong product and customer instincts; comfortable running experiments and making decisions from data and user insight.
- Commercial and growth mindset, with an understanding of unit economics and sustainable acquisition.
- Leadership and communication skills to attract, inspire and align a small, high-performing team and external stakeholders.
- Genuine passion for building a startup from ground up.
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What We Offer
- A unique "founder with a safety net" opportunity: you build like a founder, with the backing of an experienced venture studio.
- Direct access to AINAD’s product, engineering, growth, talent, finance and legal support.
- The chance to shape a company’s culture, product and trajectory from the earliest stage.
Location
We are flexible on location, with a preference for candidates who can spend meaningful time in key markets (e.g. US/UK/Europe). Hybrid/remote working is supported.
If you’re an entrepreneurial builder who wants to lead a venture from the earliest stages through to CEO, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply with your CV/LinkedIn and a short note on why you’re excited this Founder-in-Residence path.
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