AI Startup Founder's Office Internship

About the Company

Ajaia is a rapidly growing AI consultancy and product studio dedicated to helping organizations move from experimentation to real results. We operate across four core pillars: AI Strategy and Advisory, AI Engineering and Automation, Workforce Training and Enablement, and Custom Product Development.

In addition to client services, Ajaia builds proprietary AI products, copilots, and vertical solutions that solve high-value industry problems. This dual model allows us to translate hands-on implementation experience into scalable products while continuously refining our approach through real-world deployment.

Our operating model combines deep technical execution with practical change management, enabling enterprises to deploy secure, compliant, and high-impact solutions that drive measurable operational value. From executive roadmapping to production-ready systems and workforce upskilling, Ajaia embeds intelligent tools directly into the workflows that matter most.

Mission: Help organizations win the AI moment.

Position Overview

Ajaia is hiring a Founder’s Office & Special Projects Fellow for a highly selective 10-week Summer 2026 fellowship/internship. This role is designed for rising juniors and seniors who can operate at the strategic edge, where ambiguity is high and leverage matters most.

This is not an assistant role. It is a mini chief-of-staff apprenticeship focused on high-level thinking and execution across growth, strategy, product incubation support, enterprise narrative shaping, and internal strategic initiatives.

Every role at Ajaia is AI-forward. We expect candidates to use AI in daily workflows across research, ideation, drafting, design iteration, quality checks, and delivery acceleration. AI usage is a core execution requirement, not optional tooling.

Primary Responsibilities

• At Ajaia, you will operate close to the Founder’s Office at the point where strategy, execution, and new opportunities intersect. The role focuses on helping shape high leverage decisions that influence how Ajaia grows, where it invests, and how it positions itself in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
• You will lead strategic research initiatives that explore new markets, partnership opportunities, and product directions. The goal is to translate complex information into clear insight and recommendations that support founder level decision making.
• You will contribute to enterprise RFPs, proposals, and strategic pitches by conducting structured analysis and helping develop materials that communicate Ajaia’s execution focused approach to AI transformation.
• You will build internal decision support systems that help leadership operate with greater clarity and speed. This can include founder briefing memos, KPI views, operating dashboards, and lightweight strategy tracking frameworks.
• A key part of the role involves analyzing competitive dynamics and emerging market trends. These insights help sharpen Ajaia’s positioning as an execution first AI firm focused on measurable operational outcomes.
• Along the way, you will help identify and frame new strategic opportunities for growth. This includes evaluating assumptions, mapping risks, and outlining credible pathways to scale.
• You will also support early stage product incubation exploration by helping define customer problems, test positioning hypotheses, and shape the strategic logic behind potential launches.
• Throughout the process, you will deliver clear weekly memos that synthesize insight, highlight key decisions, and outline action priorities as initiatives move forward.
• The goal is to help strengthen the strategic infrastructure around the Founder’s Office and contribute to the decisions that shape how Ajaia grows, builds products, and competes in the emerging AI economy. 

Job Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a college or university program and expected to graduate by Summer 2026 or Summer 2027. 

• Extremely high agency with ability to operate in gray space and unstructured problem environments. 

• Strong strategic reasoning, intellectual rigor, and clear written communication. • Strong synthesis skills: can process large inputs quickly and produce decision-grade output.

 • Collaborative operator with sound judgment, discretion, and ownership. • Demonstrated interest in startups, consulting, venture, strategy, or product leadership pathways.

 • No required formal work samples at application stage.

Schedule and Location

NYC preferred; remote possible for high-performing candidates.

This is not a strict 9 to 5 internship. Fellows are expected to work hard, switch contexts quickly, and maintain high standards under ambiguity. Core collaboration overlap is Eastern Time, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday.

Compensation and Benefits

• 10-week base compensation: USD 10,000. 

• Performance bonus (10-week): 0-100% of base salary, awarded based on performance against defined goals. • Total compensation (10-week): USD 10,000-20,000.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary + performance incentives

• Remote work with earned flexibility • Professional development opportunities

Why Join Ajaia

This fellowship is designed for elite generalists who want to build real strategic leverage, not complete low-impact tasks. You will work directly on founder-priority initiatives that influence narrative, positioning, enterprise opportunities, and long-term growth direction.

Top fellows leave with proof of high-level judgment, structured execution in ambiguity, and presentation-ready strategic assets that materially improve decision velocity.

At Ajaia, you have a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of the artificial intelligence frontier and contribute to real innovation that reaches production. We expect all team members to be AI-native practitioners who actively use AI in their daily workflows to improve speed, quality, and outcomes.

Experience the Ajaia difference. Let's build what's next.