Position Overview: Analyst – AI Investments

Reports To: Principal / Partner

Key Responsibilities:

• Deal Sourcing & Ecosystem Engagement: Actively discover promising AI startups by attending demo days, pitch competitions, academic conferences, founder meetups, and other tech-focused in-person events.
• Relationship Building: Cultivate and maintain strong ties within the AI startup ecosystem, including founders, technologists, academics, incubators, angels, and early-stage operators.
• Early Engagement: Identify and engage with high-potential, early-stage founders before they raise institutional rounds—helping to generate top-of-funnel deal flow.
• Preliminary Diligence: Perform initial evaluations of startups—analyzing product/market fit, competitive landscape, founder profiles, and early traction.
• Trend Tracking & Research: Monitor and analyze emerging trends within AI and ML (e.g., infrastructure developments, applied vertical solutions), providing strategic insights for the firm.
• Internal Coordination: Maintain up-to-date internal deal databases, assist in crafting investment memos and market briefs, and support ongoing team strategy.

Qualifications:

• 1–2 years of relevant experience—ideally in VC, startups, tech community building, or adjacent areas.
• Deep passion for AI and startup innovation; well-connected and attuned to the AI founder community.
• Confident and comfortable representing the firm in in-person networking settings.
• Highly proactive, curious, self-motivated, and adept at spotting patterns and forming relationships.
• Excellent analytical rigor and communication skills—able to distill complex information and convey insights effectively.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical, business, or interdisciplinary field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, or similar).

Full Time Position Salary: $80,000- $140,000

Open for Intern positions as well, with hourly rate from $28-$35/hour.

At Llama Venture, we are a Silicon Valley-based early-stage firm dedicated to supporting founders who integrate advanced AI with deep domain expertise to revolutionize various industries. Our partners are repeat technical founders, which provides us with a thorough understanding and respect for technology. We invest in AI-native solutions across diverse sectors, including industrial automation, healthcare, fintech, climate, and next-gen tooling. We offer disciplined investing, independent conviction, and a respectful partnership that supports founders when needed and remains unobtrusive otherwise.