Founder

About the Role

A Foundery is a venture studio that builds profitable AI-enabled businesses alongside exceptional founders. We become your venture-building partner with the goal of helping you acquire your first paying customer within 90 days. This intensive, in-person Founder Residency is designed to validate a business opportunity, build a solution customers value, and secure your first paying customer.

Program Details

The Founder Residency is a 90-day, in-person venture-building program located in Princeton, New Jersey. Founders must be legally authorized to work in the United States and willing to relocate for the full residency. The program operates under a consulting agreement, with successful participants potentially receiving a full-time employment offer as Venture Builders.

During the residency, you will receive:

• Up to $11,000 in Founder Residency Support to offset relocation and residency-related expenses.
• Access to Foundery OS, including AI tools, business systems, and daily collaboration with experienced founders and operators.
• A focused environment designed for execution.

Responsibilities

As the Founder, you own the business and are responsible for:

• Talking to customers and understanding real customer problems.
• Validating market demand and building the right solution.
• Winning your first paying customers and building lasting customer relationships.
• Leading the growth of your company.

No one can build trust with customers better than the founder—this responsibility cannot be delegated.

Foundery OS Support

While you focus on customers and growing your business, Foundery OS provides the operational foundation to accelerate execution:

• Founder Backing: Early-stage venture funding, resources, and operational support to transform ideas into real businesses.
• Venture Support: Residency support, AI platforms, automation tools, proven operating systems, playbooks, templates, and workflows.
• Business Infrastructure: Professional office space, meeting rooms, collaboration facilities, and business technology tools.
• Business Operations: HR, recruiting, accounting, finance, legal coordination, and back-office support.
• Founder Development: Weekly founder reviews, strategic guidance, accountability coaching, access to experienced entrepreneurs, advisors, and a community of ambitious founders.

Graduation and Venture Builder Opportunity

Success is measured by outcomes. To complete the residency, you must demonstrate:

• A validated business opportunity.
• A solution customers value.
• Your first paying customer.
• Strong execution and founder-level ownership.

Founders who successfully complete the residency may receive an offer to join A Foundery as a Venture Builder, with the following potential terms:

• Annual salary of $80,000 to $120,000.
• Performance-based bonuses.
• Long-term leadership opportunities.
• Continued access to Foundery OS.
• Opportunity to accumulate significant equity through sustained execution and measurable business performance.

Long-Term Vision

Our goal is to help you build a company that no longer depends on us. Within one year, we aim for you to lead an independent company with:

• Paying customers and growing recurring revenue.
• Repeatable operating systems and AI-enabled business processes.
• A capable team and sustainable business model.
• Increasing ownership and long-term wealth creation.

Our success is measured by your independence—when your company grows because of your leadership, not our daily involvement.

Ownership Philosophy

Ownership is earned through sustained execution, leadership, and business performance. We believe founders who create long-term value should share meaningfully in that value. Unlike traditional models where founders dilute ownership, our goal is to help you increase your ownership as you demonstrate the ability to build and lead.

Qualifications

We prioritize your ability to build over your résumé. Ideal candidates:

• Think like an owner and embrace accountability.
• Learn quickly and execute consistently.
• Enjoy solving difficult problems and are comfortable with uncertainty.
• Use AI to increase effectiveness.
• Want to create long-term value rather than just earn a paycheck.

Backgrounds may include software engineering, product management, AI, consulting, operations, finance, sales, or entrepreneurship.

Who This Is Not For

This opportunity may not suit you if you:

• Prefer a traditional corporate career or predictable routines.
• Avoid accountability or customer interactions.
• Expect guaranteed outcomes without measurable execution.
• Aren’t willing to relocate to Princeton for the residency.