Entrepreneur in Residence; stealth FinTech Venture diverse

Axelra is a Swiss tech venture builder that turns digital business models into real, operating ventures. We are looking for an exceptional Venture Strategy Lead / Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) to take the lead on a new venture in the digital gold space, one of the most strategically interesting opportunities at the intersection of Trad Fi, digital assets, and the global precious metals industry.

The venture is incubated for a confidential industry partner that operates a trusted, productive infrastructure used by the global bullion industry today. The mission is to develop an innovative solution for physically backed digital gold, building on Swiss bullion industry standards and targeting institutional and wealth distribution channels (banks, securities dealers, SPVs, ISIN/WKN). The intention is for this innovative approach to evolve into a market standard over time.

The venture will be developed in close alignment with current industry level initiatives around shared digital gold infrastructure.

You will start under a regular employment contract on the partner side, with full backing from Axelra during the Venture Validation & Planning phase. At the validation milestone, the board decides on incorporation. A core decision criterion will be the go to market and partner strategy: who launches the product into the market and provides the necessary liquidity. Securing an anchor partner with the relevant capabilities and licences is a prerequisite for moving into Phase 2.

If the venture is spun out, the EIR is expected to take on a leading operational role with a minority equity participation (subject to role definition, vesting and cliff, as customary for an EIR).

Strategic direction, external positioning, IP ownership and partner relationships remain with the sponsor during Phase 1. The role operates under defined decision rights and governance, which will be reviewed prior to any incorporation or role transition. External communication with industry bodies, regulators and partners is coordinated with the sponsor.

You report to the Founder/Chairman of the partner company.

Phase 1:
Venture Validation & Planning (first 2 to 3 months)

You lead the structured Venture Validation & Planning phase in close alignment with the sponsor and board-defined decision rights. By the end of it, every key question that an institutional investor or strategic partner could reasonably ask must be answered and evidenced. Concretely, you are responsible for:

• Anchor partner & liquidity strategy (decision gate): identify, qualify, and secure commitment from an anchor partner with the relevant capabilities, licences and distribution reach to launch the product into the market and provide the necessary liquidity. Securing such a partner is a prerequisite for moving into Phase 2.
• Go‑to‑market: ICP definition and partnership strategy with a clear Trad Fi focus (banks, securities dealers, wealth managers, SPV operators); pricing logic; and a concrete pipeline of named target partners.
• Technology & architecture: validate and refine the technology infrastructure (physical inventory and connecting trust layers) and the related digital representation as one possible access format, including custody and integration into the partner's existing bullion ledger infrastructure.
• Regulation & legal: consolidating the Swiss legal model (co‑ownership vs. e‑warehouse‑receipt, register value rights / Bucheffekt under OR 973d, FINMA classification), MiCA positioning, US commodity treatment, KYC/AML, prospectus questions, and bankruptcy remoteness.
• Business model & financial plan: issuance, custody, trading, lending and AUM fee mechanics; stakeholder splits; multi‑issuer logic; 5 year P&L and cash flow plan; funding requirement and use of proceeds.
• Investor ready package: pitch deck, data room, venture plan and an MVP scope ready for an internal investment decision and external fundraising.

Phase 2:
First MVP delivery and venture build (post incorporation)

Following a successful validation and POC decision, and subject to board approval, you may take on a broader operational leadership role to lead the build of the first MVP and the…