Startup Program Lead

Location: United States About Nebius: Nebius is leading a new era in cloud infrastructure for the global AI economy. We are building a full-stack AI cloud platform that supports developers and enterprises from data and model training through to production deployment, without the cost and complexity of building large in-house AI/ML infrastructure. Built by engineers, for engineers. From large-scale GPU orchestration to inference optimization, we own the hard problems across compute, storage, networking and applied AI. Listed on Nasdaq (NBIS) and headquartered in Amsterdam, we have a global footprint with R&D hubs across Europe, the UK, North America and Israel. Our team of 1,500+ includes hundreds of engineers with deep expertise across hardware, software and AI R&D. Why work at Nebius Nebius is leading a new era in cloud computing to serve the global AI economy. We create the tools and resources our customers need to solve real-world challenges and transform industries, without massive infrastructure costs or the need to build large in-house AI/ML teams. Our employees work at the cutting edge of AI cloud infrastructure alongside some of the most experienced and innovative leaders and engineers in the field. Where we work Headquartered in Amsterdam and listed on Nasdaq, Nebius has a global footprint with R&D hubs across Europe, North America, and Israel. The team of over 800 employees includes more than 400 highly skilled engineers with deep expertise across hardware and software engineering, as well as an in-house AI R&D team. The role We are hiring a Startup Program Manager (Lead) to help build and run a world-class, AI-native startup program at Nebius. Reporting into the Head of Startup Program, you will support and execute the day-to-day operations of our global Startup Program, working directly with early-stage founders to get them onboarded, deployed, and set up for success on Nebius. Unlike traditional startup programs that focus primarily on credits or community engagement, our vision is to create a commercially rigorous, technically differentiated program designed specifically for AI-native companies. You will be hands-on with founders across the startup lifecycle — from onboarding and first deployment through to production scale — and will have the opportunity to contribute to higher-level strategy and program-building work as you grow into the role. This is a highly cross-functional role at the intersection of ecosystem, product, sales, and customer success. You are welcome to work remotely from the United States. Your responsibilities will include: VC & Ecosystem Engagement Build and manage relationships with portfolio companies across priority early-stage VC firms, acting as a trusted point of contact for founders and investors alike. Run referral workflows and structured outreach to increase portfolio penetration. Lead technical clinics and enablement sessions for VC-backed startups. Represent Nebius as a preferred infrastructure partner within venture ecosystems, drawing on firsthand credibility with founders and investors. Startup Engagement & Customer Journey Be a primary point of contact for founders in the program, guiding them from initial engagement through onboarding and into production. Support the execution of stage-based engagement models that help companies progress from early experimentation through growth and scale. Help apply structured credit frameworks aligned to technical and commercial milestones. Bring differentiated technical value to founders, including guidance on GPU usage, training optimization, and inference best practices, as part of the core program experience. Startup Onboarding & Customer Success Enablement Deliver and continuously improve onboarding experiences that help startups reach first deployment and production quickly. Work with Solutions Engineering and Customer Success to apply startup success milestones and playbooks. Support technical enablement efforts that help startups deploy faster, manage infrastructure costs, and scale efficiently. Identify and support high-potential startups through key growth phases, and flag risks to retention and customer health. Pipeline, Conversion & Reporting Help generate and manage startup pipeline, and support efforts to improve conversion from credits to paid workloads. Work with Sales, RevOps, and Customer Success to track program outcomes and keep CRM data accurate and up to date. Contribute to reporting on program performance, funnel health, and retention. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Sales, Solutions Engineering, Product, Marketing, and Ecosystem teams to keep the startup program running smoothly. Help reduce friction across onboarding, deployment, and expansion stages. Share founder feedback and startup-segment insights that inform product and GTM priorities. Where interested, opportunities exist to get involved in higher-level program strategy and building work alongside the Head of Startup Program. We expect you to have: 5+ years of experience across venture capital, corporate venture programs, startup-facing GTM, or investment roles Experience founding, running, or supporting a startup, venture, or ecosystem program (e.g., a corporate venture arm's portfolio program), ideally in tech, fintech, or AI Direct experience engaging with VC firms and portfolio companies: building referral relationships and driving portfolio penetration Comfort operating across both technical and commercial/financial conversations, including credit or investment frameworks tied to milestones Experience collaborating with Sales, RevOps, Product, or Customer Success teams Data-driven approach, with comfort tracking pipeline, funnel, and retention metrics Ability to build trust and rapport with founders, investors, and technical teams — including credibility from having operated in a startup or founder-facing role A clear communicator who can work effectively across teams It will be an added bonus if you have: Founder or early-stage operating experience (e.g., having started or led a company) A working understanding of AI workloads, including training and inference environments Experience at a cloud provider or AI infrastructure company An MBA or equivalent, and/or a background in private equity or capital markets An interest in growing into a more strategic, program-building role over time Key employee benefits in the US: #LI-LG1 Health insurance: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and families. 401(k) plan: Up to 4% company match with immediate vesting. Parental leave: 20 weeks paid for primary caregivers, 12 weeks for secondary caregivers. Remote work reimbursement: Up to $85/month for mobile and internet. Disability & life insurance : Company-paid short-term, long-term and life insurance coverage. Pay Transparency We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages. Actual compensation will be determined based on job-related factors, including experience, skills, qualifications, the level at which the candidate is hired, and geographic location, consistent with applicable law. Base Compensation Range $140,000 — $172,000 USD Benefits & Perks: Competitive compensation Career growth and learning opportunities Flexibility and ownership Collaborative and innovative culture Opportunity to work on impactful AI projects International environment and talented teams What's it like to work at Nebius: Fast moving - Bold thinking - Constant growth - Meaningful impact - Trust and real ownership - Opportunity to shape the future of AI Equal Opportunity Statement: Nebius is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants must be authorized to work in the country in which they apply and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility as a condition of hire. If you need accommodations during the application process, please let us know.