You Are Not an Employee. You Are a Force Multiplier.
A Founder Associate is not a generalist assistant. You are an autonomous operator who amplifies a founder’s capability without requiring direct management.
Founder’s Associate
Founder carries the retainer risk
Founder owns the workflow
One startup
Fixed salary or retainer
Embedded under one founder
Founder lets you go = zero income
Founder Associate
You earn your way in, commission-first
You own your practice
Multiple founders as clients
Retainers you generate + uncapped commission
Independent operator with a portfolio of clients
Portfolio grows; you scale your own firm
At Founder.Careers, we dropped the apostrophe. We took the ownership away from the founder and gave it to the operator. The platform vets you, feeds you warm leads, and gives you the infrastructure. You build the portfolio.
The 12-Month Journey
Month 1–3
Venture Scout
Initio Capital
Engage warm founder leads. Book attended discovery calls.
Get paid for networking
Month 3
Assess
Track Assignment
Proof-based evaluation. No automatic progression. You earn your track.
Months 4–6
Portfolio Ramp-Up
2 Founders
Build your first retainer relationships. Learn the 4D Framework.
Begin growing portfolio
Months 7–12
Full Portfolio
3–5 Founders
Run your own practice. Independent operator with platform infrastructure.
Grow & Manage Portfolio
Annual Total: £60,000-£70,000 Y1 (Estimated)
End of Year 1: Three Outcomes
Placement
Step into a full-time senior operator role inside a portfolio company you have helped grow.
Build a Team
Grow your own portfolio as a senior Associate or portfolio lead. Manage other Associates and scale your practice.
Launch Your Venture
Use the network, capital, and experience you have built to become a founder yourself.
There is no single ‘correct’ path. There is only proof.
We Onboard from Proof, Not CVs
01
Pre-Screen (The Vibe Check)
15–20 minutes
We assess whether you are suitable for outcome-based work and what you actually want from your career.
Pass or Fail. Pass, and you move to Screening.
02
Screening
30–45 minutes
We assess whether you lean toward the Venture Partner track (closer instincts) or the Founder Associate track (portfolio mindset).
Track assignment + onboarding invitation.
03
Onboarding
Stripe Marketplace setup. You get paid directly, no admin overhead. Signed NDA and contractor agreement. Active @founder.careers email. Access to CRM, Google Chat, and the Associate Portal.
How You Earn
Platform-Sourced Clients
You receive
75% of gross retainer
Example
Initio Capital referrals
Founder.Careers retains
25% (includes 10% referral fee)
Clients sourced via the platform. You focus on delivery. We handle the pipeline.
Self-Sourced Clients
You receive
90% of gross retainer
Example
Founders you bring in yourself
Founder.Careers retains
10%
You sourced them. You keep the lion’s share.
The Threshold Model
Retainers are the starting gun, not the finish line. Commission triggers only after delivering value beyond the retainer. You are incentivised to over-deliver, not coast. Founders only pay commission when they have already received value. No glass ceiling. Your income is a function of your output and your portfolio size, not your job title.
What You Get From Day One
The Platform Behind You
Platform credibility — represent an AI-native venture studio from the start
Infrastructure ready — CRM, payments, scheduling, Associate Portal
Clear progression — proof-based advancement, no politics
Autonomy — choose your tools, workflows, and portfolio mix
Warm leads from day one — no cold calling into the void
Community — access to partners, capital, and founder networks
What We Expect of You
Communication — clear, prompt, professional in every interaction
CRM discipline — every touchpoint logged with context
Outcome focus — you measure yourself by results, not effort
Network growth — you are actively building relationships, not just processing tasks
Coachability — you take feedback and implement it fast
Your Next Step
If you are an ambitious operator who wants to build something real, start here.
Michael Garrett | Founder, Founder.Careers | michael@founder.careers