Role Overview
As a Founder Success Manager, you will nurture high-potential AI x Web3 developers and founders, helping them scale real-world applications within the NEAR ecosystem. Your role goes beyond onboarding—you're an advisor, enabler, and strategic partner to builders, helping them integrate NEAR and navigate programs and partnerships to accelerate their projects.
To effectively support founders, you will develop a strong understanding of the NEAR tech stack and how AI applications can be built on NEAR. This role requires a mix of startup acceleration, venture incubation, technical understanding, and ecosystem growth experience to ensure developers can turn ideas into scalable businesses.
Developer & Founder Growth:
- Own the success of AI x Web3 founders from initial engagement to scaling real-world applications.
- Mentor & support developers in transforming their projects into sustainable businesses.
- Guide founders through structured growth programs (accelerators, grants, and venture funding).
- Actively curate opportunities for developers, connecting them with investors, partners, and ecosystem growth resources.
- Foster long-term developer networks in community hubs, ensuring devs have access to local mentors, funding, and collaboration opportunities.
- Learn and master the NEAR tech stack to advise founders on how to build AI-driven applications on NEAR.
Program & Ecosystem Growth:
- Help design and scale structured incubation programs that guide developers from MVP to a funded startup.
- Advise and advocate for builders, ensuring they have the technical and business resources to scale.
- Work with accelerator and venture teams to ensure high-potential developers gain funding and ecosystem support.
- Champion high-impact projects, connecting them to grants, venture capital, and commercial partnerships.
Operational & CRM Support:
- Track and manage developer progression using CRM and analytics tools, ensuring better engagement strategies.
- Report on key success metrics to improve retention and scale the best projects.
- Provide feedback to internal teams (engineering, product, marketing, DevRel) to continuously refine the founder experience.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in startup acceleration, venture incubation, developer ecosystem growth, or a related field.
- Deep understanding of AI & Web3 technologies, developer relations strategies, and founder needs.
- Technical curiosity & learning mindset—you can quickly learn and advise on the NEAR tech stack.
- Bias for action—you’re a self-starter who thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and can execute with minimal oversight.
- Thought leadership & influence—you can communicate insights, trends, and best practices, shaping how AI x Web3 founders build.
- Excellent relationship-building skills—you’ve worked with developers, founders, and ecosystem partners.
- A builder’s mindset—you don’t just support founders; you help them launch, grow, and
We value
- ECOSYSTEM-FIRST: always put the health and success of the ecosystem above any individual's interest
- OPENNESS: operate transparently and consistently share knowledge to build open communities
- PRAGMATISM OVER PERFECTION: find the right solution not the ideal solution and beat dogmatism by openly considering all ideas
- MAKE IT FEEL SIMPLE: strive to make the complex feel simple so the technology is accessible to all
- GROW CONSTANTLY: learn, improve and fail productively so the project and community are always becoming more effective
NEAR is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. NEAR is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please let your recruiter know during the interview process.
