Entrepreneurs First
Senior Associate - Deep Tech
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Senior Associate – Frontier Technology Talent Investor
In 2027, Entrepreneurs First (EF) will launch a cohort dedicated to founders venturing into frontier technologies. We are seeking a Senior Associate to identify and nurture these exceptional individuals, ensuring they achieve their full potential. Your mission? To find them, then help them build a moonshot.
You'll gain deep, hands-on exposure to world-class founders, influence million-dollar investments annually in London, and play a pivotal role in shaping a new category of venture capital.
This isn’t just impact—it’s building the future.
Who We’re Looking For
You likely already have:
- 4–8+ years of experience in deep-tech as a founder, operator, or investor
- Craft-minded ambitions and a drive to master the role of Talent Investor
- The potential to become a Principal within 18–24 months of joining
This isn’t for the average solo builder. You are intellectually restless, driven, and networked.
The Five Traits of a Talent Investor
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Intellectually Curious
- Seek the foundations of ideas and belief systems.
- Engage in multi-disciplinary, often obscure knowledge-building.
- Demo resilience through self-directed learning—speed and adaptability matter.
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Driven to Ambitious Outcomes
- Move mountains when necessary.
- Treat excellence as a holistic, iterative pursuit—twisting problems into opportunities.
- Take no for an answer and forge creative solutions.
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A Master Network Creator
- Weave intra- and inter-network connections professionally and personally.
- Build exceptional relationships at all levels, from peers to seniors.
- Enjoy the chemistry of bringing powerhouses and independents into clear, deliberate conversations.
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A Discerning Judge of Human Potential
- Hold elevated expectations for yourself and those you encounter.
- Work the line between optimism and realism with radar honed to the subtle chemistry of ambition.
- See awareness and potential where others miss it—believing first.
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A Frontier Technologist by Instinct
- Fascinated by technology’s transformative potential, specifically in early-stage company building.
- Ideally, you’ve embodied deep expertise in frontier technologies through:
- Formal study (degree, postgraduate research, or formal qualification)
- Informal immersion (praxis, deep side-projects, or entrepreneurial prototyping)
The Work
You will shape how Entrepreneurs First scouts and supports the world’s frontier-moving founders. Overarching responsibilities:
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Develop frontier pioneer theses Synthesise the signals that anticipate the next Homebrew Computer Club. Ask: "Where do we spot exceptionality in early years (learners, makers, builders, doers)?" Apply creativity to discovering unconventional pipelines—uncover that latent potential.
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Act as a trusted steward for wonderful people Help them unlock their ambition from day one:
- Advise on vague-to-forged career decisions
- Support in building companies and pitching/raising capital
- Undo self-doubt: they matter more than they may realise—drive that calm certainty through the mess.
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Continuously refine your mental model of exceptionalism Track patterns in the defining archetypes of frontier founders. Update your hypothesis of telltale signatures of human potential.
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Expand your relational breadth Ethically mine relationships with experts and edge personalities across disciplines. Build cultural intelligence by amplifying encounter value.
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Formal influence over EF’s founder-decisioning Be a key voice in which founders/organisations we invest in—where rigor meets mission.
Potential Origins of the Epic
If you do this brilliantly, you’ll help birth iconic frontier companies of tomorrow. Although this portfolio is just a sample, it offers proof of concept:
🔹 Tractable – A project leading AI vision unicorn. Co-founded by Razvan & Alex—two founder-graduates of Imperial in CS linked by a Talent Investor.
🔹 Magic Pony Technology – AI triple-threat company acquired by Twitter for $150M. Founded by Rob and Zehan—addressable at Imperial (Rob) and introduced early by a Talent Investor who suggested he take the first Raspberry Pi employee role.
🔹 Ochre Bio – A maverick AI drug discovery startup despatch tyre shipping in Costa Rica. Co-founded by Jack and Quin—contact reached by a Talent Investor while building a treehouse. (Side project facilitation = ecosystem servicing.)
*And many others—some underlying:._ 🔹 Gensyn (prevalent compute) 🔹 Callosum – (AI-driven inference) 🔹 Open Cosmos – (orbital satellite for specialists)
These founder-surges all stemmed from Someone who saw something no one did.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
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