At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of PixelPatrol, a game-changing digital safety platform for families.
- Company: Join Mission Studio, a venture studio focused on impactful startups.
- Benefits: Receive a living stipend, funding for MVP, and operational support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in digital safety while building your own venture.
- Qualifications: Experience in D2C growth, marketing, and leadership skills required.
- Other info: Pitch for £200k investment after 6 months to launch your company.
The predicted salary is between 4000 - 4800 £ per month.
Mission Studio is Nesta’s mission-led venture studio, built to turn bold, validated ideas into venture-backable, impact-driven companies. When we develop a concept with real potential, we partner with an exceptional founder to co-build it with us and lead the business into the future. As a Mission Studio founder, you’ll receive a living stipend during our intensive 6-month build, plus funding to create an MVP and test it with real customers. You’ll work shoulder-to-shoulder with experienced builders, designers, technologists, and founders - and finish with the opportunity to pitch for £200k in pre-seed funding to spin out your venture.
About PixelPatrol - Our Latest Concept
PixelPatrol is a modern “parental control software” designed to reduce parents’ mental burden and empower kids’ digital literacy, resilience, and long-term independence. Parents lack the time, up-to-date knowledge, and mental bandwidth to manage constantly evolving risks and fragmented, non-standard controls across devices. PixelPatrol solves these friction points by shifting digital safety from ‘restrictive’ controls and ‘invasive’ monitoring to positive collaboration and skill-building between the parent and child. Whereas current solutions embody an authoritative parenting style – high in demands but low in responsiveness – PixelPatrol embraces an authoritarian style, which combines clear expectations with emotional support. Authoritarian, or “positive,” parenting has been shown to lead to more positive social and emotional outcomes for children.
For parents:
- Unified platform that consolidates all family devices into one dashboard.
- Joint onboarding (“The Pact”) supports cooperative rule-setting, while dynamic screen time focuses on quality, not minutes.
- Peer-powered recommendations provide evidence-backed defaults that adapt to family values.
- AI settings adapt to rapidly changing threats and your child’s development.
For children:
- A child-facing app builds self-regulation through gamified nudges that reward positive behaviour.
- Digital literacy micro-lessons that build understanding and confidence over time.
- A supportive “guide” that encourages help-seeking and trust.
Who We’re Looking For
For the PixelPatrol founder, we’re looking for someone who demonstrates:
- Commercial acumen - Must prioritise quickly validating the business model and go-to-market strategy to de-risk viability before scaling.
- A D2C growth whiz - Have grown and scaled D2C tech products from idea to a substantial user-base (bonus points for child-facing products); alternatively, have grown a large following within the parenting community.
- Viral loop engineering - Ability to design and implement product-led growth (PLG) mechanics that turn users into advocates.
- Multi-channel marketing - Expert at navigating diverse acquisition funnels, from high-intent SEO and organic community-building to influencer partnerships and “watercooler” marketing.
- Early-stage brand builder - Strong eye for standout brand positioning and marketing campaigns that supercharge cost-efficient customer acquisition.
- Data-informed decision making - Proficiency using analytics tools (Mixpanel, Amplitude, etc.) to diagnose drop-off points in the onboarding funnel.
- Test & learn mindset - Thrives in fast-paced, uncertain environments: rapidly testing assumptions and pivoting as required.
- Scrappiness and resourcefulness - Takes initiative and is proactively able to get things done with low resources when needed.
- Inspirational leadership - Exceptional at rallying teams to achieve shared goals in an inclusive environment.
- Skilled storytelling - Effective at communicating with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
At Mission Studio, we work with talented people who want to build ambitious, impactful ventures. You don’t need prior founder experience - just relevant skills, domain insight, and the drive to build a business in this space. If you care deeply about the problem and have the grit to bring a venture to life, we want to hear from you.
The Founder Package We Offer
- A de-risked concept with initial inroads into relevant customer and partner networks.
- A living stipend of ~£4k per month for up to 6 months whilst you build with us.
- £25k of additional funds to support the build and launch of the company.
- Dedicated, hands-on operational support from a passionate team specialising in venture design and building, product development, fundraising, tech, and strategic partnerships.
- Access to Nesta’s mission-relevant internal and external networks.
- The opportunity at the end of 6 months to pitch for an additional £200k investment and establish the venture as an independent company - and receive a majority equity stake in the new company.
How We Build with Founders
During the 6 month build, Mission Studio deploys a lean venture building approach - focused on fast, disciplined experimentation and learning. Every effort is purposeful, aimed at validating assumptions within the venture hypothesis and uncovering signals of growth. The studio and founders work together in a repeat rhythm of test and learn sprints, all supported by a clear lean venture building methodology, practical tools, and a smooth operational backbone that gives every concept the best chance of success.
Making an Application
To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8pm on January 18th 2026. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis, but will likely take place from w/c January 19th. We want our startups to represent the diversity of the people and communities they serve. This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need in order to be successful.
PixelPatrol is Part of Mission Studio
Mission Studio is dedicated to creating, launching and scaling startups that address some of the UK’s biggest social challenges. From achieving net zero to tackling obesity to striving for equal outcomes for children born into disadvantage, we’re not just building great businesses, we’re designing impactful solutions for a better future. Backed by a world-class venture design and building process, dedicated capital, experienced operators providing hands-on support, as well as Nesta’s ecosystem of experts, research and partnerships, we partner with founders to build incredible companies.
Founder, PixelPatrol in London employer: Nesta
Contact Detail:
Nesta Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founder, PixelPatrol in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential mentors or collaborators. You never know who might help you land that dream role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your achievements and projects. This is your chance to showcase what you can bring to the table, especially if you're looking to lead something innovative like PixelPatrol.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Whether it’s for an interview or a networking event, being able to clearly articulate your vision and how you can contribute is key. Make sure you can explain why you’re passionate about digital safety and how you plan to make an impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application and hear your ideas directly. Don’t miss out on the chance to join us at Mission Studio and help redefine digital safety for families with PixelPatrol.
We think you need these skills to ace Founder, PixelPatrol in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your passion for digital safety and how you connect with the mission of PixelPatrol. Don’t just list your skills; tell us your story!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the specific needs of PixelPatrol. We’re looking for that D2C growth whiz and viral loop engineer, so show us how you fit the bill!
Show Your Data Savvy: Since we value data-informed decision making, include examples of how you've used analytics tools in the past. We want to know how you diagnose drop-off points and improve user experiences—numbers speak volumes!
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. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nesta
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you understand PixelPatrol's mission and how it aims to redefine digital safety for families. Familiarise yourself with the features of the product and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with its goals.
✨Showcase Your D2C Growth Experience
Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've successfully grown direct-to-consumer tech products. Highlight any child-facing products you've worked on and discuss the strategies you used to build a substantial user base.
✨Demonstrate Your Data-Driven Mindset
Since data-informed decision making is crucial for this role, come equipped with examples of how you've used analytics tools to improve onboarding funnels or customer acquisition. Discuss any insights you've gained and how they influenced your decisions.
✨Emphasise Your Leadership Skills
As an inspirational leader, it's important to convey how you've rallied teams in the past. Share stories that illustrate your ability to create an inclusive environment and achieve shared goals, especially in fast-paced or uncertain situations.