About Us
At 1848 Ventures, we're not just building companies—we're shaping the future. As a venture studio focused on B2B SaaS startups powered by data and AI, we're on a mission to transform the SMB market in industries that are the backbone of the economy, such as construction, real estate, hospitality, retail, and restaurants. Our team of venture builders, data scientists, engineers, and designers leverage cutting-edge AI to build products that empower SMB businesses to succeed.
We're not following traditional playbooks; we're creating our own. Join us and help drive innovation in industries where data and AI can make a real impact.
The Opportunity
Be at the forefront of SaaS marketplace innovation. As a Product Leader, you will lead the charge in building and validating early-stage ventures that tackle market gaps and deliver scalable solutions to SMBs. This role is a unique blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, perfectly suited for someone who thrives in ambiguity, embraces experimentation, and has a passion for shaping new markets.
This is your chance to transform untapped opportunities into impactful, AI-powered marketplaces that drive value for all stakeholders involved.
What You’ll Do
You will lead the venture-building process in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Here’s how you’ll make an impact:
Product Vision and Leadership:
- Define and own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap, ensuring alignment with venture objectives and market needs.
- Drive the end-to-end product development process, from ideation to market launch.
- Establish and monitor success metrics, iterating based on feedback and performance.
Customer Discovery and Market Insights:
- Conduct extensive customer discovery to identify pain points and unmet needs within the marketplace ecosystem.
- Translate insights into actionable strategies, ensuring the marketplace delivers value to all participants.
Business Model Innovation:
- Develop, validate, and iterate on marketplace-specific business models and value propositions.
- Tailor solutions to meet diverse stakeholder needs, ensuring scalability and long-term viability.
Experimentation and Validation:
- Design and execute experiments to test assumptions, including supply-demand dynamics and monetization strategies.
- Leverage methodologies like customer interviews, prototyping, and go-to-market experiments to validate early concepts.
Collaboration Across Disciplines:
- Partner with designers, engineers, and data scientists to bring concepts to life.
- Work cross-functionally to align vision, strategy, and execution for seamless integration.
Data-Driven Decision Making:
- Use data insights to guide decisions, pivot strategies, and refine marketplace ideas.
- Embrace ambiguity and adapt quickly to new information, balancing bold vision with practical execution.
Who You Are
You are an innovative thinker and action-oriented leader passionate about building marketplaces from the ground up. Your unique blend of skills includes:
- Expertise in multi-sided marketplace dynamics, including network effects, supply-demand balance, and monetization.
- Proven ability to design and scale marketplace-specific business models.
- Strong background in customer discovery, with a knack for uncovering pain points and translating them into product opportunities.
- Proficiency in market research, opportunity sizing, and data-driven decision-making.
- Adept at connecting disparate insights, iterating quickly, and delivering validated concepts.
- A hands-on leader who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
- Resilient and resourceful, with a growth mindset and a collaborative spirit.
- 8+ years of professional experience, with a background in SaaS, marketplaces, or startup environments preferred.
- Venture studio experience is a strong plus.
Why Join Us
You’ll be at the center of an innovative venture-building ecosystem. We offer:
- Impactful Work: Lead the creation of transformative marketplace ventures that empower SMBs and drive meaningful change.
- Collaborative Culture: Join a team of forward-thinking designers, engineers, and strategists committed to innovation and growth.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive compensation, flexible working arrangements, and access to cutting-edge resources.
Shape the future of SaaS marketplaces with us. Let’s create something extraordinary.
Travel
This role is remote or hybrid, based on your location. While flexibility is key, we also value in-person connections. Whether you're remote or hybrid, travel may be needed for customer discovery, team building, and/or networking.
Compensation & Benefits
We offer a competitive salary, incentive program, pension, and a comprehensive benefits package.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
1848 Ventures celebrates diversity and is committed to inclusion. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
What We Do
Big challenges. Passionate people. Smart solutions. This is what you’ll find at 1848 Ventures. We help business owners manage uncertainty and discover opportunity in risk. We’re not aiming for incremental improvement – we’re breaking new ground. And when we see opportunity for innovation, we have the freedom, resources, and culture to make it happen.
We’re champions of business owners everywhere. After all, it’s this startup ethos and entrepreneurial spirit that 1848 Ventures – and our parent company, Westfield – was founded on. Westfield, a leading provider of commercial insurance, established 1848 Ventures in 2018 to expand beyond conventional property and casualty insurance products and address the broader risks small business owners face every day. We meet our customers where they are, partnering together to deliver digital solutions that improve their bottom line.
We know that in order to succeed, we need the right people to make it happen. We start by building a team with a diverse set of voices, backgrounds, and experiences. We’re looking for the innovators. The pioneers. The change agents. The people who aren’t afraid to ask, “What if…?” and try it anyway. This is the place for self-starters, go-getters, and anyone who wants to see a good idea become a great reality.
At 1848 Ventures, we help people build careers. Based in Northeast Ohio near Cleveland, our team members grow their creative and commercial skill sets, applying their talents to a wide range of portfolio concepts. And who we are drives what we do – our values empower a thriving culture that allows for true innovation, learning, and growth.
