BLKBOOK is an early-stage startup on a mission to transform how professionals and businesses uncover meaningful opportunities through intentional, AI-powered networking. We’re reimagining the way connections are made — not by chance, but by design — to help people find mentors, clients, collaborators, investors, and leads faster and more efficiently than ever before.
We’re in the very early stages of building something BIG and we’re looking for a visionary CTO who’s excited to lead the tech side and isn’t afraid of a little chaos, creativity, or coffee-fueled product jam sessions. You’ll help us:
- Architect and build the first version of the BLKBOOK platform
- Make smart bets on technology, infrastructure, and AI/ML integrations
- Collaborate on everything from product roadmap to tiny UX details
- Eventually lead and grow an engineering team that kicks ass and ships fast - like REALLY fast!
- Bring structure to ambiguity — and maybe a few memes to Slack
Responsibilities
- Own the technology roadmap – Define and execute the technical vision and architecture of BLKBOOK.
- Build and scale the platform – Oversee development, integrations, and system performance.
- Move FAST and iterate – Implement changes quickly based on feedback and user data to continuously improve product-market fit.
- Guide AI-driven development – Work with NLP, social graph analysis, reinforcement learning, and predictive modeling to enhance matchmaking.
- Optimize networking infrastructure – Ensure a seamless, high-quality user experience during networking events.
- Lead technical decision-making – Recommend the best tools, frameworks, and architecture to support growth.
- Collaborate closely with the founder – Provide strategic input, share feedback, and align on key business and technical priorities.
- Build and manage a lean tech team – Identify hiring needs, manage contractors/agencies, and eventually grow the engineering team.
- Prepare for fundraising and scaling – Support tech due diligence and infrastructure needs for future investment rounds.
Ideal Experience & Skills
• Startup Warrior – You’ve been in the trenches before — maybe as a CTO, VP of Engineering, or the lead dev everyone relied on to ship magic. Bonus points if you've ever helped raise a round, charmed a few VCs or have some recognizable logos under your belt.
• AI & Data Wizardry – You speak fluent algorithm. Recommendation engines, NLP, machine learning, and predictive analytics aren’t buzzwords — they’re part of your toolkit.
• Full-Stack Boss – Whether it’s React, Node.js, Python, or something equally powerful, you’re confident building across the stack and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty.
• Video Integration Ninja – You've played with WebRTC or integrated Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams APIs. Real-time video experiences? You’ve got this.
• Cloud & Scale Pro – AWS, GCP, Azure — whatever cloud you ride, you understand how to build infrastructure that doesn’t break under pressure. You think scalability and security from day one.
• Lean, Mean, MVP Machine – You move FAST, prioritize smartly, and live for feedback loops. You get that “done” is better than “perfect,” and you're all about testing, iterating, and shipping.
• Security Sensei – You know your way around OAuth, SSO, data privacy laws, and enterprise-grade security. Users' trust = top priority.
• Mission-Driven Energy – You're fired up about building something that actually helps people. You believe networking should be smarter, faster, and way more human — and you're excited to lead the tech that makes that happen.
Compensation & Commitment
- Equity-based to start, transitioning to a base salary as we secure funding.
- Flexible, fractional role considered with room to grow into a full-time CTO position.
- Availability in PST, CT, or EST time zones is required for real-time collaboration.
Why Join BLKBOOK?
• Be the tech leader of an AI-powered platform redefining networking.
• Work directly with the founder to shape the product & vision.
• Own and drive technology decisions with long-term equity upside.
• Move FAST, iterate, and launch a platform with massive growth potential.
• If you’re an agile, hands-on, AI-savvy tech leader looking for a high-impact role, we’d love to chat.
