Investment Strategy Intern-Office of the CEO

About the role

The Investment Strategy Intern supports the CEO in designing and refining xPL's venture selection criteria, capital structure decisions, and investor-facing strategy. This is not a general business internship; you will work directly with the CEO on the investment logic that decides which ventures xPL builds, how they are capitalized, and how they are positioned to institutional investors.

Responsibilities

• Research and score candidate industries and verticals against xPL's studio-fit criteria (fragmentation, regulatory complexity, moat depth, buyer concentration)
• Build and maintain venture screening models: market sizing, competitive landscape, unit economics benchmarks
• Support design and refinement of studio-level capital structures, including equity retention models, carry pool mechanics, and fund structuring logic
• Assist in preparing investor-facing materials: fundraise decks, capital layer documentation, and return scenario models (conservative, base, optimistic cases)
• Track and synthesize comparable data from venture studio peers, fund-of-funds structures, and relevant public benchmarks
• Maintain source discipline on all figures used in strategy work: every number must be tagged by origin (confirmed input, industry-standard benchmark, or external reference data) and unsourced figures must be flagged, not assumed
• Draft internal memos and decision briefs that surface open strategic questions requiring CEO or IC decision, rather than resolving ambiguity by assumption

Requirements

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in finance, economics, business, or a related quantitative field
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills (Excel/Google Sheets required; exposure to cap tables, waterfall models, or fund structures a plus)
• Demonstrated interest in venture capital, private equity, or venture studio models, evidenced by coursework, prior internships, or independent research
• Excellent written communication; able to produce precise, well-sourced analysis without embellishment
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and bringing structure to open-ended strategic questions
• High attention to detail and intellectual honesty: willing to flag inconsistencies or gaps in analysis rather than smooth over them

Benefits

• Direct, sustained exposure to CEO-level strategic and investment decision-making at an operating venture studio
• Hands-on experience with the full venture studio capital stack, from operating-layer validation vehicles through institutional fund structures
• Exposure to real fundraising materials and investor relations processes at the SFO/institutional level
• Mentorship from a CEO who expects rigor, direct communication, and independent judgment, not agreement for its own sake