Entrepreneur in Residence (stealth FinTech Venture), 80-100% - diverse

Axelra AG seeks an experienced entrepreneur to lead a new digital gold venture in Zürich. The role involves validating, planning, and launching a physically backed digital asset solution for institutional clients.

This position is designed for a hands-on builder to spearhead a confidential FinTech initiative focused on digital gold. The venture sits at the intersection of traditional finance, digital assets, and the global precious metals market. The successful candidate will take full ownership of the venture's validation, planning, and initial launch, reporting directly to the partner company's Founder/Chairman.

Responsibilities

• Manage the initial 2-3 month Venture Validation and Planning phase, adhering to board-defined decision rights.
• Secure an anchor partner with the necessary licenses, capabilities, and distribution networks.
• Define the ideal customer profile, partnership strategy, pricing model, and target partner pipeline.
• Validate technology infrastructure, including physical inventory, trust layers, custody solutions, and ledger integration.
• Address legal and regulatory frameworks, including Swiss law, MiCA positioning, US commodity treatment, KYC/AML, and bankruptcy remoteness.
• Develop the business model, financial plan, and five-year P&L, covering issuance, custody, trading, and fee structures.
• Prepare investor-ready materials, including pitch decks, data rooms, and venture plans.
• Build and launch a working MVP for TradFi distribution channels, owning the roadmap and security architecture.
• Establish the founding team and operational foundations, including financial reporting.
• Lead customer validation, pilots, and early commercial engagements with banks, refiners, and wealth managers.
• Support fundraising efforts for Seed and Series A rounds.
• Serve as the primary operational contact for banks, regulators, industry bodies, and investors.

Requirements

• Proven entrepreneurial experience as a founder, co-founder, or senior operator.
• Track record of building at least two technology-driven ventures in FinTech, digital assets, or capital markets infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success in taking a venture to a meaningful market or scaling milestone.
• Ability to lead and contribute to both technical and business aspects, with confidence in navigating regulatory environments.
• Solid understanding of the global gold and precious metals market, including supply chain and wholesale/retail dynamics.
• Working knowledge of token standards and underlying architecture choices.
• Hands-on experience with ERC-20 and ERC-1155 standards, smart contract security, multi-chain architectures, custody models, and bridge/oracle design.
• Based in Switzerland.
• Fluent in English.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with industry initiatives like Pooled Gold Interests (PGI) or Gold as a Service.
• Existing presence in the Swiss or European ecosystem at the intersection of financial services, precious metals, and digital assets.
• An activatable network across banks, regulators, refiners, custodians, crypto-native players, and law firms.
• German language skills.

What the company offers

• Start with a focused 2-3 month Venture Validation and Planning phase under a regular employment contract.
• Upon successful validation and incorporation, assume a leading operational role with equity participation (vesting and cliff as customary for an EIR).
• Direct access to a productive industry network including LBMA certified refiners, vaults, banks, and digital asset infrastructure providers.

About the company

Axelra AG is a Swiss tech venture builder that transforms digital business models into real, operating ventures. The company seeks individuals who are genuinely passionate about building, rather than those looking for managerial, advisory, or consulting roles.

• Focus on building real, operating ventures from digital business models.
• Preference for hands-on builders over managers, advisors, or consultants.