Consumer Ecosystem Growth Lead

The Solana Foundation is a non-profit based in Zug, Switzerland, dedicated to the adoption, decentralization, and security of the Solana network. Solana is a high performance blockchain that can deliver a fast and friendly user experience, without sacrificing security. The Solana Foundation is working to realize a world where individuals own their data, use permissionless networks, and transfer information and value freely around the world. We are looking for talented people who are willing to jump right in and use their expertise to help the ecosystem build.

What We Do

Our mission is to support and grow the Solana network and realize the vision of Solana as a global on-chain economy that increases innovation, creativity, and economic freedom. We support builders across the Solana ecosystem with a particular focus on consumer-facing applications including creators, social, media, entertainment, gaming, and brand-driven experiences. Our goal is to deeply understand the challenges and opportunities faced by consumer builders and do everything we can to accelerate their growth and success.

The Opportunity

The Solana Foundation is seeking a highly driven Consumer Ecosystem Lead to join our Growth team. This role requires a versatile individual who can: stay on top of the latest developments in consumer crypto, bring the best consumer founders and teams to build on Solana, evaluate, structure, and negotiate grants, influence product roadmaps, and coordinate across a broad set of internal and external stakeholders. This is a highly externally facing role at the center of Solana’s consumer strategy.

To be successful in this role

You will:

• Grow the ecosystemActively pitch and onboard the best consumer teams to build on SolanaBuild and maintain strong relationships with existing consumer builders in the Solana ecosystem.Plan and execute events, meetups, or initiatives to connect and support consumer buildersSupport the hundreds of teams building at the intersection of crypto and consumer

Grow the ecosystem

• Actively pitch and onboard the best consumer teams to build on Solana

Actively pitch and onboard the best consumer teams to build on Solana

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing consumer builders in the Solana ecosystem.

Build and maintain strong relationships with existing consumer builders in the Solana ecosystem.

• Plan and execute events, meetups, or initiatives to connect and support consumer builders

Plan and execute events, meetups, or initiatives to connect and support consumer builders

• Support the hundreds of teams building at the intersection of crypto and consumer

Support the hundreds of teams building at the intersection of crypto and consumer

• Drive our product roadmapStay up-to-date with developments in both consumer and cryptoBe technically proficient enough to tinker with basic consumer apps

Drive our product roadmap

• Stay up-to-date with developments in both consumer and crypto

Stay up-to-date with developments in both consumer and crypto

• Be technically proficient enough to tinker with basic consumer apps

Be technically proficient enough to tinker with basic consumer apps

• Identify and execute on grant opportunitiesIdentify and evaluate grant opportunities for consumer-related projectsConduct due diligence, including analysis of industry landscapes, product fit, and business modelsNegotiate terms and oversee the execution of grant agreements

Identify and execute on grant opportunities

• Identify and evaluate grant opportunities for consumer-related projects

Identify and evaluate grant opportunities for consumer-related projects

• Conduct due diligence, including analysis of industry landscapes, product fit, and business models

Conduct due diligence, including analysis of industry landscapes, product fit, and business models

• Negotiate terms and oversee the execution of grant agreements

Negotiate terms and oversee the execution of grant agreements

• Coordinate across a broad swathe of stakeholders

Coordinate across a broad swathe of stakeholders

• Coordinate efforts across internal teams such as engineering, marketing, and legal

Coordinate efforts across internal teams such as engineering, marketing, and legal

• Act as a liaison between the Solana Foundation and external stakeholders, including dapp builders, creators, and investors

Act as a liaison between the Solana Foundation and external stakeholders, including dapp builders, creators, and investors

You ideally have:

• A passion and curiosity for both crypto, onchain social,media, gaming and all things consumer

A passion and curiosity for both crypto, onchain social,media, gaming and all things consumer

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)

Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)

• Ability to build relationships and collaborate across diverse teams and external partners. This is a highly externally facing role

Ability to build relationships and collaborate across diverse teams and external partners. This is a highly externally facing role

• Ability to organize high quality grassroots efforts (e.g., meetups, hackathons, events)

Ability to organize high quality grassroots efforts (e.g., meetups, hackathons, events)

• Technical understanding to engage with developers and evaluate consumer tools, apps, or other technologies

Technical understanding to engage with developers and evaluate consumer tools, apps, or other technologies

• A high degree of energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to work hard and take on any task big or small

A high degree of energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to work hard and take on any task big or small

Bonus Points:

• 3-5 years+ of experience in VC, growth, or product roles at early stage companies in crypto and/or consumer or relevant experience in high intensity generalist roles (consulting, banking, investing etc.)

3-5 years+ of experience in VC, growth, or product roles at early stage companies in crypto and/or consumer or relevant experience in high intensity generalist roles (consulting, banking, investing etc.)

• Previous experience tinkering (either in professional or personal capacity) e.g.,Established track record of dogfooding consumer applications

Previous experience tinkering (either in professional or personal capacity) e.g.,

• Established track record of dogfooding consumer applications

Established track record of dogfooding consumer applications

This role helps accelerate the growth and success of consumer builders on the Solana network, contributing to the realization of a global on-chain economy that increases innovation, creativity, and economic freedom.

Required skills and experience:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate across diverse teams and external partners
• Technical understanding to engage with developers and evaluate consumer tools, apps, or other technologies
• 3-5 years+ of experience in VC, growth, or product roles at early stage companies in crypto and/or consumer

No specific benefits, compensation, or perks mentioned in the job description.