Founder-in-Residence, AI Native Ventures (LG NOVA)

Location: Hybrid role based in Santa Clara, California, United States

Salary: $180,000–$200,000 annualized for Sprint 1; $200,000–$240,000 annualized for Sprint 2, contingent on continuation. Compensation is paid during each sprint.

Company

LG NOVA is the hirify.global North America Innovation Center, building and spinning out new AI-native software ventures with LG resources, distribution, funding, engineering support, and government partnerships.

What you will do

• Develop and sharpen a venture thesis around a high-value market problem.
• Run buyer discovery to identify the economic buyer, budget owner, purchasing process, pain points, and workflow.
• Validate demand and willingness to pay through paid pilots, design partner programs, early offerings, letters of intent, or customer commitments.
• Build the commercialization plan, business model, and credible path to revenue.
• Present evidence-based recommendations on whether LG should invest in and build the venture.
• Progress from a 90-day validation sprint into a 180+ day commercialization and venture-formation phase, potentially becoming Founder and CEO.

Requirements

• Founder, repeat founder, or founding executive experience.
• Deep expertise and credibility in a specific industry or problem space, with direct access to buyers and decision makers.
• Experience building, commercializing, or scaling something new.
• Experience raising funding rounds or operating a business line with startup characteristics.
• Evidence-driven approach, comfort with ambiguity, commercial judgment, and a clear view of why AI enables the venture now.
• Ability to work in a hybrid role based in Santa Clara, California.

Nice to have

• Previous experience founding and successfully commercializing a venture.
• A strong existing network of potential buyers, design partners, and industry decision makers.

Culture & Benefits

• Paid contract engagement structured as two consecutive sprints: 90 days of validation followed by 180+ days of commercialization and venture formation.
• Concept testing budget and a de-risking commercialization budget of up to $500,000.
• Access to LG-backed funding, government partnerships, market research, market sizing, financial modeling, and engineering services.
• Competitive stipend at market rates during the program and equity in the venture if it progresses to the Seed round.
• Contractors are eligible for relevant benefit programs offered through partner agencies.

Hiring process

• Submit a resume and a one-page founder summary.
• Explain one personally built or commercialized venture, evidence of customer traction, and an example of using a network to accelerate an outcome.
• The selected cohort begins its first 90-day validation sprint on October 1, 2026.