HappyRobot Verified
Entertainment, Music Production, Media Production
Founder's Associate
San Francisco, California, United StatesRemoteFull TimeEntry-level (exp-based)$130–$180 /hrPosted 2 months agoHidden Gem · YC Startup
Role summary
HappyRobot, a high-growth AI startup focused on automating communication for the logistics industry, is seeking a Founder's Associate. This role offers a unique opportunity for an early-career professional with 1-3 years of management consulting experience to work directly with founders. The Associate will act as a force multiplier, coordinating across teams, managing priorities, improving operational rigor, and driving strategic initiatives. The position requires exceptional organization, a high ownership mentality, and comfort with ambiguity. It's a launchpad for growth into larger leadership roles within Strategy or Operations.
## **About Happyrobot**
HappyRobot is a platform to build and deploy **AI workers that automate communication.**[ See a demo](https://www.loom.com/share/031bd86fc6ca4084b11fa8d745e493ed?sid=aa1c06a2-2cb7-4c9a-86d9-acd0f42927ec)
Our AI workers connect to any system or data source to handle phone calls, email, messages…
We target the logistics industry which relies heavily on communication to book, check on, & pay for freight. Primarily working with freight brokers, 3PLs, freight forwarders, shippers, warehouses, & other supply chain enterprises and tech startups.
**We’re thrilled to share that with our $44M Series B, HappyRobot has now raised a total of $62M — backed by leading investors who believe in our mission and vision for the future.**
We're looking for rockstars with a relentless drive, unstoppable energy, and a true passion for building something great—ready to embrace the challenge, push limits, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment.
## **Role Overview**
We’re looking for a **high-potential Founder’s Associate** to work directly with our founders. This is a unique opportunity for an early-career operator with a consulting background who wants maximum exposure to how a high-growth startup is built from the inside.
This role is ideal for someone with 1–3 years of experience at a top-tier consulting firm who is hungry to move fast, take ownership, and operate at the center of the company.
You’ll act as a force multiplier — helping coordinate across teams, managing priorities, improving operational rigor, and making day-to-day ops significantly more effective. Over time, the scope will naturally grow into broader strategy and operations initiatives across the business.
## **What You’ll Do**
### **Founder Support & Execution**
* Act as a right hand to the co-founder, helping manage priorities, context switching, and follow-ups
* Coordinate with Executive Assistants and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless execution
* Prepare briefs, documents, decks, and analyses ahead of meetings and decisions
* Track action items and ensure high-velocity execution across teams
### **Strategy & Operations**
* Support strategic initiatives (market analysis, new projects, internal processes, special initiatives)
* Help drive cross-functional projects from idea to execution
* Build simple but effective systems to improve internal operations
* Work closely with the Founding Office / Strategy & Ops team on ad-hoc high-impact problems
### **Communication & Coordination**
* Interface with internal leaders and external partners
* Bring clarity and structure to ambiguous situations
* Ensure information flows smoothly between teams
## **What We’re Looking For**
* **1–3 years of experience** at a top management consulting firm (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent)
* Based in **San Francisco** (or willing to relocate) and excited about in-person work
* Exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, and reliable
* High ownership mentality — you see problems and fix them without being asked
* Comfortable operating in ambiguity and moving fast
* Low ego, high hunger, and genuinely excited about startups and early-stage companies
### **Nice to Have**
* Experience working closely with senior executives or founders
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
* Prior exposure to startups, tech, or high-growth environments
### **Why This Role Matters**
This is not a traditional “assistant” role. It’s a **launchpad position** designed for someone who wants to:
* Learn directly from a founder on a daily basis
* Gain deep exposure to company-level decision making
* Grow into larger ownership within Strategy, Ops, or other leadership paths over time
You’ll be part of the **Founding Office**, with visibility across the company and the chance to make an outsized impact very early in your career.
## **Why join us?**
* Opportunity to work at a **high-growth AI startup**, backed by top investors.
* **Fast Growth -** Backed by **a16z and YC**, on track for **eight figure ARR**.
* **Ownership & Autonomy** - Take full ownership of projects and ship fast.
* **Comprehensive Benefits** - **Healthcare, dental, vision** coverage.
* **Top-Tier Compensation** - Competitive **salary + equity** in a high-growth startup.
* **Work With the Best** - Join a world-class team of engineers and builders.
**Our Operating Principles**
**_Extreme Ownership_**
We take full responsibility for our work, outcomes, and team success. No excuses, no blame-shifting — if something needs fixing, we own it and make it better. This means stepping up, even when it’s not “your job.” If a ball is dropped, we pick it up. If a customer is unhappy, we fix it. If a process is broken, we redesign it. We don’t wait for someone else to solve it — we lead with accountability and expect the same from those around us.
**_Craftsmanship_**
Putting care and intention into every task, striving for excellence, and taking deep ownership of the quality and outcome of your work. Craftsmanship means never settling for “just fine.” We sweat the details because details compound. Whether it’s a product feature, an internal doc, or a sales call — we treat it as a reflection of our standards. We aim to deliver jaw-dropping customer experiences by being curious, meticulous, and proud of what we build — even when nobody’s watching.
\*\*\*We are “majos”\*\*\*Be friendly & have fun with your coworkers. Always be genuine & honest, but kind. “Majo” is our way of saying: be a good human. Be approachable, helpful, and warm. We’re building something ambitious, and it’s easier (and more fun) when we enjoy the ride together. We give feedback with kindness, challenge each other with respect, and celebrate wins together without ego.
**_Urgency with Focus_**
Create the highest impact in the shortest amount of time. Move fast, but in the right direction. We operate with speed because time is our most limited resource. But speed without focus is chaos. We prioritize ruthlessly, act decisively, and stay aligned. We aim for high leverage: the biggest results from the simplest, smartest actions. We’re running a high-speed marathon — not a sprint with no strategy.
**_Talent Density and Meritocracy_**
Hire only people who can raise the average; ‘exceptional performance is the passing grade.’ Ability trumps seniority. We believe the best teams are built on talent density — every hire should raise the bar. We reward contribution, not titles or tenure. We give ownership to those who earn it, and we all hold each other to a high standard. A-players want to work with other A-players — that’s how we win.
**_First-Principles Thinking_**
Strip a problem to physics-level facts, ignore industry dogma, rebuild the solution from scratch. We don’t copy-paste solutions. We go back to basics, ask why things are the way they are, and rebuild from the ground up if needed. This mindset pushes us to innovate, challenge stale assumptions, and move faster than incumbents. It’s how we build what others think is impossible.
HappyRobot is a platform to build and deploy **AI workers that automate communication.**[ See a demo](https://www.loom.com/share/031bd86fc6ca4084b11fa8d745e493ed?sid=aa1c06a2-2cb7-4c9a-86d9-acd0f42927ec)
Our AI workers connect to any system or data source to handle phone calls, email, messages…
We target the logistics industry which relies heavily on communication to book, check on, & pay for freight. Primarily working with freight brokers, 3PLs, freight forwarders, shippers, warehouses, & other supply chain enterprises and tech startups.
**We’re thrilled to share that with our $44M Series B, HappyRobot has now raised a total of $62M — backed by leading investors who believe in our mission and vision for the future.**
We're looking for rockstars with a relentless drive, unstoppable energy, and a true passion for building something great—ready to embrace the challenge, push limits, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment.
## **Role Overview**
We’re looking for a **high-potential Founder’s Associate** to work directly with our founders. This is a unique opportunity for an early-career operator with a consulting background who wants maximum exposure to how a high-growth startup is built from the inside.
This role is ideal for someone with 1–3 years of experience at a top-tier consulting firm who is hungry to move fast, take ownership, and operate at the center of the company.
You’ll act as a force multiplier — helping coordinate across teams, managing priorities, improving operational rigor, and making day-to-day ops significantly more effective. Over time, the scope will naturally grow into broader strategy and operations initiatives across the business.
## **What You’ll Do**
### **Founder Support & Execution**
* Act as a right hand to the co-founder, helping manage priorities, context switching, and follow-ups
* Coordinate with Executive Assistants and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless execution
* Prepare briefs, documents, decks, and analyses ahead of meetings and decisions
* Track action items and ensure high-velocity execution across teams
### **Strategy & Operations**
* Support strategic initiatives (market analysis, new projects, internal processes, special initiatives)
* Help drive cross-functional projects from idea to execution
* Build simple but effective systems to improve internal operations
* Work closely with the Founding Office / Strategy & Ops team on ad-hoc high-impact problems
### **Communication & Coordination**
* Interface with internal leaders and external partners
* Bring clarity and structure to ambiguous situations
* Ensure information flows smoothly between teams
## **What We’re Looking For**
* **1–3 years of experience** at a top management consulting firm (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent)
* Based in **San Francisco** (or willing to relocate) and excited about in-person work
* Exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, and reliable
* High ownership mentality — you see problems and fix them without being asked
* Comfortable operating in ambiguity and moving fast
* Low ego, high hunger, and genuinely excited about startups and early-stage companies
### **Nice to Have**
* Experience working closely with senior executives or founders
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
* Prior exposure to startups, tech, or high-growth environments
### **Why This Role Matters**
This is not a traditional “assistant” role. It’s a **launchpad position** designed for someone who wants to:
* Learn directly from a founder on a daily basis
* Gain deep exposure to company-level decision making
* Grow into larger ownership within Strategy, Ops, or other leadership paths over time
You’ll be part of the **Founding Office**, with visibility across the company and the chance to make an outsized impact very early in your career.
## **Why join us?**
* Opportunity to work at a **high-growth AI startup**, backed by top investors.
* **Fast Growth -** Backed by **a16z and YC**, on track for **eight figure ARR**.
* **Ownership & Autonomy** - Take full ownership of projects and ship fast.
* **Comprehensive Benefits** - **Healthcare, dental, vision** coverage.
* **Top-Tier Compensation** - Competitive **salary + equity** in a high-growth startup.
* **Work With the Best** - Join a world-class team of engineers and builders.
**Our Operating Principles**
**_Extreme Ownership_**
We take full responsibility for our work, outcomes, and team success. No excuses, no blame-shifting — if something needs fixing, we own it and make it better. This means stepping up, even when it’s not “your job.” If a ball is dropped, we pick it up. If a customer is unhappy, we fix it. If a process is broken, we redesign it. We don’t wait for someone else to solve it — we lead with accountability and expect the same from those around us.
**_Craftsmanship_**
Putting care and intention into every task, striving for excellence, and taking deep ownership of the quality and outcome of your work. Craftsmanship means never settling for “just fine.” We sweat the details because details compound. Whether it’s a product feature, an internal doc, or a sales call — we treat it as a reflection of our standards. We aim to deliver jaw-dropping customer experiences by being curious, meticulous, and proud of what we build — even when nobody’s watching.
\*\*\*We are “majos”\*\*\*Be friendly & have fun with your coworkers. Always be genuine & honest, but kind. “Majo” is our way of saying: be a good human. Be approachable, helpful, and warm. We’re building something ambitious, and it’s easier (and more fun) when we enjoy the ride together. We give feedback with kindness, challenge each other with respect, and celebrate wins together without ego.
**_Urgency with Focus_**
Create the highest impact in the shortest amount of time. Move fast, but in the right direction. We operate with speed because time is our most limited resource. But speed without focus is chaos. We prioritize ruthlessly, act decisively, and stay aligned. We aim for high leverage: the biggest results from the simplest, smartest actions. We’re running a high-speed marathon — not a sprint with no strategy.
**_Talent Density and Meritocracy_**
Hire only people who can raise the average; ‘exceptional performance is the passing grade.’ Ability trumps seniority. We believe the best teams are built on talent density — every hire should raise the bar. We reward contribution, not titles or tenure. We give ownership to those who earn it, and we all hold each other to a high standard. A-players want to work with other A-players — that’s how we win.
**_First-Principles Thinking_**
Strip a problem to physics-level facts, ignore industry dogma, rebuild the solution from scratch. We don’t copy-paste solutions. We go back to basics, ask why things are the way they are, and rebuild from the ground up if needed. This mindset pushes us to innovate, challenge stale assumptions, and move faster than incumbents. It’s how we build what others think is impossible.
