Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)

Lisbon-based | Founder-track | Equity-first

Hi 👋 I’m Gesa, Co‑Founder at Phira Ventures. We’re looking for our next Entrepreneur in Residence: someone with a proven track record of excellence who’s ready to go all-in on building a real company.

The Opportunity

Phira Ventures is a Lisbon- and New York–based venture studio that partners with exceptional talent to build companies that deliver tangible value. We don’t just invest capital. We co-build ventures hands-on with founders we deeply believe in.

The Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) track is a unique opportunity for someone who’s already shown they can operate at a high level - in academics, entrepreneurship, sports, or any high-performance environment - and is now ready to channel that energy into building a venture from scratch.

You’ll start by leading high-leverage projects inside the studio. If there’s a fit, you’ll step into the founder seat - with capital, a team behind you, and meaningful equity.

This is not a job. It’s the beginning of a founder journey.

Before You Apply: What This Really Is

This is not a 9-to-5. This is a launchpad to become a venture-backed founder.

That means:

Take the lead. You’ll set goals based on what actually moves the needle.
No comfort zone. You’ll move from idea to execution fast.
No fixed hours. You’ll work like a founder - because you are one in the making.

Compensation starts lean: a modest monthly stipend to cover living costs in Lisbon.

The upside comes from the equity stake you’ll earn by building traction and proving value.

You should apply if you’re ready to:

Operate with urgency, grit, and high personal standards
Treat equity like ownership, not a bonus
Trade short-term comfort for long-term upside

We’ll back you with capital, know-how, and infrastructure, but you’ll be in the driver’s seat. It’s your momentum that will make this real.

Your Role

1. Lead internal venture projects

Own hands-on experiments inside the studio: from validating market demand to building MVPs or pushing existing ventures forward.

2. Build founder muscle and mindset

You’ll work directly with Phira’s founders and internal team. We’ll coach you, challenge your thinking, and push you to grow into a leadership role.

You’ll also take part in Hyperdrive, our internal learning program designed to give a deeper understanding of business and economics fast. Inspired by Oxford’s small-group tutorials, Hyperdrive offers regular deep-dive sessions with one of Phira’s founders and peers from our EIR track.

3. Launch your own venture

If there’s mutual fit, you’ll transition into the founder role of a new company - with Phira as your co-builder, investor, and long-term partner.

You will thrive here if you…

Have a clear track record of excellence in startups, academics, sports, or other high-performance environments
Have already built things before: companies, projects, communities, systems
Think like an owner and are comfortable with uncertainty
Are deeply ambitious, humble, and energetic
Care more about large, medium to long-term payoffs than early salary
Are based in Lisbon or open to relocating
Communicate crisply in English

Nice to Have

Technical, product, or business development background
Previous founder experience (failed ventures welcome)
Experience in startups, VC, consulting, or fast-paced operations
Strong opinions about ideas or markets you’d love to explore

Our Culture

Phira is built on high ownership, low ego, and real impact.

We move fast, think long-term, and back people who do the same.

Expect:

✅ Autonomy and responsibility from day one

✅ Transparent feedback and strong mentorship

✅ Real capital, infrastructure, and go-to-market support

✅ A team that wants you to succeed as a founder, not just as an operator

Interview Process

Screening form
Interview with Founder 1
Async challenge
Interview with Founder 2
Final interview with Founder 3

We move fast and keep you in the loop throughout.

What We Offer

Founder-track role with meaningful equity upside
Modest early-stage pay (Lisbon-based cost of living)
Hyperdrive: a founder learning track focused on economics, strategy, and venture-building
Deep support from our venture team across product, ops, design, GTM
Access to advisors, playbooks, and capital
Lisbon office (hybrid: 4 days/week preferred)
24 paid vacation days per year
Pet-friendly workspace
Free access to the world-class products & services we build at Phira.
Exciting team events like sunset sailing, Mexican cooking class, ax-throwing workshop, etc.

Ready to build something real - and earn your place as a founder?

Apply now and let’s get to work.

Venture Capital Careers

Partner Success Manager

Entrepreneur in Residence