The Best Co-Founder You Could Have
About Us
Platform Venture Studio (platformstud.io) is the best co-founder you could have. Created by founders for founders, our tried and true methodology turbo charges startups’ velocity to success.
Our studio team does real work, we don’t waste time, and we’ve been there. Platform’s creators, serial entrepreneur Jeremy Burton and 2020 Midas List investor Tim Connors, have 30+ years of experience developing highly successful startups.
In addition to support from our studio team and other portfolio companies, we have a guild of coaches, investors, and advisors, and ~60K+ Platform’s deep network contacts.
We don't chase fads, and we do no harm. Our mission is to build companies that change the world for the better. Each of our startups aligns with our vision and fits into at least one of our themes: the new economy, climate, social justice, and civic engagement.
About the Founder-in-Residence Role
A Founder-in-Residence (or "FIR") is an entrepreneur we partner with to solve an Unmet Need. Typically, we begin a partnership with a FIR to develop an idea that is still in its infancy.
We offer income to FIRs because we believe that the inability to work without income is often a big part of what prevents some founders—particularly those from underrepresented groups— from starting the entrepreneurship journey. However, equity is of course always the primary reward for being a startup founder.
About using Pickleball to Build Community Unmet Need
Pickleball is a great pretense for healthy exercise, socializing with friends, meeting new people, and visiting new places. But without intentional effort and design, we all tend to cluster in small pickleball bubbles, typically correlated with socio-economics. How could we use pickleball as a tool to break out of our bubbles and empower community & economic development?
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/01/28/pickleball-is-the-fastest-growing-sport-in-america
Huge community builder: All ages can play and have fun together
Very inexpensive and Accessible to every community.
What Platform FIR’s Get
-Validated startup idea (in the form of Unmet Need and Solution) with a strong chance of success
-Initial capital and access to our investor network
-Tried and true glide path to success with specific, measurable milestones
-Talented, flexible, remote-first studio team with deep expertise in design, engineering, research, and growth to help you build, launch, and iterate efficiently
-Shared ops, HR, and G&A functions—legal, talent, finance, etc
-Access to Platform Guild, our network of trusted advisors and subject-matter experts
-Coaching all along the way
Who We’re Looking For
“Startup DNA”: You have a tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity, paired with a bias toward action and proactiveness. You are driven to succeed. You are always coming up with new ideas and thinking about ways to make things better. Bonus points if you know how to prioritize your ideas to focus on ones that will move the needle.
Understanding of founder life: You understand both the highs and the lows of the founder journey, and you have the grit and mental fortitude for it (of course, we are here to support you all along the way!). You know that the day-to-day of a founder’s life is not necessarily glamorous. You might have gotten this understanding from starting a company already, being an employee close to a founder at an early-stage startup, or experimenting with your own entrepreneurial projects and initiatives.
Learning ability and growth mindset: You possess strong self-awareness, situational awareness, and the capacity for critical self-reflection. You’re not afraid to ask for help, and you’re open-minded, curious, and eager to learn from others. You can analyze and communicate your decisions, actions objectively, and their results; process external feedback and other perspectives; and quickly adapt with new information.
Passion for our themes: You agree with the quote: “Fall in love with the problem, not the solution” (from Uri Levine at Waze). At the end of the day, you care most about solving a real problem in spaces that matter, and making an impact for those with a deep Unmet Need within our current four themes: new economy, climate, social justice, and civic engagement.
Goodness: You have low ego and high integrity. You’re motivated by wanting to change the world for the better. You do what is right. You are collaborative and communicative. You treat your customers, your team, and your advisors with utmost thoughtfulness. You are able to inspire others to goodness.
Please get in touch and tell us more if you feel you are uniquely qualified to solve this problem as a Platform Founder in Residence.
this is a full-time position.
Project Superintendent @ Stack + Co.
A dedicated pickleball facility that is capable of hosting open play, leagues, and tournaments would be a step in the right direction. The groups of "invite only" players and small closed circles have their benefits to ensure you are paired with players of a similar skillset, but runs the risk of holding the overall experience of the community back.
Pickleball is a unique sport that grants people their physical, mental, and emotional needs all in one activity. This is an all inclusive game that allows us to get in some much needed physical fitness and experience our social needs. Frequently you will find retirees competing against a much younger group and the game is still enjoyable and broadens peoples views of acceptable partners to play with. I have only experienced something similar, socially, in Brazilian jiu jitsu and that is still much more exclusive of a sport.
This sport has the ability to expand social circles and create a web-like social structure throughout towns, states, and even countries. The issue of "closed circles" lies in perceived social comfort and lack of outreach opportunities. Keeping a small social circle is human nature, but that doesn't mean we are against it. With the right structure and positive experinces, the small social circles overlap and develop into a blossomed and thriving community.
Public courts are a fantastic place to play, but lack the coordination needed to enhance the mental, physical, and social desires that come with the sport. Pair that with all the noise complaints and it leads to the need of a facility dedicated to the development of the pickleball community as a whole.
Software Engineer @ Amazon
Check out OPA Pickleball which was founded by an ND 2018 alum: https://opapickle.com/