Focal
Details
Positions: Commercial Strategy & Operations Intern
Location: San Francisco, CA
Innovation Area: Built Environment and Infrastructure; Energy Management and Efficiency
Position Type: TomKat Center-supported
Compensation: $8000
Internship Term: 8 weeks
Focal is a VC-backed robotics start-up on a mission to revolutionize how we heat people. Nearly 20% of US GHG emissions come from building heating operations and our current ways of providing comfort - heating entire spaces as a way to heat people. According to the IEA, 2.5 Gt of direct CO2 emissions come from building heat and $50B are spent on natural gas for building heating. Yet, 40% of building occupants are dissatisfied with their comfort levels, 70% of these complaints coming from women, an inherent inequity in how our one-size-fits-all systems are designed. This is where Focal comes in with its AI-powered, directional, individualized, electric heating system that provides personalized comfort to people in all environments while making operations seamless.
Focal is first working with restaurants, hotels, and ski resorts to decarbonize and replace high energy load heating systems for their outdoor heating needs with their elegantly designed, all-electric heating system.
Responsibilities
- You’ll work directly with the co-founder to drive critical pre-launch commercial and operational initiatives in addition to several strategic activities. This is a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience in startup operations, sharpen your business acumen, and play a pivotal role in company’s commercial launch activities.
- Pre-launch marketing and operations: Manage project timelines for pre-launch activities, asset development, partner onboarding, and collaborating with engineering and product team on critical launch activities
- Enable Go-to-Market activities: Develop sales collateral and customer-facing presentations tailored to target audiences,
- Drive business development: Identify and onboard ecosystem partners like electricians, architects, and installers in key markets
- Prepare for the next fundraise: co-develop fundraising deck and content for the next institutional raise
Who Should Apply
You will be the swiss army knife for the co-founders. You will get a seat at the table and will drive decision-making across various critical areas. Below qualities and attributes will make you incredible in your role:
- Self-starter and bias for action: proactive, self-motivated, and excited to learn by doing and from making mistakes
- Analytical and detail-oriented: strong problem-solving skills, organized, and with high attention to detail
- Excited to build: demonstrated flexibility and adaptability, and excited to have their fingerprints on something that is both a first in the industry and pretty remarkable in its own right
- Strong communicator: good verbal and written communication skills, and comfortable drafting high-quality materials for a variety of external stakeholders
Required Expertise
Not applicable!
Preferred Skills/Majors
Some prior early-stage or growth-stage start-up experience is a nice-to-have. Capabilities, experiences, and passions go beyond majors and programs! We prefer a strong interest in energy, sustainability, AI applications, or launching something pretty magical.