Investment Principal – San Francisco
About Antler
Antler backs the world’s most ambitious founders from the very start. Founded on the belief that innovation is the key to building a better future, we partner with people across six continents to launch and scale high-potential startups that address meaningful opportunities and challenges.
Our global community supports founders on deep business model validation, initial capital, expansion support, and follow-on funding. Fueled by a personal passion that goes beyond traditional investing, we have helped create and invested in more than 1,500 startups across a wide range of industries and technologies.
A better future won’t happen automatically—the world needs talented, determined, and resilient people to build it. Antler team members are part of an ambitious global community dedicated to helping the most driven founders move the world forward.
About the Role
Antler San Francisco is looking for an Investment Principal to join our early-stage investment team. You’ll play a key role in identifying and supporting exceptional individuals before they even become founders—while helping build the ecosystem around Antler’s residency program in the Bay Area.
This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives at the earliest stages of company building and is energized by working with founders from idea to launch. You’ll work across sourcing, diligence, program operations, and founder support—helping shape the next generation of startups.
Key Responsibilities
Founder Sourcing & Ecosystem Building
- Passionately drive & strategize the end-to-end sourcing of the 120+ founders that will create great companies.
- Identify and engage high-potential founders through outreach, events, partnerships, and community building.
- Assist in defining founders we are looking for, where they are located and how we reach them with our value proposition.
- Develop and manage relationships with key players in the SF tech ecosystem—operators, angels, VCs, accelerators, universities, etc.
Residency & Investment Support
- Work closely with founders through our founder residency—supporting team formation, business model development, pitch prep, and fundraising strategy.
- Support investment decision-making through diligence, founder interviews, and IC preparation.
- Help portfolio companies with fundraising, opening up their networks, and helping them grow.
What makes you a great fit
- 3–5 years of experience in startups, VC, consulting, banking, or another fast-paced, analytical environment
- Passion for startups and a strong belief in Antler’s mission of backing founders from day zero
- Experience or strong interest in talent sourcing, ecosystem building, or early-stage investing
- Highly organized, proactive, and comfortable juggling multiple priorities
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills—you build trust quickly
- Deep curiosity, humility, and a bias toward action
- Based in San Francisco and familiarity with the Bay Area tech/startup ecosystem is a major plus
Other Things to Know
- This role requires you to be based in location and work from the office 5 days a week during Residency cycle, with more flexibility for remote work 1-2 days while not in cycle.
- We offer annual base compensation starting at $160,000-175,000 depending on candidate experience and performance-based bonus, unlimited PTO, office-wide holiday closures, and full benefits (health, vision, dental, 401k, and more).
- This is a unique opportunity to shape how founders are sourced, backed, and supported at day 0. Being successful at this role means being a valuable part of the early stage innovation ecosystem.
Want to help build the next wave of iconic startups—before they even exist? We’d love to meet you.
