AI · Engineering · Product · Data · Research

Imponexpo
Builder Cohort

Build with meaningful ownership.

A selective, equity-focused pathway for exceptional builders who want high responsibility and the opportunity to accelerate important work already underway.

Equity-focused. Limited or no initial cash compensation.
Travel or relocation may be required.

About the opportunity

Build with meaningful ownership

Imponexpo is expanding its core building team with a select cohort of exceptional technologists, researchers, designers and systems thinkers.

Our existing team has been developing products, research, technical systems and intellectual infrastructure around the future of connected commerce. We are now entering a stage that requires additional depth in artificial intelligence, engineering, product, data and research.

The Imponexpo Builder Cohort is a distinct entrepreneurial pathway for highly capable people who want meaningful ownership, unusually high responsibility and the opportunity to help accelerate important work already underway.

What you may work on

High-leverage technical and product work

✓Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

✓Large Language Models, post-training and evaluation

✓AI agents and intelligent systems

✓Software and platform engineering

✓Distributed systems and technical architecture

✓Product design and AI-native user experience

✓Data engineering and knowledge systems

✓Knowledge graphs and entity intelligence

✓Research engineering

✓Computational and applied research

Who thrives here

Capability with ownership

✓Have built difficult things before

✓Learn unusually quickly

✓Can operate effectively in ambiguity

✓Take ownership without constant supervision

✓Move comfortably between research, reasoning and implementation

✓Can challenge assumptions respectfully and intelligently

✓Are willing to learn beyond the boundaries of your previous role

✓Care deeply about quality and long-term outcomes

Character matters

Good people build stronger institutions

✓Act with integrity

✓Use sound judgment

✓Stay humble and open-minded

✓Collaborate generously

✓Protect confidential information

✓Share credit

✓Show resilience through challenges

✓Put the mission and team above ego

The Builder model

Entrepreneurial by design

Compensation

Primarily equity-focused, with limited or no initial cash compensation during the formation period.

Support

Builders need a realistic independent way to support themselves, including lawful non-conflicting outside work if necessary.

Vesting

Significant Builder equity is generally expected to vest over four years with a 12-month cliff, followed by monthly vesting.

Continued contribution

Continued contribution, confidentiality, intellectual-property discipline and normal future dilution are expected.

How we select

Four dimensions

Capability

Depth in your discipline and ability to deliver difficult work at a high level.

Ownership

Evidence of taking initiative and driving important work to completion.

Learning Velocity

How quickly you learn, adapt and expand your impact.

Character

Integrity, humility, resilience and how you work with others.

How to apply

Tell us how you think and build

What is the hardest thing you have personally built, designed, researched or solved?
What area could you take serious ownership of at Imponexpo?
Why does an equity-focused Builder pathway interest you?
If Imponexpo initially provided no salary, how would you realistically support yourself while continuing to contribute?
Tell us about a serious disagreement you had with a teammate, manager or founder. How did you handle it?
What kind of teammate are you when something important is failing?
Would you be willing and realistically able to travel or relocate if your role later required closer collaboration with Imponexpo's core team?
Which languages do you speak and at what level?