Founding Venture Lead / Operator-in-Residence (Labs Division)

Prota Ventures (https://www.protaventures.com) is seeking a Founding Venture Lead to join our Labs division. This role is designed for a high-octane operator—a "CEO/COO/CMO" hybrid—who wants to build new companies from the ground up. You will partner with our technical EIRs to transform internal IP into market-ready startups.

Role Overview

While the technical EIRs focus on engineering, you focus on launching. You are the driving force behind the business side of our Labs experiments. You will be responsible for validating the market, acquiring early users, and defining the business model. This is a part-time, remote "side hustle" with the path to full-time if desired. 

Key Responsibilities

• Market Validation: Conduct customer discovery and pressure-test the "problem-solution fit" for new Labs IP.

• Go-to-Market (GTM): Design and execute lean marketing experiments to acquire the first 10–100 users/customers.

• Venture Operations: Manage the "business stack" (incorporation readiness, financial modeling, and pitch deck development).

• Strategic Partnership: Work hand-in-hand with technical EIRs to ensure the product roadmap aligns with market demand.

Compensation Structure: The "Equity Bounty" Model

This position is a performance-based side hustle:

• Equity Bounties: You earn direct equity stakes in the specific Labs IP you are bringing to market.

• CEO Path: If a venture you lead successfully raises capital, you are the primary candidate to transition into a C-level role (CEO, COO, or CMO) with market-rate cash compensation and a significant founder-level equity grant.

• Ecosystem Access: Leverage Prota’s institutional knowledge and our network of investors and advisors.

Qualifications

• Full-Stack Operator: You have a "get it done" mentality. You’re comfortable writing copy, running ads, talking to customers, and building spreadsheets.

• Venture Instinct: Ability to quickly identify which ideas have "legs" and which should be killed early.

• AI-Fluent: Comfortable using AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity) to accelerate research, marketing, and operations.

• Entrepreneurial Track Record: Previous experience as a founder, early startup hire, or product leader is highly preferred.

• Availability: Part-time and remote; structured to be your "high-upside" project alongside your current role.

Why Prota Ventures?

We provide the IP, the technical talent, and the capital network. You provide the drive and the operational leadership. Together, we build the next generation of our portfolio.