Founder Associate to the CEO

About Feanix Bio

Feanix is rebuilding animal breeding from the genome up.

We're a YC-backed startup using whole-genome sequencing and custom ML models to help dairy farmers make smarter breeding and herd management decisions. Our tech is genuinely novel: we can sequence a full genome from a single hair at a fraction of industry cost, our models hit ~90% accuracy prediction on traits where the industry sits at ~30%, and we're the first to crack genomic predictions on farm specific performance.

That edge is showing up in the numbers. In a short time, we've grown to cover 1% of the U.S. dairy industry — 250,000+ cows — with $2M+ in ARR and a waitlist many times that size. Our investors include Initialized Capital, General Catalyst, Collab Fund, Overwater Ventures, and YC.

We started with dairy because our founders grew up on dairy farms. But genetics is a core pillar of every agricultural industry, and we're just getting started.

We're building this with a small, high-caliber team where everyone owns their work end to end. No layers, no passengers, no busywork — just hard problems in biology and software that nobody has solved yet, and the resources to actually solve them. If you're exceptional at what you do and you want to ship work that moves an entire industry, this is the team to do it with.

The Opportunity

This isn't a traditional executive assistant role.

As the Founder Associate, you'll work side-by-side with our CEO, Mitch, serving as his trusted partner across both business and personal operations. Your job is simple: remove friction so he can spend more time building the company.

You'll travel together, solve problems together, meet with customers together, and experience firsthand what it takes to build a high-growth startup. This is one of the few roles where you'll have the opportunity to closely observe and contribute to the day-to-day work of a founder and CEO.

If your long-term goal is to become a founder, operator, executive, or startup leader, this role offers an uncommon level of exposure. You'll gain insight into fundraising, strategy, recruiting, product development, customer relationships, company building, and the countless operational decisions that happen behind the scenes every day.

The role is demanding, fast-paced, and highly dynamic. Some weeks you'll spend several days on the road visiting customers throughout California and Arizona. Other weeks you'll be coordinating investor meetings, preparing for board discussions, handling logistics, solving operational challenges, or making sure both business and personal priorities stay on track. No two weeks look the same.

This role is best suited for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys variety, and wants to build a long-term partnership with a founder while learning what it truly takes to build a company.

What You'll Do

• Partner directly with the CEO to maximize his effectiveness across every aspect of the business.
• Travel extensively with the CEO throughout California and Arizona, including customer visits, conferences, investor meetings, and company events.
• Coordinate complex travel, lodging, transportation, and constantly evolving schedules.
• Drive between customer sites, offices, airports, and meetings.
• Manage calendars, meeting preparation, follow-up, and communications.
• Anticipate needs and proactively solve problems before they arise.
• Coordinate cross-functional projects and keep important initiatives moving forward.
• Prepare presentations, emails, documents, and meeting materials.
• Support recruiting, customer visits, board meetings, and special projects.
• Manage both professional and personal logistics, including appointments, reservations, errands, travel planning, and other responsibilities that enable the CEO to operate at his highest level.
• Handle confidential information with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Jump into whatever needs to get done, even if it isn't in the job description.

We're Looking For Someone Who

• Wants to build a long-term partnership with a founder.
• Is excited by the opportunity to learn how a startup is built from the inside.
• Thrives in fast-paced environments where priorities change frequently.
• Enjoys extensive travel and is comfortable spending multiple days each week on the road.
• Is exceptionally organized without becoming rigid.
• Anticipates needs instead of waiting for direction.
• Communicates confidently with everyone, from farmers and customers to investors, engineers, and executives.
• Exercises excellent judgment and can be trusted with confidential information.
• Is resourceful, adaptable, and energized by solving problems of all sizes.
• Is motivated by Feanix's mission to improve agriculture through science, technology, and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Reside in or be willing to relocate to the Santa Cruz area before your start date.
• Willing and able to travel extensively, including multiple overnight trips most weeks and occasional week-long (or longer) travel.
• Comfortable driving long distances throughout California and Arizona.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of discretion, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Previous experience supporting executives, founders, operations, consulting, hospitality, project management, startups, or similar fast-paced environments is preferred but not required.

Why Join Feanix?

This role offers an uncommon opportunity to work alongside a founder as the company scales. Rather than supporting from a distance, you'll be immersed in the decisions, challenges, and opportunities that come with building a venture-backed company.

You'll gain exposure to nearly every part of the business, including strategy, fundraising, recruiting, product development, customer success, partnerships, operations, and leadership, while developing skills that are difficult to acquire in almost any other role.

If you're looking for a predictable schedule or a traditional executive assistant position, this probably isn't the right fit.

If you're excited by ownership, travel, learning at an accelerated pace, and helping build a company transforming agriculture, we'd love to meet you.

Compensation and Benefits 

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfers at this time.  

Actual starting pay for this role is determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to qualifications, experience, relevant skills, education, and geographic location. Employees are offered a variety of benefits to empower them with the resources and flexibility they need to enjoy success on the job and to live a healthy life. 

We offer a flexible, remote-friendly work environment for most roles, along with a growing benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement savings support through CalSavers for California-based employees; flexible paid time off; and paid parental leave, including up to four weeks of paid leave and/or supplemental pay coordination with applicable state benefits.

Pay Transparency$95,000—$125,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Employer

Feanix Biotechnologies is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know.

By applying for this role, you consent to Feanix Biotechnologies processing your personal information for recruitment purposes in accordance with applicable privacy laws.