Remote Startup Builder and Contributor Program  

Ascender is a global nonprofit startup ecosystem actively building 3-Person Unicorns (3pUs) — small, AI-enabled teams that execute real startups, capture IP, and ship outcomes fast.

This is not a classroom internship and not a paid role.
It is a hands-on builder program for people who want real execution exposure inside live startup operations.

You will work on actual deliverables used by founders, operators, and internal teams — not simulations.

What you’ll actually do

You may work on one or more of the following, based on fit and availability:

1. Startup & Program Operations

Research markets, tools, or competitors for active founder projects

Help coordinate remote programs, sessions, or founder workflows

Turn messy inputs into clean execution steps (docs, trackers, SOPs)

2. Content & IP Capture (Very Real)

Summarize Zoom calls or transcripts into structured notes or blog drafts

Help convert conversations → publishable content → reusable IP

Organize documents so they can later train AI agents or SOPs

3. Community & Growth Support

Support onboarding of new contributors or founders

Help test outreach, recruitment, or engagement experiments

Maintain simple systems (Notion / Google Docs / Sheets)

⚠️ This is execution work. If you want “observe and learn,” this is not a fit.

What you will gain:

• Direct exposure to real startup execution, not theory
• Experience working with founders and remote operators
• Tangible outputs you can show (docs, content, systems, research)
• References or certificates after completing agreed deliverables
• Priority consideration for future paid roles or deeper collaboration if there’s strong mutual fit

Many past contributors use this as:

• Proof they can execute remotely
• A bridge into startups, ops roles, or content systems
• A stepping stone into founder-adjacent work

📍 Location: Remote
⏳ Duration: Flexible, project-based (not fixed hours)
💼 Type: Contributor / Builder Program (Unpaid)

This program is for you only if you:

• Are a student, fresh graduate, or early-career professional
• Can work independently with minimal hand-holding
• Are comfortable figuring things out from context
• Can commit at least a few focused hours per week
• Are okay with unpaid, contribution-based participation
• Care more about real experience and proof of work than titles

This is not for people who:

• Want a syllabus or fixed curriculum
• Expect constant supervision
• Are only collecting certificates

Preferred Traits

• Self-starter mindset
• Strong written communication
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Interest in startups, operations, content, or remote work