Founding Marketplace Operations LeadLocation: San Francisco, CA or Phoenix, AZ (In-person) | Seniority: Founding Operator | Comp: Meaningful Founding Equity Overview EQL Tech has been exclusively retained to recruit a Founding Marketplace Operations Lead for a high-growth, mission-driven fintech startup.This company is building the commercial infrastructure for the $900B US Public Education budget. As states shift toward family-controlled Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), this platform acts as the financial rail allowing parents to direct an average of $7.5k per child toward the education services they choose.With $16M raised from top-tier VCs, the team is composed of elite engineers and operators from Goldman Sachs, Stripe, Microsoft, and SpaceX.The Role You will own the economics and vendor partnerships of a pre-category education marketplace. This is a "playbook from scratch" role combining commercial negotiation, deep data analysis, and community trust.Analyze Spend Data: Dig into real transaction data to identify categories and purchase flows that matter most by frequency, volume, and margin opportunity.SQL Mastery: You must be able to independently access and interpret underlying transaction data to defend your category thesis.Category Strategy: Decide who to partner with and why - from local micro-schools to national enterprise vendors like Amazon and Target.Negotiate Agreements: Structure commercial deals and commission logic that improve company margin and leverage over time.Steer Volume: Influence spend through product and ops (preferred vendors, discovery, faster approvals) without degrading family trust.High-Stakes Compliance: Account for evolving ESA eligibility rules across different states in your roadmap.RequirementsIdeal Background3–7 years in marketplace operations, category management, or strategic partnerships.Technical bar: SQL is essential for this role.Marketplace Experience: Proven track record in two-sided supply/demand dynamics (e.g., experience at Amazon, Instacart, Faire, or similar).Negotiation: Experience structuring end-to-end vendor deals at meaningful scale.Pedigree Signal: Strong undergraduate degree or MBA from top-tier institutions (Stanford GSB, Harvard, Wharton, MIT Sloan).Culture & CommitmentIn-Person Intensity: This is an in-person team working together in the office full-time.Decisive & Fast: You form views with incomplete information and update them quickly as data arrives."Get on the Plane": You are willing to do the ground-level work, including regular travel to visit vendors and families.Integrity: You refuse to chase margin at the expense of long-term community credibility.BenefitsCommitment, Compensation & BenefitsThis will be a big commitment, and we're aiming high. It needs to be something you are energised about taking on, or this isn't the team for you.Competitive Salary: $120,000 – $170,000 per year, commensurate with experience.Generous Founding Equity: We compensate you well with equity.Top-Tier Backing: We've raised $16M from top-tier VCs and angels.Relocation Support: You are willing to relocate to San Francisco, CA, or Phoenix, AZ, and travel to visit customers. We're an in-person company and are in the office together.Comprehensive Visa Sponsorship: If you do not have a visa, we can support you.Unmatched Impact: The rare opportunity to directly shape how the $900B US Public Education budget is being opened up for parents to take control of their portion (avg. $7.5k/kid/year).INDEQL
Founding Marketplace Operations Lead
Location: San Francisco, CA or Phoenix, AZ (In-person) | Seniority: Founding Operator | Comp: Meaningful Founding Equity
Overview EQL Tech has been exclusively retained to recruit a Founding Marketplace Operations Lead for a high-growth, mission-driven fintech startup.
This company is building the commercial infrastructure for the $900B US Public Education budget. As states shift toward family-controlled Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), this platform acts as the financial rail allowing parents to direct an average of $7.5k per child toward the education services they choose.
With $16M raised from top-tier VCs, the team is composed of elite engineers and operators from Goldman Sachs, Stripe, Microsoft, and SpaceX.
The Role You will own the economics and vendor partnerships of a pre-category education marketplace. This is a "playbook from scratch" role combining commercial negotiation, deep data analysis, and community trust.
- Analyze Spend Data: Dig into real transaction data to identify categories and purchase flows that matter most by frequency, volume, and margin opportunity.
- SQL Mastery: You must be able to independently access and interpret underlying transaction data to defend your category thesis.
- Category Strategy: Decide who to partner with and why - from local micro-schools to national enterprise vendors like Amazon and Target.
- Negotiate Agreements: Structure commercial deals and commission logic that improve company margin and leverage over time.
- Steer Volume: Influence spend through product and ops (preferred vendors, discovery, faster approvals) without degrading family trust.
- High-Stakes Compliance: Account for evolving ESA eligibility rules across different states in your roadmap.
Requirements
Ideal Background
- 3–7 years in marketplace operations, category management, or strategic partnerships.
- Technical bar: SQL is essential for this role.
- Marketplace Experience: Proven track record in two-sided supply/demand dynamics (e.g., experience at Amazon, Instacart, Faire, or similar).
- Negotiation: Experience structuring end-to-end vendor deals at meaningful scale.
- Pedigree Signal: Strong undergraduate degree or MBA from top-tier institutions (Stanford GSB, Harvard, Wharton, MIT Sloan).
Culture & Commitment
- In-Person Intensity: This is an in-person team working together in the office full-time.
- Decisive & Fast: You form views with incomplete information and update them quickly as data arrives.
- "Get on the Plane": You are willing to do the ground-level work, including regular travel to visit vendors and families.
- Integrity: You refuse to chase margin at the expense of long-term community credibility.
Benefits
Commitment, Compensation & Benefits
This will be a big commitment, and we're aiming high. It needs to be something you are energised about taking on, or this isn't the team for you.
- Competitive Salary: $120,000 – $170,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
- Generous Founding Equity: We compensate you well with equity.
- Top-Tier Backing: We've raised $16M from top-tier VCs and angels.
- Relocation Support: You are willing to relocate to San Francisco, CA, or Phoenix, AZ, and travel to visit customers. We're an in-person company and are in the office together.
- Comprehensive Visa Sponsorship: If you do not have a visa, we can support you.
- Unmatched Impact: The rare opportunity to directly shape how the $900B US Public Education budget is being opened up for parents to take control of their portion (avg. $7.5k/kid/year).
INDEQL
Sales & Engineering professionals: unlock your potential with roles perfect for you.The AI hiring market is evolving fast, and the right opportunity can take your career to the next level.At EQL Tech, we connect the top 1% of Sales, GTM & Engineering talent with the most ambitious and innovative AI-native early-stage startups and rapidly scaling tech powerhouses.Your next step starts here. Let’s make it count.
Sales & Engineering professionals: unlock your potential with roles perfect for you.
The AI hiring market is evolving fast, and the right opportunity can take your career to the next level.
At EQL Tech, we connect the top 1% of Sales, GTM & Engineering talent with the most ambitious and innovative AI-native early-stage startups and rapidly scaling tech powerhouses.
Your next step starts here. Let’s make it count.
