Microsoft for Startups aims to foster success by partnering with venture capitalists and accelerators to identify and support promising startups. The Director, AI Advisor - Startups role is crucial in helping these early-stage startups leverage Microsoft's AI technology stack, enabling them to build and innovate more efficiently, accelerate product development, and enhance go-to-market strategies.
Requirements
- 2+ years of expertise in Azure AI services or equivalent services on cloud based products and familiarity with open-source AI/Machine-Language (ML) frameworks including strong programming skills in Python and/or JavaScript, with experience building and deploying AI models.
- 1+ year(s) of experience reading and/or writing code (e.g., sample documentation, product demos, technical blogs).
- 1+ year(s) experience mentoring or advising startup teams on technical strategy.
- 2+ years of experience engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development
- 8+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
- Guide and support early-stage founders in Azure ML Ops (e.g. Data Estate Architecture, ML Compute Platforms, Azure ML, Model Training and Fine-tuning, Reinforcement Learning.
- Leverages development opportunities (e.g., mentorships, role-based resources, trainings, internal events such as Build) to learn new technologies and startup ecosystem trends and share learnings internally and externally.
Responsibilities
- Design and deliver AI-powered solutions using Azure AI services (e.g., AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Speech, Cognitive Services and Responsible AI).
- Collaborate with startup founders and engineering teams to understand their product vision and translate it into scalable cloud-native AI architectures.
- Lead workshops, design sessions, and build proofs-of-concept (PoC) to demonstrate the value of AI and cloud services in startup scenarios.
- Work closely with Microsoft for Startups technical enablement and go-to-market teams and Microsoft product and engineering to align startup needs with Microsoft’s AI and cloud strategy.
- Guide and support early-stage founders in Azure ML Ops (e.g. Data Estate Architecture, ML Compute Platforms, Azure ML, Model Training and Fine-tuning, Reinforcement Learning.
- Represent customer needs internally and advocate for technical blockers resolution and resource orchestration.
- Partner with relevant product teams to drive innovations that benefit the AI startup ecosystem.
Other
- 2+ years of demonstrated track record of working with startups or fast-paced product teams, including excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
- Represent Microsoft for Startups at regional startup events.
- Develop and present relevant technical and industry related content and present to large and small audiences.
