Business Operations Lead

Company Overview

At Shaper, we're on a mission to partner with incredible people to build companies that shape the world. We're the company-building engine of Travis May, who co-founded and led the two largest data exits of the last 20 years: LiveRamp (NYSE: RAMP, $200M+ revenue) and Datavant ($7B merger with Ciox). Now he's applying that playbook to solve data fragmentation across every major industry, from healthcare to national security to supply chain to AI.

Since October 2023, Shaper has launched 8 companies that have raised $100M+ from top firms like a16z, CRV, Valtruis, Flex Capital, Transformation Capital, and Footwork. One portfolio company went from incorporation to a $10M raise in 6 weeks (Arbital Health). Another grew 20x in a single year and closed an 8-figure deal in its first year (Protege). Most recently, our co-founded company, Fractional AI (now Ode with Anthropic), was acquired to anchor a massive new AI venture backed by Anthropic, Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman to deploy Claude at scale.

By joining Shaper today, you'll be part of a small, ambitious team driven by the belief that the world's greatest problems have yet to be solved and the most transformative companies have yet to be built. We believe in hiring individuals who are smart, nice, and get things done, and who thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

Role Overview

As Business Operations Lead, you'll take on the messiest operational problems across Shaper and our portfolio and find a path to get it done. For example, you might build the process for something Shaper is doing for the first time, choose and roll out a new system, open a new office for a fast-growing portfolio company, or sort out a vendor or compliance issue. Whatever the problem, you'll scope what's actually required, find the options, weigh the trade-offs, and see it through. You'll work side by side with Shaper's leadership team and see your impact quickly.

Over time, you'll have the opportunity to grow your scope significantly. This role is built for someone who may one day want to be a COO or CEO, and is excited to learn from stellar teammates and see what it's actually like to work at the earliest stages of company building.

Key Responsibilities

• Own Messy Problems End to End: Take cross-functional operational projects from problem definition to resolution, often without a playbook.

• Work Across Shaper and the Portfolio: Power Shaper's core engine and drive high-impact initiatives for our portfolio companies—tackling everything from cutting-edge tools and scalable systems to strategic finance and operations.

• Improve, Don't Just Execute: Spot what's broken, fix it, and make it repeatable rather than only running predefined processes.

• Roll Up Your Sleeves: Do the hands-on work yourself, from research and vendor calls to models and docs, and pull in the right people when needed.

Key Qualifications

We care most that you can show you've handled ambiguous, demanding work and delivered, whether in consulting or another high-throughput environment. Prior startup experience is not required.

• Figure-it-out operator: You find a path through ambiguity instead of waiting for one to be defined.

• High throughput: You move multiple projects at once, quickly and to a high bar.

• Resourceful: When there's no obvious answer, you find one.

• Humble and hands-on: No task is beneath you, and you're comfortable doing the work yourself.

• Eager to learn: You want to learn how startups actually operate.

• Culture fit: You fit our motto of hiring people who are smart, nice, and get things done. You're collaborative, excited to work across multiple teams and industries, and bring high integrity and a strong moral compass.

What We Offer

A seat at the center of Shaper's company-building engine, with visibility across a portfolio of cutting-edge, venture-backed startups solving meaningful problems.

Direct exposure to how lean startups run, day-to-day, and proximity to exceptional founders and operators.

Real ownership now, with room to earn broader operating scope over time.

A world-class peer group and the chance to join a tight-knit, ambitious, and collaborative team.