Chief Executive Officer

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

Employment Type: Full-TimeReports To: FounderPosition OverviewThe Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for defining and executing the company's vision, driving sustainable growth, maximizing enterprise value, and creating long-term value for shareholders and stakeholders.

As the organization's highest-ranking executive, the CEO provides strategic leadership while ensuring operational excellence and successful execution of business objectives across all functions.Working in close partnership with the Founder, the CEO is responsible for translating the Founder's vision and strategic direction into executable business strategies, ensuring that major initiatives and organizational priorities remain aligned with the Founder's approved business objectives.The ideal candidate brings significant executive leadership experience within banking, financial services, fintech, or other regulated financial environments, with a strong understanding of the banking ecosystem and the ability to build strategic relationships across financial institutions and industry stakeholders.This role requires an accomplished executive with a proven track record of scaling startup or high-growth organizations, leading fundraising initiatives, and building strong relationships with investors, strategic partners, and key stakeholders. The ideal candidate has successfully led or played a key executive role in venture capital fundraising, including Seed, Series A, Series B, or later-stage financing, and has experience positioning companies for sustainable growth and long-term value creation.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the company's corporate strategy and business priorities in close partnership with the Founder, ensuring alignment with the Founder's vision, strategic direction, and approved business objectives.
• Develop and implement growth strategies that strengthen market position, accelerate business expansion, and maximize enterprise value.
• Identify new market opportunities, strategic partnerships, and business initiatives that support long-term organizational success.
• Establish measurable strategic objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure execution against business goals.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organization.Business Growth & Performance
• Lead the execution of business strategies that drive revenue growth, customer acquisition, operational excellence, and profitability.
• Build scalable organizational structures, processes, and leadership capabilities to support rapid business growth.
• Monitor business performance, financial results, and operational metrics to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Evaluate market trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for expansion and innovation.
• Drive organizational transformation initiatives that improve efficiency, scalability, and long-term competitiveness.Startup Growth, Fundraising & Investor Relations
• Develop and execute the company's capital-raising strategy to support product development, market expansion, and long-term growth objectives.
• Lead venture capital fundraising, including Seed, Series A, Series B, and subsequent financing rounds.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with venture capital firms, institutional investors, angel investors, private equity firms, financial institutions, and strategic investment partners.
• Partner with the Founder, Board of Directors, and executive leadership team to prepare investor presentations, business plans, financial projections, valuation materials, and fundraising strategies.
• Represent the company during investor meetings, due diligence activities, investment negotiations, and fundraising processes.
• Provide regular business updates and strategic reporting to investors and the Board while maintaining transparency and investor confidence.
• Drive key business milestones that strengthen company valuation and support future investment opportunities.Executive Leadership
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and lead a high-performing executive leadership team.
• Build an organizational culture that promotes accountability, collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
• Align organizational goals, priorities, and resources to support business growth and operational excellence.
• Establish succession planning and leadership development strategies to strengthen long-term organizational capability.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and ensure alignment across all business units.Financial Leadership
• Oversee the company's financial performance, budgeting, forecasting, capital allocation, and long-term financial planning.
• Ensure effective management of cash flow, financial resources, and investment capital to support sustainable growth.
• Partner closely with the Chief Financial Officer and executive leadership team to evaluate financial risks, investment opportunities, and business performance.
• Present financial results, strategic initiatives, and growth plans to the Founder, Board of Directors, and investors.
• Ensure financial discipline while balancing growth objectives and shareholder value.Governance, Risk & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with applicable corporate governance standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Establish enterprise risk management strategies that protect the company's financial, operational, legal, and reputational interests.
• Promote ethical leadership, transparency, integrity, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Work closely with legal, compliance, and executive teams to manage corporate governance and regulatory matters.External Leadership
• Serve as the company's primary representative with customers, investors, regulators, strategic partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Build strategic relationships that strengthen the company's reputation and support long-term business growth.
• Represent the organization at investor meetings, industry conferences, executive forums, media engagements, and public events.
• Promote the company's vision, mission, and value proposition to external stakeholders.Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, Technology, or a related discipline (MBA or other advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive executive leadership experience, including senior leadership within a startup, scale-up, or high-growth organization.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational growth, business transformation, and operational scaling.
• Proven track record of successfully leading or playing a key executive role in venture capital fundraising, including Seed, Series A, Series B, or later-stage financing rounds.
• Experience developing fundraising strategies, investor presentations, financial models, business plans, and investment materials for venture capital and institutional investors.
• Demonstrated experience leading investor meetings, due diligence processes, valuation discussions, and investment negotiations.
• Strong understanding of startup financing, venture capital investment structures, company valuation, equity ownership, capitalization tables (cap tables), dilution, and term sheet negotiations.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with venture capital firms, institutional investors, strategic investors, financial institutions, and Boards of Directors.
• Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing budgeting, forecasting, capital allocation, and business performance.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States.Preferred Qualifications
• Executive leadership experience in fintech, financial services, banking, SaaS, or technology.
• Demonstrated success raising venture capital funding through Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, or subsequent growth-stage funding rounds.
• Previous executive leadership experience in a venture-backed startup or high-growth technology company.
• Experience leading mergers, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, or successful business exits (e.g., acquisition, merger, or IPO).
• Knowledge of regulated industries and corporate governance best practices.Core Leadership Competencies
• Visionary Leadership
• Strategic Thinking & Execution
• Startup Growth & Business Scaling
• Venture Capital Fundraising
• Investor Relations & Stakeholder Management
• Financial Leadership & Capital Strategy
• Operational Excellence
• Executive Decision-Making
• Organizational Leadership
• Change Leadership
• Corporate Governance
• Risk Management
• Partnership Development
• Innovation & Business Transformation