Director of Startups (Contract or Full Time)

We are seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial Director of Startups to lead this crucial function. You are a leader with deep expertise in identifying market opportunities, developing compelling business strategies, building operational foundations, and bringing new ventures to life, coupled with a proven ability to build and inspire high-performing, cross-functional teams. You thrive in ambiguity, excel at navigating the complexities of launching new initiatives from zero to one, and are passionate about creating tangible business impact and new engines for growth. If you're excited by the prospect of building the future of Fintech by launching and scaling new ventures, we want to hear from you!

Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management:
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing, potentially cross-functional team encompassing roles like business development, product strategy, program management, and potentially dedicated operational or technical resources.
  • Foster a culture of entrepreneurship, rapid experimentation, customer obsession, data-driven decision-making, and accountability within the team and its initiatives.
  • Manage performance, support career development, and champion diversity and inclusion.
  • Recruit top-tier talent with diverse skill sets (business, strategy, operational, technical) needed to successfully launch and scale new ventures.
  • Effectively manage and develop leads or principal individual contributors within your organization.
• Strategy & Vision:
  • Define, articulate, and drive the strategic vision and roadmap for Bolt's new venture pipeline and/or startup engagement programs.
  • Identify, research, and evaluate new market opportunities, disruptive trends, and potential strategic partnerships aligned with [Your Company Name]'s overarching goals.
  • Partner closely with Executive Leadership, Product Management, Engineering, Finance, Legal, Marketing, and other key stakeholders to align new venture initiatives with company objectives and capabilities.
  • Stay abreast of the competitive landscape, venture capital trends, and emerging business models relevant to Fintech.
• Execution & Venture Lifecycle Management:
  • Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of new initiatives, from initial ideation and market validation through business case development, MVP launch, iteration, and scaling.
  • Establish and refine frameworks, processes, and KPIs for evaluating opportunities, running lean experiments, developing go-to-market strategies, and measuring venture success.
  • Drive the execution of key strategic partnerships, pilot programs, or potentially early-stage investment/acquisition activities (depending on role scope).
  • Ensure rigorous business planning, financial modeling, and operational readiness for new ventures.
  • Champion efficient resource allocation and budget management for initiatives under your purview.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Impact:
  • Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization to garner support, secure resources, and ensure alignment for new ventures.
  • Clearly communicate strategic plans, progress, learnings, risks, and resource needs to both technical and non-technical audiences, including executive leadership.
  • Champion a culture of innovation, calculated risk-taking, and learning from failures throughout the company.
  • Ensure new ventures have clear paths for integration or operation alongside core business units as they mature.

Requirements:

• BA/BS degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science) or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in relevant fields such as strategy, business development, product management, venture capital, corporate innovation, or entrepreneurship, including at least 2+ years managing senior individual contributors or team leads.
• Significant hands-on background (typically 10+ years total experience) with demonstrated expertise in developing, launching, and scaling new products, business lines, or startups.
• 5+ years of direct, hands-on experience and deep understanding of core concepts such as:
  • Market Analysis & Opportunity Sizing
  • Business Model Development & Validation
  • Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution
  • Financial Modeling & Business Case Development
  • Lean Startup / Agile Methodologies
  • Partnership Development & Negotiation
  • Program Management for complex initiatives
• Proven ability to define business strategy, develop multi-quarter roadmaps, and lead teams to execute successfully against ambitious goals.
• Experience leading initiatives in a fast-paced, high-growth technology environment (experience at venture-backed startups, corporate venture/innovation arms, or top-tier consulting firms is highly relevant).
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse groups, including senior executives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to make sound strategic and operational decisions under uncertainty.

Bonus Points:

• MBA or advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Experience leading distributed or hybrid teams.
• Direct experience founding or being an early employee at a successful startup.
• Experience working in Venture Capital, Private Equity, or Corporate Development (M&A).
• Direct experience in Fintech.
• Experience structuring and negotiating complex strategic partnerships or investments.
• Familiarity with the legal and regulatory considerations involved in launching new businesses or entering new markets.