Founders Associate, Office of the CEO

Distyl AI, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical insurance

401(k)

Job summary

Distyl AI, Inc. is hiring a Founders Associate to work directly with the CEO and executive team on strategic initiatives. This high-impact role spans strategy, operations, and AI-focused growth, with opportunities to shape how an AI-native enterprise scales.

You will move quickly, structure ambiguous problems, interview stakeholders, and deliver recommendations that drive execution. The role offers close exposure to leadership and a path to influence core company-building efforts.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years in consulting, investment banking, corporate strategy, private equity, or a high-growth technology environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Intellectual curiosity and comfort operating in fast-moving environments.
• Demonstrated initiative and strong ownership mentality.
• Highly organized and proactive.
• Execution-oriented and detail-conscious.

Responsibilities

• Drive high-priority strategic and operational initiatives for the CEO and executive team.
• Turn undefined goals into structured analyses, recommendations, and executable plans.
• Evaluate markets, customer opportunities, partnerships, and areas of strategic investment.
• Support initiatives related to AI adoption, business operations, growth, and organizational scale.
• Conduct customer, market, and competitive research through quantitative analysis and stakeholder interviews.
• Build decision materials and communicate clear recommendations to senior leadership.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives and maintain accountability for execution.
• Develop operating systems, dashboards, and processes that improve visibility and decision-making.
• Identify emerging opportunities in AI and translate them into potential business applications.
• Move between strategy and execution, staying involved until the intended outcome is achieved.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Ownership mindset

Organizational skills

Job description

About Distyl AI

Distyl is an applied AI technology company partnering with the world's most ambitious institutions to rearchitect critical operations for the frontier of AI. Our customers include the largest companies in telecom, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, consumer goods, and global social organizations.

We research and deploy technologies that power AI-native operations --- both for our partners and for Distyl itself. Our work spans research into self-constructing systems, the development of the most reliable execution of AI systems, and products that transform mission-critical workflows. As a result, Distyl's technologies affect some of the world's largest operations --- from hundreds of millions of consumer interactions to tens of millions of supply chain transactions and millions of patient journeys.

Distyl is backed by leading investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Coatue, DST Global, and the board-members of 20+ F500s.

What We Are Looking For

Distyl is hiring a Founders Associate to work directly with the CEO and executive team on the company's highest-priority strategic and operational initiatives. This is a high-impact role for someone with experience across strategy, investing, operations, or technology who wants to help build and scale an AI company from the inside.

You will work across AI adoption, growth strategy, company-building, and execution. Projects may include evaluating new markets, turning emerging opportunities into operating plans, supporting critical executive decisions, and building the systems and processes Distyl needs as it scales.

The work will move quickly and often begin without a defined playbook. Success will require someone who can structure ambiguous problems, develop a clear point of view, and remain closely involved through implementation. You should be equally comfortable analyzing a new opportunity, interviewing stakeholders, preparing a recommendation for leadership, and driving the resulting work forward.

This role offers close exposure to the CEO and senior leadership, broad visibility across the company, and the opportunity to help shape how an AI‑native enterprise is built.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive high-priority strategic and operational initiatives on behalf of the CEO and executive team
• Turn loosely defined goals into structured analyses, recommendations, and executable plans
• Evaluate new markets, customer opportunities, partnerships, and areas of strategic investment
• Support initiatives related to AI adoption, business operations, growth, and organizational scale
• Conduct customer, market, and competitive research through quantitative analysis and stakeholder interviews
• Build decision materials and communicate clear recommendations to senior leadership
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives and maintain accountability for execution and follow-through
• Develop operating systems, dashboards, and processes that improve visibility and decision-making
• Identify emerging opportunities in AI and translate them into potential business applications
• Move between strategy and execution, staying involved until the intended outcome is achieved

Who You Are

Required

• 2--5 years in consulting, investment banking, corporate strategy, private equity, or a high‑growth technology environment
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Intellectual curiosity and comfort operating in fast‑moving environments
• Demonstrated initiative and strong ownership mentality
• Highly organized and proactive
• Execution-oriented and detail‑conscious

What We Offer

• The base salary range for this role is $130K -- $170K, depending on experience, location, and level. In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for meaningful equity, along with a comprehensive benefits package
• 100% covered medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents
• 401(k) with additional perks (e.g., commuter benefits, in‑office lunch)
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art models, generous usage of modern AI tools, and real‑world business problems
• Ownership of high‑impact projects across top enterprises
• A mission‑driven, fast‑moving culture that prizes curiosity, pragmatism, and excellence

Distyl has offices in San Francisco and New York. This role follows a hybrid collaboration model with 3+ days per week (Tuesday--Thursday) in‑office.

#LI-Hybrid

We believe diverse perspectives make our work stronger and more impactful. We are an equal opportunity employer and evaluate all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.