We're building an on-chain, market-neutral strategy protocol that offers
access to sophisticated trading strategies via decentralized vaults. As the
Founding Business & Partnerships Lead, you’ll drive the non-technical side of
the protocol: building relationships with other DeFi protocols, onboarding
capital partners, and shaping the business and go-to-market strategy.
This is a high-impact, founder-level role for someone who understands the DeFi
ecosystem deeply and can move quickly across BD, fundraising, and operations.
**Responsibilities:**
* Identify and secure integrations with DeFi protocols (lending markets, perpetuals, vaults, etc.).
* Build and manage relationships with DAOs, foundations, liquidity partners, and protocol teams.
* Develop and pitch partnership proposals for ecosystem collaboration, grants, or co-marketing.
* Drive early LP onboarding and manage communications with capital allocators.
* Explore fundraising opportunities (grants, angels, VCs) and handle investor relations.
* Collaborate with the strategist (trading) and engineer (on-chain) to align product-market fit.
* Support legal/structuring conversations and help shape the operating framework for the project.
**Requirements** :
* Deep familiarity with DeFi protocols and primitives (lending, trading, vaults, etc.).
* Proven experience in business development, partnerships, or protocol-side operations.
* Strong written and verbal communication, especially in conveying complex DeFi concepts clearly.
* Comfortable negotiating deals, handling outreach, and managing relationships independently.
* Able to operate in high-autonomy, zero-to-one startup environments.
**Preferred Experience** :
* Prior experience at a DeFi protocol, DAO, or crypto-native startup.
* Network across DAOs, crypto investors, ecosystem foundations, and builders.
* Exposure to regulatory considerations or fundraising within Web3.
**Compensation** :
* Competitive pay based on experience.
* Opportunity for significant equity ownership and long-term upside in the project.