Founder's Associate

Coffee core; Karnataka; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Equity

Fast-Track Career

Job summary

Coffee core in Karnataka seeks a Founder's Associate to work directly with the leadership, driving growth, streamlining operations, and building teams in a high-agency startup environment.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, coordinate across Marketing, Product/Kitchen, Finance, and Tech, and help establish foundational operating rhythms, culture, and accountability as the company scales.

Qualifications

• Zero-to-One builder mindset and ability to thrive in chaos.
• F&B/Retail curiosity and willingness to learn margins, shelf life, retail footfall, and D2C logistics.
• Exceptional communication skills for vendor negotiations, memo writing, and cross-team alignment.
• 1-3 years of experience in a high-growth startup, consulting, VC, or as an entrepreneur.

Responsibilities

• Execute the annual and quarterly growth strategy with new store launches, market expansion, franchises, and partnerships.
• Define and track North-Star metrics and KPIs across stores, supply chain, and customer experience.
• Lead small cross-functional project teams (2-8 members) and ensure delivery.
• Bridge between the Founder and department heads to align priorities across Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, HR.
• Support the Founder in hiring and building key roles, including JD drafting, interviews, and onboarding.

Education

MBA

Job description

We are a Early-Stage Retail & F&B brand As we expand our store footprint, supply chain, and product offerings, our Founder is looking for a Founder's Associate - a high-agency, sharp operator who will work directly alongside the leadership to drive growth, streamline operations, and build teams.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY

Strategic Initiatives

• Execute the annual and quarterly growth strategy - new store launches, market expansion, franchise models, and brand partnerships.
• Define and track North-Star metrics and KPIs across stores, supply chain, and customer experience.
• Defining Culture: Help establish the foundational operating rhythms, communication tools, and culture of the startup.
• Lead and manage small cross-functional project teams (2-8 members) on high-priority initiatives, ensuring accountability and delivery.
• Act as a bridge between the Founder and department heads (Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, HR) to ensure alignment on priorities.
• Support the Founder in hiring and building key roles - drafting JDs, conducting interviews, and onboarding critical hires.
• Drive a performance culture - set up review cadences, feedback loops, and incentive structures for store-level and central teams.

Operational & Cross -Functional Execution

• Coordinate across Marketing, Product/Kitchen, Finance, and Tech teams to launch new menu items, seasonal campaigns, or loyalty programs
• Licensing & Compliance: Navigate the red tape. Help secure necessary food licenses, health permits, and business registrations.
• Tech Stack: Evaluate and set up our initial operational software (inventory management, accounting, early CRM, and future POS systems).

WHO YOU ARE

• A "Zero-to-One" Builder: You thrive in chaos. You don’t need a corporate structure to get things done; you create the structure.
• F&B / Retail Curious: You love consumer brands. You understand (or are eager to learn) the nuances of F&B margins, shelf life, retail footfall, or D2C logistics.
• Exceptional Communicator: You can negotiate with a tough vendor, write a clear memo for investors, and keep the team aligned.
• Experience: 1-3 years of experience in a high-growth startup, consulting, venture capital, or as an entrepreneur. (MBA grads with a entrepreneur mindset are welcome).

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive Base Salary: We pay for top talent. You will receive a strong, market-competitive base salary. We don't expect you to work for "pizza and promises."
• Equity: While we keep our cap table tight, we offer a meaningful equity stake (ESOPs) so that as we scale, win, and increase in valuation, you share directly in the financial upside.
• Fast-Track Career: As the company scales, this role is designed to transition into a core leadership position (e.g., Head of Operations, Chief of Staff, or General Manager )