C10 Labs
Head of AI Venture Studio
Department: Studio
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: New York City
Description
About C10 Labs
C10 Labs is a venture studio and fund focused on building and backing AI-driven startups tackling critical challenges in healthcare, energy, industrial systems, and scientific discovery. Our team runs cohorts and co-creates companies at the earliest stages by embedding deep technical expertise with hands-on operational support.
Headquartered in Kendall Square, Cambridge (MIT), C10 Labs is expanding its presence to New York City-one of the most vibrant ecosystems for Applied AI. As we grow, we are seeking bold, entrepreneurial leaders to help shape the future of AI innovation.
Position OverviewWe're hiring a founder-type operator to launch and lead C10 Labs' NYC studio. This person will anchor our operations in New York, oversee venture builds, drive programmatic execution (including a cohort-based AI incubator), and serve as a strategic point of contact for our ecosystem partners.
This is both a strategic and hands-on role for someone who thrives in early-stage environments, is fluent in AI and emerging tech trends, and knows how to operationalize complex programs while cultivating talent and partnerships.
Core Responsibilities
Studio Buildout & Launch
Required
Department: Studio
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: New York City
Description
About C10 Labs
C10 Labs is a venture studio and fund focused on building and backing AI-driven startups tackling critical challenges in healthcare, energy, industrial systems, and scientific discovery. Our team runs cohorts and co-creates companies at the earliest stages by embedding deep technical expertise with hands-on operational support.
Headquartered in Kendall Square, Cambridge (MIT), C10 Labs is expanding its presence to New York City-one of the most vibrant ecosystems for Applied AI. As we grow, we are seeking bold, entrepreneurial leaders to help shape the future of AI innovation.
Position OverviewWe're hiring a founder-type operator to launch and lead C10 Labs' NYC studio. This person will anchor our operations in New York, oversee venture builds, drive programmatic execution (including a cohort-based AI incubator), and serve as a strategic point of contact for our ecosystem partners.
This is both a strategic and hands-on role for someone who thrives in early-stage environments, is fluent in AI and emerging tech trends, and knows how to operationalize complex programs while cultivating talent and partnerships.
Core Responsibilities
Studio Buildout & Launch
- Lead the setup and launch of C10 Labs NYC, including physical space, initial team recruitment, and onboarding.
- Stand up systems and workflows to support multiple parallel venture builds.
- Coordinate with real estate partners, vendors, and civic/economic development entities.
- Oversee all aspects of venture creation: cap table modeling, SAFE structures, services agreements, governance.
- Manage shared operational support across ventures (e.g., legal, finance, talent).
- Align NYC studio activities with broader C10 fund investment cadence.
- Execute a high-impact incubator program: founder sourcing, onboarding, curriculum, milestone tracking, workshops, and demo days.
- Program Delivery, monitor performance, capture learnings, and continuously iterate to improve the founder experience.
- Manage mentor networks, partner programming, and founder resources.
- Build strong ties with NYC-based founders, technologists, academic researchers, and operators.
- Lead startup recruitment and ideation events to source promising AI ventures.
- Represent C10 Labs at conferences, university events, and community forums.
- Serve as liaison to NYC-based partners.
- Interface with academic innovation hubs to access translational research and recruit top AI talent.
- Explore public-private collaboration models to amplify C10's studio platform.
- Report KPIs and key metrics to C10 Labs' GPs and studio leadership.
- Contribute to investment diligence and portfolio company evaluation.
- Ensure alignment of NYC operations with broader fund and studio strategy.
Required
- 7+ years in fast-paced, entrepreneurial roles in Applied AI, product, VC platform ops, venture studios, or accelerators.
- Deep familiarity with the NYC innovation ecosystem-startups, VCs, research universities, civic programs.
- Technical foundation in AI/ML, data science, or engineering (coding not required, but understanding of technical concepts and new applications is key)
- Demonstrated success launching or scaling early-stage products, programs, or ventures.
- Experience supporting technical founders and building structure in ambiguous environments.
- Strong operational toolkit: financial modeling, venture formation, process design, stakeholder management.
- Track record of building partnerships with corporates, universities, or civic organizations.
- Exceptional communication, leadership, and program management skills.
- Prior experience running or helping scale an incubator, accelerator, or venture builder.
- Familiarity with the latest tools and practices for AI product iteration (e.g., LLM tooling, vector databases).
- Experience engaging with academic tech transfer or translational research groups.
- Existing network in the AI, VC, and startup ecosystems (especially NYC).
- Experience with institutions like NYU, Columbia, MIT, Cornell Tech, or similar is valued.
- Front-row seat to the creation of transformative AI companies at the earliest stages.
- Opportunity to shape C10 Labs' expansion in NYC from the ground up.
- Access to C10's extensive network of researchers, operators, investors, and partners.
- A mission-driven team committed to accelerating science, impact, and human ingenuity.
- Competitive salary ($200K-$240K+ based on experience.
- Performance-based bonus
- Equity participation in select spinouts and/or studio pool
- Full benefits, flexible work environment.