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Transform the Future of Fintech as a Founder & CEO with Founders Factory's New Venture Equis
Overview
Salary
No salary declared 😔
Location
Milan
Nomad Friendly?
In-person- Milan Italy
Expires
Expires at anytime
Organisation summary
Founders Factory is a pioneering force in the startup ecosystem, partnering with ambitious entrepreneurs and major corporations to build and grow innovative businesses. With a history of successful IPOs and a portfolio of over 300 startups, Founders Factory has facilitated $800mm in follow-on funding. They're now launching a groundbreaking fintech venture, Equis, aimed at revolutionizing the succession of European SMEs, and they're searching for a dynamic leader to steer this initiative.
Role Summary
- Lead the creation and growth of a new fintech venture, Equis, from inception as its Founder & CEO.
- Collaborate with Founders Factory's Venture Design team to co-create and refine the business concept.
- Guide the venture with strategic direction and operational execution, leveraging Founders Factory's resources.
- Unlock €700k in initial investment, including cash and services.
- Participate in a 6-month accelerator program with access to expert support and a dedicated studio budget.
Role Requirements
- Proven experience as a founder, builder, or operator, with the ability to start and scale a business.
- Deep insights and top-tier skills in the fintech sector, positioning you as a compelling founder.
- Track record of assembling world-class teams, attracting customers, and securing investments.
- Competence in navigating uncertain environments and making risk-assessed decisions.
- Clear vision for the venture, combined with the passion and know-how to realize it.
- High intelligence and emotional quotient, with the ability to adapt and revise opinions as needed.
- Fluency in Italian and familiarity with the Italian market are essential.
- Background in M&A, deal structuring, or operational experience in company acquisitions is a significant advantage.
- Capability to raise substantial capital through various financial avenues.
Founders Factory builds and funds startups together with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world’s leading companies. Created by IPO-exited founders, we offer founders capital, operational support from a team of hands-on experts, and unrivalled access to a coalition of industry-leading corporate partners. Since 2015, our 300+ portfolio companies have raised $800mm follow-on funding from the leading investors in technology.
Our Studio partners with entrepreneurs at day one, developing new ideas, technologies and business models into high growth companies. We’re now building a new venture in partnership withItaly’s leading investment bank and are looking for an experienced operator with entrepreneurial ambitions to lead as Founder & CEO with our investment and the full backing of Founders Factory.
We’re looking for an experienced operator with entrepreneurial ambitions to co-create a new concept together with our Venture Design team. You will then lead the venture as Founder & CEO with our investment and the full backing of Founders Factory.
Project Equis: Supporting the Growth of Italian SMEs
European micro and small enterprises are about to face an existential crisis. As the overall age of the European population increases, micro and small businesses will struggle with succession planning. Retiring owners often don’t have relatives to pass on their small family business to, and exit opportunities to third parties are rare. As a consequence, many of them will have to be shut down, endangering thousands of jobs.
The statistics paint a clear picture: Every year more than 400,000 small businesses are passed down from one generation to the next, though approximately one-third of these businesses lack a well-defined succession plan.
So we are building Equis, a tech-enabled employee ownership platform that will help these companies transition from one generation to the next. We buy out micro businesses from retiring owners, match the acquired business with pre-screened new managers, hold our shares for ±10 years (collecting profits along the way) and eventually retire our shares in the business in favour of the employees, creating a new generation of employee-owned businesses.
Our offer
Co-found a company with Founders Factory’s team of IPO-exited founders and entrepreneurs to develop a new venture at the forefront of fintech Unlock €700k investment in cash and services to help you build your venture Access to an expert team and specialist support through our Venture Studio and 6 month accelerator programme A validated concept and intellectual property A dedicated studio budget (including the founder stipend, specialist resource and infrastructure budget)What we're looking for
Experienced founder, builder or operator, capable of operating from zero to one Unique market insight, top 1% skills or other advantage that makes you a suitable and compelling Fintech founder Proven ability to build a world-class team, attract customers and investors Evidence of thriving in ambiguous environments and a high aptitude for calculated risks A clear vision for the opportunity (including product direction) - with the drive and expertise to execute on it High IQ and EQ - strong opinions loosely held Italian language skills and market knowledge is a must Understanding of M&A, deal structuring and/or experience buying and operating companies is a plus Ability to raise significant capital from capital markets (venture, venture debt, private credit etc.)Note - We are reviewing applications on an ongoing basis. If your background and application meets our criteria, we will be in touch to schedule a call.
