Part-time Co-Founder & COO - Karuna Media

About Karunaverse

Karunaverse is part of Karuna Media, a brand dedicated to the flourishing and well-being of children. Inspired by the Buddhist term for compassion (Karuṇā) the brand hopes to enable children around the world to engage in shared arts experiences.

The Karunaverse app applies the principles of Neuroarts - how the arts can change the brain and body to advance health and wellbeing - into a virtual makerspace where children can express themselves via drawing, writing, code and music:

• encouraging them to enter a state of flow;
• collaborate with other children, thereby increasing affinity for others and expanding their global awareness
• reducing stress, increasing self-awareness and emotional resilience

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Co-Founder & COO to build Karunaverse alongside the Founder/CEO. This is a true co-founder role, not an employee role.

You will be the operational and commercial architect of the company, translating a powerful vision into a scalable, fundable, investable business.

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Wants meaningful equity and long-term upside
• Thrives in ambiguity and early-stage building
• Is excited by mission + mental health + kids + technology
• Enjoys being both strategic and hands-on

Core Responsibilities

Operations & Process Management

• Build, document, and continuously improve core operating processes to ensure the efficient and effective day-to-day running of the company.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement practical, cost-effective improvements that maximize productivity, speed, and quality.
• Establish and track key operational metrics, using data to assess performance and drive informed decision-making.
• Optimize the use of company resources, including people, technology, vendors, and tools, to support scalability and capital efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements, including data privacy, child safety considerations, and workplace standards.
• Create lightweight but investor-ready operational systems appropriate for an early-stage, pre-revenue company.

Financial Analysis & Planning

• Lead financial planning and analysis (FP&A) to support the long-term health and growth of the business.
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and cash-flow models, ensuring runway visibility and disciplined spend.
• Translate financial data into actionable insights to guide strategy, prioritization, and investment decisions.
• Support fundraising efforts by preparing credible financial projections, use-of-funds plans, and investor-ready materials.
• Balance mission-driven decision-making with commercial and financial rigor.

Leadership, Team & Performance Management

• Act as a values-driven leader, contributing operational expertise to hiring and building a high-performing, mission-aligned team.
• Partner with the Founder/CEO to define roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations as the company grows.
• Create an environment that attracts, motivates, and retains top talent, even in a resource-constrained startup setting.
• Identify skills gaps early and implement training, upskilling, and reskilling strategies to strengthen team capability.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and psychologically safe culture that reflects Karuna’s commitment to compassion, empathy, and growth.

Requirements:
What You Bring

We’re looking for a builder, not a résumé — but ideal backgrounds might include:

• Startup operator (COO, Head of Ops, GM, or Founder)
• Proven leader with high emotional intelligence and empathy, paired with accountability and execution discipline.
• Experience in:
• EdTech
• HealthTech / Mental Health
• Consumer SaaS / Platforms

• Strong, proven experience in at least 3 of (and not afraid to dive into the others):
• Fundraising
• Financial modeling
• GTM strategy
• Operations & systems
• Partnerships
• Product collaboration

Critical Traits

• Mission-driven and values-aligned
• Comfortable with uncertainty
• Financially and operationally rigorous
• Strong written and verbal communicator
• Thinks in systems, not just ideas
• The ability to lead through ambiguity and early-stage uncertainty.
• A builder’s mindset: hands-on when needed, strategic when required.

Benefits:
Flexible hours, up to 32 hour/week contract for 6 month term

$45-$78/hour (with equity opportunities)

After contract completion, discussion long term compensation and further equity opportunities as the company grows