Founders Associate

Job description

ABOUT TAVUS Tavus is a research lab pioneering human computing. We’re building AI Humans — a new interface that closes the gap between people and machines. Our real-time human simulation models allow machines to see, hear, respond, and even look real, enabling natural, face-to-face conversations at scale. We are backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, Y Combinator, and Scale Venture Partners. FOUNDERS ASSOCIATE We’re building one of the most ambitious companies in AI. This is not a typical Founders Associate role. It’s a high-intensity, high-exposure position working directly with the founder at the center of the company — helping drive critical decisions, execute across the business, and solve problems that don’t have clear answers. If you’re early in your career and want a front-row seat to building a category-defining company, this is one of the highest-leverage roles you can take. THE ROLE You’ll operate as a true right hand to the founder — embedded in everything from day-to-day operations to the most strategic initiatives across the company. No two weeks will look the same. • Driving key cross-functional projects (e.g. hiring strategy, data infrastructure, company metrics) • Supporting board-level and strategic initiatives (M&A; financial analysis, planning) • Owning internal operations (offsites, logistics, systems, cadence) • Helping unblock teams and push forward high-priority work • Diving into new problem spaces with little context and figuring them out quickly This role involves constant context switching, ambiguity, and ownership. WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR We care far more about how you think and operate than your exact background. • 0–4 years of experience (or exceptional new grad) • Backgrounds in consulting (McKinsey, Bain, BCG), banking, private equity, or high-growth startups • Demonstrated ability to operate in high-performance, high-expectation environments Core traits: • High agency — you take ownership without being asked • Curiosity — you ask the right questions and go deep, not just execute tasks • Polish — strong communication, attention to detail, and professional judgment • Work ethic — you’re willing to go all-in when it matters • Intellectual sharpness — you can quickly understand complex problems and structure solutions WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE UNIQUE • You will have unusually deep access to the company and how decisions are made • You’ll work directly with the founder across nearly every part of the business • You’ll gain exposure to strategy, operations, hiring, GTM, and more • The learning curve is steep — and so is the growth trajectory This is not a 9–5 role. It’s intense, fast-paced, and often unstructured. A meaningful portion of the work will be operational or unglamorous — but it’s all part of how companies are actually built. WHY JOIN For the right person, this is a career-defining role. If you’re early in your career, highly driven, and want to compress years of learning into one — this is the kind of opportunity that rarely exists