Venture Build Studio

the role

Venture Lead

the challenge

High Standards, Limited Incentives: Solving a Venture Studio’s Leadership Gap

Our client needed an experienced tech leader to help drive one of their Venture Studio initiatives—but the search came with serious constraints.

Not only did the candidate need to understand and operate within the Venture Studio model, but they also had to accept a W2 compensation structure with no equity or carry—a rarity in the startup and innovation space.

Some of the challenges included:

• No carry limited appeal for typical startup executives.

• The client required a track record of multiple successful SaaS exits, across more than one industry vertical—drastically narrowing the talent pool.

Internal sourcing efforts failed to produce even one candidate who met the bar.

After exhausting internal referrals and job boards with no success, the client turned to Summit Search Consultants for help.

Our Approach

Our search team launched a targeted search using public and private data to identify SaaS founders with proven multi-exit experience.

After refining the list through rigorous screening, we produced a longlist of 60 candidates, ultimately delivering a shortlist of 6 who met the client’s high standards.

The Result

The client selected a standout finalist, who accepted the role.

The runner-up was so impressive that they were brought on as a 1099 consultant, reinforcing the value of a strong, high-quality slate.

“We love our #1 candidate choice, but we are pleased to have a legitimate #2 and #3 we can also hire, thanks to your team.”

— Managing Director, AmFam Ventures