Startups Program Lead

The shape of it

In the posting’s own words

This role is ideal for someone who is deeply connected to the startup and VC community, has a strong understanding of developer-first products, and a track record of building and scaling programs.

What it asks for · 9

• 6+ years of experience in programs, partnerships, or ecosystem roles, ideally within a high-growth technology or developer-focused company.
• Experience building and scaling programs from 0 to 1, with clear impact on marketing, growth, or revenue.
• Proven experience managing or leading teams.
• Strong track record of building strategic relationships with VCs, accelerators, and early stage companies.
• Deep understanding of the startup ecosystem and the needs of founders and developer teams.
• Ability to engage credibly with technical audiences across Engineering, Product, and Design, with familiarity in modern frontend technologies such as React, Next.js, Vite, Astro, and Remix.
• Strong cross-functional operator who can partner effectively with Marketing, Media, Sales, Product, and Engineering.
• Data-driven mindset with experience defining success metrics and optimizing programs based on performance.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills.

Also a plus

• Contribute to open-source projects related to modern frontend technologies (eg. React, Next, Vite, Astro, Remix, etc.)
• Have existing relationships with top-tier VCs, accelerators (e.g., Y Combinator, Techstars), or founder communities.
• Have built applications at scale with modern frontend technologies.

What the job covers

• Own and lead Vercel’s global startup program strategy, roadmap, and execution end to end, focused on early stage startups from pre-seed through Series A.
• Build, manage, and mentor a high-performing startup program team.
• Design and scale programs that drive adoption, activation, and ongoing engagement of startups building on Vercel, like the Vercel AI Accelerator .
• Develop and grow relationships with venture capital firms, accelerators, incubators, and founder communities to bring high-quality startups into Vercel’s ecosystem as customers from day one.
• Partner closely with Sales to identify high-potential startups within the program and support their progression into long term, successful customers.
• Establish clear pathways from early stage adoption to deeper product usage, expansion, and retention, and track performance across the startup lifecycle.
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Vercel Media, Partnerships, and Developer Relations to integrate the startup program into campaigns, content, and ecosystem distribution.
• Identify opportunities to embed Vercel into the early stage ecosystem, including VC platforms, accelerator programs, and founder experiences.
• Serve as a visible leader and ambassador for Vercel in the startup ecosystem by hosting events, advising founders, and building long term relationships.
• Bring insights from early stage founders and developers back into Vercel’s marketing, product, and go to market strategies.

Tools and skills named

Words the posting leans on

• startup18×
• program16×
• founders8×
• startup program7×
• accelerators6×
• early stage6×
• ecosystem6×
• experience6×
• building5×
• marketing5×
• product5×
• end4×
• relationships4×
• scale4×
• build3×
• developer3×

Counted from the posting after the mission statement and the legal notices are set aside. The ones near the top are the ones a screener is looking for.

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