We are building a groundbreaking AI solution for food and beverage companies, starting with contract manufacturers. Contract manufacturers support 75% of food CPG brands and are responsible for producing 25%, or $250B, of the global $1T food CPG market. Our platform focuses on product commercialization, helping manufacturers scope projects 20x faster and significantly de-risk them as they progress toward full-scale production. By mitigating dead-ends and accelerating time-to-market, our solution enables companies to drive significant efficiencies, maximize equipment utilization, and achieve commercial success faster.
The Role:
As the Future CEO of Zucca, you will be responsible for leading the company from inception to market leadership. You will work closely with PSL to validate the product, secure funding, build a world-class team, and scale the business. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of the food and beverage (F&B) industry, particularly in the areas of R&D, innovation, and manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership & Vision: Define and articulate the company’s vision, strategy, and roadmap. Lead the team with a strong focus on execution and results.
- Product Development: Oversee the development and iteration of the AI platform, ensuring it meets the needs of food and beverage manufacturers and provides a superior user experience.
- Fundraising: Successfully raise capital to fuel growth, leveraging your network and experience to attract top-tier investors.
- Go-to-Market Strategy: Develop and execute a go-to-market strategy that drives customer acquisition and revenue growth. Build strong relationships with key stakeholders in the F&B industry.
- Team Building: Recruit, mentor, and retain a high-performing team. Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
- Financial Management: Manage the company’s financial health, including budgeting, forecasting, and strategic investments. Ensure the company is on track to meet financial goals.
- Customer Success: Drive customer success by ensuring the platform delivers measurable value to manufacturers. Establish and maintain feedback loops to continuously improve the product.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
- F&B Expertise: A seasoned Food R&D executive with experience on both the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) and manufacturing sides of the industry, and/or background in management consulting within the F&B innovation or manufacturing verticals, with a strong understanding of industry challenges and opportunities. Relationships in the industry are key.
- Entrepreneurial Bent: Proven experience going “zero to one”, either within a startup or a larger organization.
- Fundraising Success: Experience raising venture capital or other funding sources.
- Operational Excellence: Experience managing multi-million dollar budgets, with a demonstrated ability to make sound strategic investments.
- AI Evangelist: A deep belief in the transformative power of AI in reshaping how F&B products are developed and commercialized.
- Product Mindset: Strong product management skills with a focus on customer feedback loops and delivering a best-in-class user interface.
Why Join Us?
- Impact: Be at the forefront of innovation in the F&B industry, leading a company that will fundamentally change how manufacturers develop and commercialize new products.
- Support: Leverage PSL’s extensive resources, network, and expertise to build and scale your company.
- Growth: Opportunity to lead a high-growth startup from day one, with the potential for significant growth.
About Pioneer Square Labs (PSL):
Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) is a premier startup studio and early-stage venture capital fund focused on fostering the next generation of technology companies. PSL Studio collaborates with exceptional entrepreneurs to develop ideas from scratch, validate them, and build venture-scale companies. Over the past five years, PSL has successfully spun out nearly 30 businesses. We are continuously seeking extraordinary individuals to build with us.
How to Apply:
If you're an entrepreneurial leader poised to redefine how food and beverage products are developed and taken to market, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume along with a cover letter that outlines your qualifications and your interest in the role. We're excited about the prospect of collaborating with you to propel Zucca towards success.
