Founders Associate (m/f/d)

This role supports venture building from idea to market launch and scaling. You will develop and validate business models, conduct market analyses, and assist with product development, user design, branding, and marketing strategy. You will also set up central processes for product, content, marketing, pricing, and CRM, taking responsibility for sub-projects and supporting daily operations to ensure reliable functions in the early growth phase. You will work closely with founders on go-to-market activities and building a scalable operating model.

Must Have

• Support venture building from idea to market launch and scaling.
• Develop and validate business models, conduct market and competitor analyses.
• Support end-to-end product development (user design, concept, branding, marketing).
• Set up central processes (product, content, marketing, pricing, CRM).
• Support daily operations, ensure reliable functions in early growth phase.
• Work with founders on go-to-market and scalable operating model.
• Degree in economics, marketing, digital product/UX/interaction design or similar.
• Practical experience in product development, UX design, marketing, corporate innovation, or consulting.
• Understanding of financial services or Fintech/finance project experience.
• Very good German and English language skills.

Perks & Benefits

• Fair and transparent salary structures
• Modern office in Kreuzberg
• 28 vacation days per year, plus Christmas and New Year's Eve off
• State-of-the-Art Hardware Set-up
• Mobility offers (e.g., free Deutschland-Ticket, JobRad)
• Corporate Benefits platform via Axel Springer (exclusive advantages and discounts)
• Discounts on fitness offers from Axel Springer family, internal subsidy for Urban Sports Club M membership
• FreeFood Initiative (subsidy for lunch/snacks and drinks in Axel Springer canteens and rooftop)
• Drinks, fruit basket, and foosball
• Two weeks paid special leave for (married) partners after birth
• Culture based on transparency, appreciation, and trust
• Opportunity to participate in hy (dividends, potential exit)
• Full salary during child (emergency) care time without loss of earnings
• Time blockers for personal topics, respected by all
• Annual training budget of 1,000 € for professional and personal growth
• Multi-day company retreat once a year
• Steep learning curve and transparent career development concept
• Concierge Service (textile cleaning, flower services, shoe repair, tailoring)
• 2 days paid special leave per year for charitable engagement

Founders Associate (m/f/d)

redefine consulting

Your Team

Together with our clients, we develop and operationalize digital, data-driven business models. In venture building, we accompany our clients end-to-end – from the initial idea to validation and product development, market launch, and scaling. In this role, we act as an entrepreneurial speedboat that drives innovation quickly and pragmatically alongside the core business. We work hands-on, take responsibility for implementation, and operate daily at the interface of business, technology, and customers.

Your Mission

You support venture building throughout the entire process – from idea to market launch and scaling:

• You work on the development and validation of the business model and conduct relevant market and competitor analyses
• You support end-to-end product development, especially in user design, product conception, branding, and marketing strategy
• You set up central processes along the value chain (product, content, marketing, pricing, CRM) and take responsibility for selected sub-projects
• You support daily operational business and ensure that central processes function reliably in the early growth phase
• You work closely with the founders and support go-to-market activities as well as the establishment of a scalable operating model

What we wish for

• You are a real doer and work pragmatically, without losing sight of the big picture
• You have a degree in economics, marketing, digital product and UX/interaction design or a comparable course of study with above-average results
• You have gained initial practical experience in areas such as product development, UX design, marketing, corporate innovation or consulting – ideally with a focus on digital B2B solutions
• You have an understanding of the specifics of financial services or have already worked on fintech or financial projects
• You have strong analytical skills, work structured, and are a reliable team player
• You have very good German and English language skills, both written and spoken.

What is a matter of course for us

• Fair and transparent salary structures
• With our modern office in Kreuzberg, we offer you an ideal working environment
• 28 vacation days a year, plus Christmas and New Year's Eve off
• State-of-the-Art Hardware Set-up
• Mobility offers, e.g., free Deutschland-Ticket and JobRad
• Corporate Benefits platform via Axel Springer with exclusive advantages and discounts
• Discounts on fitness offers from the Axel Springer family, as well as an internal subsidy for an Urban Sports Club M membership #hyenergy
• FreeFood Initiative - subsidy for lunch / snacks and drinks in the Axel Springer canteens and on the rooftop
• … and last but not least: drinks, fruit basket and foosball ;-)

What makes us special

• In the first weeks after birth, (married) partners receive two weeks of paid special leave
• A culture based on transparency, appreciation, and trust, which puts people at hy at the center
• Opportunity to participate in hy: You benefit from dividends and potential exit of a rapidly growing company
• During child (emergency) care time, hy pays your full salary - completely without loss of earnings
• Time blockers for your personal topics, which are respected by everyone without exception
• Annual training budget of €1,000 for what makes you grow - professionally and personally
• Multi-day company retreat once a year
• Extremely steep learning curve and transparent career development concept with two development dialogues per year
• Concierge Service (at Axel Springer) - dry cleaning, flower services, shoe repair, tailoring etc.
• As a company, we want to give back and enable our employees to get involved in a good cause as a team or individually - during working hours. For this purpose, every hy employee receives 2 days of paid special leave per year, which they can use for charitable engagement.

All different, all smart

As an equal opportunity employer, hy is committed to a diverse, inclusive, and healthy work environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, ancestry, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity. Dear women, don't hold back! Research shows that women set the bar higher than men and only apply for a position when they are highly qualified for a specific position. So if you believe you meet some but not necessarily all of the criteria we require, please still contact us. We look forward to hearing from you and jointly checking if we are a good fit.

Start Date

from January 2026 / limited until December 2026

Your path to our team

• We review your application documents and get back to you within 5 working days
• Introductory call with our People Team via video call – 30 minutes
• Case Study processing - 3 days
• Case Study Interview - 60 minutes
• Offer

About us

Data-driven. Entrepreneurial. Opinionated. hy is a new generation consulting firm in innovation, pricing, sales, Web3, and digital transformation, helping leaders realize their ambitious growth plans. Since its founding in 2017, hy has completed over 400 projects for over 200 clients. hy is a legally independent subsidiary of Axel Springer SE, one of Europe's leading media and technology companies and a pioneer in digital transformation. Today, Axel Springer SE generates 95 percent of its profits from digital business models. Based on this experience, more than 50 digital experts, strategists, analysts, and founders at hy support clients in identifying promising growth opportunities, developing and implementing new business opportunities, optimally monetizing existing and new business models, creating structures for continuous innovation, and building a sustainable connection to the tech ecosystem. The sole CEO since August 1, 2024, is Sebastian Herzog.

Thinking consulting differently, rethinking, thinking further – we do all that at hy. We redefine consulting.