How to Get a Job as a Founding CEO

Sometimes people ask me how one gets a job as a Founding CEO. They seem to think that you update your resume and send it to someone (who?) and apply for the job.

In nearly two decades as a venture-backed startup CEO, I can tell you that I have never applied for the job. I do update my resume for fundraising due diligence, but I have not used it for a job application.

Getting Started as a Startup CEO

Back in the day when we were thinking of starting our first company, my co-founder had the technical chops to lead the product development, and I brought the business background to the mix. We had a business concept in mind, and we just needed to start building a prototype, a business plan, and fundraising. It was only the two of us, an idea, and the beginnings of a plan.

Since we wanted to raise money (too soon, I would ultimately learn), I started talking to a VC I knew about the idea, the team, and what it would take to get it all off the ground. His first reaction was, “Jen, you need to find yourself a CEO.”  My response was, “I want to play that role.”  He said I was not qualified, and tried to talk me out of it because I had not done it before.

The reality is that every CEO was once a first-time CEO. At some point, you need to realistically evaluate whether your skills and experiences are sufficient to meet the requirements of the job of leading a startup. If you believe they are, then claim it and prove it.

Creating Something Out of Nothing

The essence of entrepreneurship is creating something out of nothing. The way you get a job as a founding CEO is by creating it. To create it, you need to be able to accomplish two essential things:

1. Get co-founders and team members to join your effort
2. Get investors convinced to fund your effort

Of course, there are many interlocking pre-requisites to accomplishing those two things. To attract a team and funding, you need to be able to identify a worthy unmet need, develop a business plan that can address it, and build a company to realize the potential you have identified.

Most startup executives I have worked with do not want my job (why is a topic for a future post); however, I love the role and the responsibility that comes with it. It fits me.  

Since that first time claiming the role of CEO, I have gone on to do it again three more times. Each time it gets easier because my experiences and skillsets keep expanding. Each time, I attracted the team, investors, and other stakeholders required to build a company out of nothing. If this is the job for you, then go create it.