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Full-Time

AI Fund-Principal

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

AI Fund

AI Fund

11-50 employees

Venture capital firm specializing in AI startups

Venture Capital

Entry, Junior

Palo Alto, CA, USA

Category
Project Management
Business Development
Business & Strategy
Required Skills
Market Research
Communications
Requirements
  • Able to work well with senior executives in a way that makes efficient use of their time.
  • Excellent quantitative and analytical skills normally found with STEM degrees or equivalent background where you have practiced and honed such skill sets.
  • Previous 0 to 1 software startup experience as a founder or founding team member.
  • At least one of (i) Previous experience working in venture capital assessing business plans and working with start-ups and entrepreneurs, or (ii) technical startup experience in a product or building capacity.
  • Strong due diligence skills including market research, competitive market mapping, trend analysis, TAM/SAM/SOM analysis, go-to-market strategy formulation, and pro-forma financial construction and analysis.
  • Ability to write and read rudimentary software code, especially within the context of AI applications.
  • Proactive self-starter with a strong work ethic and ownership mentality.
  • Excellent organizational skills to keep projects moving forward to meet predetermined milestones.
  • Growth and technical startup mindset. This may include willingness to try and fail but try again, biased to action, capable of handling ambiguity, scrappy, flexible and comfortable being outside of one’s comfort zone, able to learn from and incorporate feedback to enhance one’s analytical and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Strong writing and presentation skills.
Responsibilities
  • Carry out ideation and early product validation. You will be responsible for working with our partners to quickly validate or falsify specific ideas. This may involve generating candidate business concepts, prototyping, and customer interview work.
  • Build a business case. For ideas that seem promising, you will be responsible for building a case for the business, including such elements as a TAM/SAM/SOM analysis, initial business model and initial GTM strategy, and compiling a pitch deck-like document that communicates the main thesis of the business, minimum viable product, initial go-to-market, and long-term vision.
  • Assist with bringing on FIRs (Founders in Residence). You will play an instrumental role in explaining the business idea to potential founders, helping them understand the potential of the business, and working to bring on a strong FIR to carry the business forward through a three month company Build Stage.
  • Support FIR, Venture Advisor, and AI Fund Partner through initial phases of the project. AI Fund and the FIR will meet regularly during the Build Stage. You will be carrying out both product and program management roles during this period. As program manager, you will stay on top of all of the communication internally and externally with the FIR, as well as communicate schedules and track milestones. You will report out to the Venture Advisor and Partner key update, as well as ensure fast escalation should any problems arise. As product manager, you will assist with customer discovery calls, identify customer needs, work to explore and achieve product-market fit, research competitors and substitutes, coordinate internal and external resources, build financial models, work on the pitch deck and anything upon request by the FIR, Venture Advisor or Partner.
  • Support the AI Fund’s investment decision at the conclusion of the Build Stage. You will be helping to build a case for whether or not the AI Fund should invest.
  • Continue to follow and support the new portfolio company as it grows its team, builds its product, closes its initial customers, and faces down challenges en route to closing its first external round of financing.

AI Fund is an ideal workplace for those who value collaboration in the pioneering field of artificial intelligence. Founded by Dr. Andrew Ng, this venture capital firm specializes in supporting startups in the vulnerable initial stages of development, providing crucial capital, expertise, and strategic direction. With strong backing from major VC firms like NEA, Sequoia, and Greylock, the company not only promises a stimulating environment but also offers a unique opportunity to work alongside top-tier AI experts and seasoned entrepreneurs.

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

$352.2M

Headquarters

Palo Alto, California

Founded

2017

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • AI Fund's collaboration with industry leaders like AES and Columbus Consulting International opens up significant opportunities for innovation and market impact.
  • The fund's involvement in high-profile projects and companies, such as Amazon and Podcastle, enhances its reputation and potential for high returns.
  • AI Fund's focus on AI-driven solutions in diverse sectors, from energy to retail, provides a broad range of opportunities for growth and diversification.

What critics are saying

  • The rapid pace of AI development requires continuous adaptation and innovation, posing a challenge for maintaining a competitive edge.
  • Dependence on the success of AI-driven startups means that failures could significantly impact the fund's overall performance.

What makes AI Fund unique

  • AI Fund, led by AI luminary Andrew Ng, leverages his extensive expertise and network to rapidly build and scale AI-driven companies, setting it apart from traditional venture capital firms.
  • The fund's strategic partnerships, such as with AES for AI-driven energy solutions, highlight its focus on impactful, industry-specific AI applications.
  • AI Fund's venture studio model provides deep technical expertise, market validation, and comprehensive business support, offering a more hands-on approach compared to typical investment firms.