At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the technical build of an AI fundraising agent and shape product architecture.
- Company: Join a groundbreaking startup focused on equitable funding for exceptional founders.
- Benefits: Founding equity, high ownership, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Work closely with a founder experienced in raising VC capital.
- Why this job: Help redefine how capital is allocated and empower underrepresented founders.
- Qualifications: Strong AI engineering background with experience in building trustworthy AI products.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
Right now, who gets funded depends on who you happen to know. If you're in Silicon Valley with the right warm intros, you raise. If you're a brilliant founder in Lagos, Karachi, Bogotá or anywhere outside the default networks, you spend months in cold email purgatory, regardless of how good your company or non-profit is. IRIS is rebuilding that. She's a personal AI fundraising agent for the most exceptional founders. She gets to know each founder, their stage and what they're raising, then makes the warm introductions that move their round forward.
IRIS works both sides of that connection. For investors, she's signal: a stream of qualified, pre‑vetted founders matched to their real thesis, with the warm path already mapped, and far less noise than their inbox. The founders get access; the investors get the right founders in front of them. Underneath, IRIS is a relationship intelligence layer, part network operating system, part CRM, part autonomous agent, that learns from every interaction and gets sharper the more the network uses her. She lives where founders and investors already work, across email, WhatsApp, phone and web.
We're starting with women founders in Europe, and building toward every founder, in every market, who has been raising on the wrong side of the network. We're looking for a Founding CTO to lead the technical build of IRIS, shape product and architecture from day one, and grow the engineering team as the company scales.
Tasks
- Translate real-world network behaviour into structured data and intelligent, AI-driven workflows
- Own the product architecture from MVP to scale across email, WhatsApp, phone and web, on a secure, serverless cloud foundation
- Design AI systems with a strong focus on safety, fairness, privacy and transparency, ensuring recommendations and matching logic are responsible, explainable and free from harmful bias
- Implement best practices for AI governance, model evaluation and responsible data usage as the platform scales
- Understand user requirements and work with the CEO to build the technical strategy and roadmap
- Be hands on and build and lead the engineering team as the company grows
Requirements
- Strong AI engineering background, with hands‑on experience building and scaling AI or data‑driven products in production
- Experience building trustworthy AI products, including model evaluation, bias mitigation, privacy‑preserving systems and safe deployment practices
- Deep technical familiarity with modern cloud and serverless infrastructure
- Ability to move fast from zero to one with limited resources
- Product‑minded engineer who understands user behaviour and real‑world workflows (you prioritise frictionless data capture over clunky UI layers)
- Comfortable with ambiguity and shaping technical direction
- Experience in the venture ecosystem is a strong advantage
- Willing to work close to European hours
Benefits
- Build a product that meaningfully changes who gets funded
- Shape a new category of AI product, one that lives where people already work and acts on their behalf, not behind another chat window
- Founding equity, high ownership, real impact
- Work directly with a founder who has built and raised VC capital before (Cellcraft, Series A in progress)
- Shape the technical and ethical foundations of the product from day one
The way capital gets allocated today is inefficient and unfair. The best founders don't always get funded; the best‑connected ones do. That's a routing failure, and it has real consequences for which companies get built and which problems get solved. IRIS is an attempt to fix it at the infrastructure level. We're opening access to networks that were closed, routing capital toward fit and merit rather than proximity, and moving founders forward with the coaching and preparation they need to actually succeed once they get the meeting. Done right, this changes who gets funded, and that changes what gets built. If you want to spend your time on a problem that matters, with the ownership of a founding role and the leverage to affect it at scale, build IRIS with us.
Founding CTO / AI Engineer employer: IRIS OS
At IRIS, we are committed to transforming the fundraising landscape for exceptional founders, particularly those outside traditional networks. As a Founding CTO, you will not only lead the technical build of an innovative AI product but also shape its ethical foundations from day one, all while enjoying the benefits of founding equity and high ownership. Our collaborative work culture prioritises meaningful impact, offering you the unique opportunity to work closely with experienced founders and contribute to a mission that truly matters.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding CTO / AI Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like your future depends on it—because it does! Attend industry events, meetups, and online webinars to connect with potential investors and fellow founders. The more people you know, the better your chances of getting those warm intros that can make all the difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Leverage social media to showcase your expertise and build your personal brand. Share insights about AI, fundraising, or your journey as a founder. This not only attracts attention but also positions you as a thought leader in your field, making it easier for investors to find you.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to investors. Craft personalised messages that highlight your unique value proposition and how your project aligns with their interests. A well-thought-out cold email can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’re all about connecting exceptional founders with the right investors. By applying directly, you’ll be part of a network that’s actively working to change the funding landscape, giving you a better shot at getting noticed.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding CTO / AI Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and its potential shine through. We want to see how you can translate that passion into building something impactful like IRIS.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in AI engineering and product development. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so connect your past projects to what we’re doing at StudySmarter.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for the Founding CTO role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at IRIS OS
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your AI engineering knowledge. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with building and scaling AI products, especially focusing on safety, fairness, and privacy. They’ll want to see that you can translate complex concepts into practical applications.
✨Understand the Product Vision
Get familiar with IRIS and its mission to change the fundraising landscape. Be prepared to share your thoughts on how you would shape the product architecture and what features you think are essential for a successful MVP. Show them you’re not just a techie but also a product-minded engineer.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Founding CTO, you’ll need to lead an engineering team. Think about examples from your past where you’ve successfully built or led a team. Be ready to discuss how you would approach team growth and culture as the company scales.
✨Be Ready for Ambiguity
This role requires comfort with uncertainty and the ability to shape technical direction. Prepare to discuss how you've navigated ambiguous situations in the past and how you plan to tackle challenges in a startup environment. They’ll appreciate your proactive mindset!
