Announcing Equal Ventures’ First Operator-In-Residence Cohort

In October, we announced the kick-off of our Operators-in-Residence program, a 4 month-long, part-time leadership development program for…

In October, we announced the kick-off of our Operators-in-Residence program, a 4 month-long, part-time leadership development program for high potential operators. The Equal OIR program focuses on peer-based learning for high potential startup operators. This group gains exposure to our research, strategy and operational methodologies across 4 months with the goal of accelerating their development as leaders in the startup ecosystem. Meeting monthly, OIRs discuss these topics as a group and identify ways that they can apply these concepts to the businesses they are working with or on. The group provides a trusted peer community (something that we believe is really valuable to founders and investors alike), where these operators can get feedback on ideas and how to navigate different aspects of their career.

We created the Equal OIR program to level the playing field for operators. We’ve seen firsthand how operators from untraditional backgrounds are overlooked, despite being uniquely positioned to solve problems in their industries. A lot of the Silicon Valley playbook isn’t known to outsiders, so we wanted to find a way to share our lessons learned with an impactful group of change agents who 1) align with our values system and 2) can amplify impact in the startup ecosystem.

Traditional operator-in-residence programs are often geared towards individuals looking specifically to start their own venture. While some of our OIRs are indeed starting businesses, some are not. We don’t view the OIR program as a feeder for dealflow, but rather a way to establish authentic relationships with an incredibly talented group of operators that we believe will go on to do great things. By providing a platform for these talented operators to engage with one another in shared learning and personal growth, we hope we can play a small role in helping these individuals move further down that path.

As always, cognitive diversity is a core tenant of what we do. These operators, while objectively outstanding, come from universally different backgrounds. From e-commerce and sustainability to the care economies and physical and financial wellness, our OIRs cover a spectrum of opportunities. Our belief is that diversity of thought will further amplify the learning process for our OIRs by providing new perspectives to their personal and professional journeys.

We’re incredibly excited to partner with the 5 individuals in our 1st cohort of the Equal OIR program. Please join us in congratulating this wonderful group!