Principal
PSL is a startup studio and early-stage venture capital fund focused on the next generation of software and service – and especially AI – companies based in the Pacific Northwest. After testing hundreds of ideas and creating over 40 startups over the past decade, we have developed a successful, systematic approach for validating, launching, and scaling great ideas. See a few examples here. We believe in the transformational power of AI. As we’ve built and invested in more than a dozen AI companies over the past few years, we’ve realized that these tools are real, important, and core to the technological future of work and life.
We’re looking for people to help us define that future.We are looking for a Principal to help us build great companies. You’ll spend your time in the studio, where you will work rapidly to advance ideas from their utmost nascency to create scaled businesses led by exceptional entrepreneurs. As part of the job, you will help define and interrogate the questions that will determine the success or failure of a startup. Working in conjunction with the rest of the PSL Core team, you’ll act as the Swiss Army knife “dream cofounder.” You’ll talk to hundreds of customers and synthesize insights, develop and refine the business model, run digital marketing campaigns to test market pull, use AI to create initial prototypes, develop company narratives and work with product teams to build early MVPs that can gain market traction.Most of the time (around 90%) you’ll be the first to tell us why an idea won’t work.
The other 10%, you’ll be the first to tell us why it’s our next billion-dollar business. You are curious, optimistic yet discerning, and highly autonomous. You absolutely love startups.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Identify, evaluate and drive potential spinouts and new technologies using financial models and market research
- Recruit and collaborate with founders and entrepreneurs-in-residence to drive their success and help establish product market fit
- Serve as a thought partner and “do-er” alongside a PSL Managing Director
- Communicate a clear vision through presentations and communications materials
In this role, a typical day might include the following . . .
- Act as the “pre-CEO” of a business, catalyzing it from just an idea into a plan for validation, product creation, studio spinout and venture scale-up
- Own and drive the schedules of key deliverables/milestones to create a venture-scale company
- Execute demand-gen programs and run customer interviews to get a deep understanding of the problem(s) to be solved
- Collaborate with an amazing multi-disciplinary team of developers, designers, growth marketers, data scientists to craft new products
- Use AI tools to build a quick demo to help a customer imagine what’s possible
- Prepare sales narratives and investor decks to communicate new ideas to various stakeholders
- Set the foundation of operating plans and financial models as new companies are formed
- Partner closely with a founder on whatever problem is keeping you both up at night
- Engage deeply with the startup community to recruit founders or early team members
- Improve the overall systems, tools, and content of the PSL Studio, pushing for continuous improvement
Signs this might be a fit
- You’ve founded your own company and know what it takes
- You owned and launched a winning product at or for a tech company
- You’ve been building technical side-projects while doing your day job
- You have strong UX, prototyping, customer research, growth, branding or tech chops
- You worked in an early-stage startup or development agency in a product leadership role
- You’ve run growth to efficiently acquire customers at an early-stage company
- Have seen a product through to product/market fit and customer traction
- You are a thought leader and have community presence online
Preferred Skills and Qualifications:
- Comfort with ambiguity and risk
- Self-motivated team-player with a relentlessly positive attitude and instinct to respond to team needs
- Strong financial analysis and financial modeling skills
- Ability to work well in a team and think creatively and strategically
- Experience in product management or business strategy at a startup
- Technical knowledge in a particular industry
- Organized and detail-oriented project manager who can stay on top of complex projects
- Articulate and thoughtful communicator that can turn complex ideas into easy to digest deliverables, presentations, content, and communications
- Relationship builder with a strong, low-ego working style that can collaborate and support across all levels of an organization
The salary range for this position is $160,000-$190,000 annually. Please note that the base salary range is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as the candidate's relevant experience, qualifications, education, skill level, competencies and work location. In addition, this position is eligible for an equity grant.PSL provides the following benefit for regular, full time employees:
- Medical, dental, vision, EAP and life insurance. Employee premiums are covered at 100% and dependent premiums are covered at 75%
- Long and Short term disability coverage fully paid for by PSL
- Self-managed paid time off
- Commuter benefit of either a fully subsidized ORCA pass or a parking spot (value up to $325/month)
- Once weekly lunch delivery
- Two volunteer days off to dedicate to a cause important to you
- Professional development allowance up to $1500 annually
We are an equal opportunity employer and highly value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
