Program Manager

Key; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to premier venture capital

Frontier AI ecosystem

High-visibility role

Job summary

Key Studio is seeking an operational, energetic Program Manager to lead the 12-week fall cohort in a hybrid role based in the San Francisco Bay Area. You will coordinate founder experience, mentor matching, and VC introductions while managing on-ground cohort operations.

You will work with top founders, advisors, and investors to deliver high-impact programming, capstone demos, and community events in the Bay Area. This role demands strong execution and relationship-building skills.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years in startup accelerator/incubator program management or venture capital operations.
• Experience in high-growth tech program management is preferred.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities for multi-week programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day admin of the 12-week program, including orientation and weekly check-ins.
• Build trusted relationships with founders and connect them with resources.
• Facilitate 1:1 introductions between founders and advisor network and VCs.
• Schedule and host guest speakers, masterclasses, and office hours on AI product development, fundraising, and GTM.
• Plan and run in-person dinners, pitch practices, and networking events in Palo Alto.

Skills

Startup accelerator management

Operations & execution

Networking & communication

Program leadership

Job description

Operational, high-energy Program Manager to lead the 12-week fall cohort of Key Studio - an AI venture program backed by Google's AI Futures Fund for ex-Google founders. Own founder experience, mentor matching, VC pipeline, and in-person event execution across the SF Bay Area.

About Key Studio

Key Studio is an AI venture program backed by Google's AI Futures Fund. Designed specifically for ex-Google founders building the next generation of AI-first companies.

Key Studio works with selected founders with early access to frontier Gemini models, up to $350K in cloud credits, program funding, and mentorship from industry icons like Marissa Mayer, Aydin Senkut, Sunita Verma, Christine Tsai, Bradley Horowitz, Catherine Lacavera, Claire Hughes Johnson, Gretchen Howard, and Caesar Sengupta. The first cohort features founders from the Ex-Google community – Xoogler.co. It connects 35,000+ current and former Google employees driving innovation, mentorship, and investment across the startup ecosystem.

About The Role

We are seeking an operational, highly energetic Program Manager to lead the day-to-day execution of our flagship 12-week fall cohort in a hybrid capacity located in the San Francisco Bay Area. You will serve as the engine of the cohort—acting as the primary point of contact for admitted founders, coordinating high-impact programming and mentor matching, driving VC pipeline introductions, and managing on-the-ground cohort operations/ community.

Key Responsibilities

Cohort Management & Founder Experience

Onboarding & Operations: Lead the day-to-day administration of the 12-week program, ensuring seamless execution of orientation, weekly founder check-ins, workshops, and capstone pitch/demo days.

Founder Support: Build deep, trusted relationships with participating founders; identify their operational, technical, or other needs and proactively connect them with resources.

Mentor & Ecosystem Engagement

Mentor Matching: Facilitate targeted 1:1 introductions between founders and Key Studio's elite advisor network (founders, executives, and top-tier VCs).

Speaker Series & Workshops: Schedule, brief, and host guest speakers, masterclasses, and tactical office hours focusing on AI product development, fundraising, and GTM strategy.

Event Production & Community

In-Person Events & Demo Day Execution: Plan and run weekly in-person dinners, pitch practices, and networking mixers in Palo Alto

Qualification & Experience

Experience: 3-5+ years in startup accelerator/incubator program management, venture capital operations, startup community lead roles, or high-growth tech program management.

Superb Operations & Execution: Exceptional organizational and multi-tasking skills with a proven track record of delivering high-stakes, multi-week programs on tight timelines.

Networker & Communicator: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; comfortable interfacing with high-profile founders, corporate executives, and VC partners.

Location & Availability: Must be based in San Francisco Bay Area and commute to Palo Alto where we expect most of our events will be hosted and available for the full 3-month duration.

Event Management: Experience running founder-focused Demo Days, investor pitch sessions, or boutique tech dinners.

What We Offer

• Access & Network: Unrivaled exposure to premier venture capital firms, top-tier AI founders, and senior Silicon Valley operators.
• Frontier AI Ecosystem: Direct involvement at the intersection of Google's AI Futures Fund, frontier model access, and early-stage startup creation.
• Impact: A high-visibility role shaping the trajectories of high-potential AI ventures.

Compensation & Terms

Employment type: Contract · 3 months· convertible to permanent.

Compensation: 48,000-100,000 USD/year, based on experience and location.