Strategic Growth Lead

About Cantina:

Cantina Labs is a social AI company developing a suite of advanced real-time models that push the boundaries of expression personality and realism. We bring characters to life transforming how people tell stories connect and create. We build and power ecosystems. Cantina our flagship social AI platform is just the beginning.

If youre excited about the potential AI has to shape human creativity and social interactions join us in building the future!

About The Role:

Were seeking a highly connected AI Strategic Growth Lead to leverage your established network of AI industry leaders and continuously expand it. Your mission: identify cutting-edge technology teams and talent that can accelerate Cantinas growthwhether through knowledge sharing strategic partnerships or acquihire opportunities.

This isnt a desk research role. Youll be our eyes and ears in the San Francisco (& beyond) AI community using your technical fluency and deep relationships to surface opportunities that dont show up on LinkedIn or Crunchbase. You thrive at the intersection of technology and relationships translating what you learn in private conversations and invitation-only events into strategic insights for our executive team.

As a key member of our small bi-coastal team youll work directly with company leadership presenting your findings and shaping our AI strategy. Your success will be measured by the strength of your network the quality of your insights and your ability to connect Cantina with exceptional people and teams.

What Youll Do:

• Network and Discover:

  • Leverage and expand your existing relationships within the San Francisco (and beyond) AI ecosystem through regular presence at demo days meetups private events salons conferences and other networking events

  • Build authentic relationships with founders engineers researchers operators and investors in generative AI and adjacent fields

  • Represent Cantina in the community with genuine enthusiasm that naturally translates into strong advocacy

• Evaluate and Synthesize:

  • Apply your technical background to assess the value proposition of emerging companies and teams across our key investment areas

  • Track emerging technical concepts research directions and ecosystem trendsincluding notable talent movements

  • Surface ideas and opportunities that excite you and could meaningfully shape Cantinas strategy

• Connect and Execute:

  • Serve as the bridge between the AI community and Cantina making strategic introductions at the right moments

  • Cultivate relationships with high-quality technical talent and teams for potential acquihire opportunities

  • Partner with leadership on strategic talent and partnership initiatives

  • Travel up to 30% of the time

What Youll Bring:

• An embedded network in the San Francisco (& beyond) AI community with established trusted relationships

• 5 years in cutting-edge technology with recent hands-on experience in generative AI

• A Computer Science degree or equivalent technical fluency -- you can evaluate architectures and research directions at a high level

• Experience working with or at VC firms (a plus)

• Genuine passion for the consumer AI social media space

• The ability to evangelize Cantinagetting a room excited about where were going

• A commitment to constantly learning about new models tools startups and approaches

• Energy for meeting people building relationships and discovering whats next

• Comfort operating autonomously and shaping this high-ownership role through initiative

• The ability to deeply understand our AI-driven product roadmaps

• Strong communication skills with natural credibility among technical audiences

• The ability to translate community insights into actionable strategic recommendations

Compensation:

The anticipated annual base salary range for this role is between $200000-$210000. This role will also offer a substantial cash bonus and company equity. When determining compensation a number of factors will be considered including skills experience job scope location and competitive compensation market data.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and generous company equity

• Medical dental and vision insurance 99.99% of premiums covered by Cantina

• 42 days of paid time off including:

  • 15 PTO days

  • 10 sick days

  • 15 company holidays

  • 2 floating holidays

• Generous parental leave & fertility support

• 401(k) retirement savings plan

• Lifestyle spending account $500/month to use however youd like

• Complimentary lunch and snacks for in-office employees

• One Medical membership and more!