Chief Executive Officer - EdTech Startup

Selection process developed by matteria

Location and Work Mode

Bogotá D.C., Colombia — Hybrid, with frequent domestic and international travel.

Who we are

We are a team of builders, learners, and operators united by a shared conviction: that foundational literacy and numeracy, delivered at scale through evidence-based innovation, can transform life outcomes for millions of children — particularly in communities where the education system has historically fallen short.

We believe teachers are at the heart of learning. Our technology exists to support and empower the educators who make learning possible, not to replace them. We design every product in partnership with the classroom, ensuring technology amplifies human potential rather than substituting it.

This conviction has been validated. After a rigorous founder-led first chapter, we have built something rare: an EdTech platform with independent evidence of real learning outcomes, a sustainable and growing revenue model, and active operations across multiple Latin American markets. Our work has been recognized by leading global institutions in the education sector, and our partnerships span government ministries, world-class research institutions, and influential private actors with deep public-sector reach.

The incoming CEO does not inherit a blank slate. They inherit a proven model: a first stage of success built with discipline, conviction, and rigorous evidence. The task now is to take that baton and lead the next chapter — one of scale, expansion, and continuous reinvention in a landscape being reshaped by AI.

Our impact

Our work is grounded in evidence, not aspiration.

• Independent randomized controlled trial confirming statistically significant improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes

• Financial break-even achieved, with a growing revenue base and an active expansion pipeline

• Active operations across multiple Latin American markets; expansion into India underway

• Recognized by leading global institutions in the education and international development sectors

• Partnerships with world-class research institutions, government ministries, and influential private actors with deep public-sector reach

• Team of ~25 professionals across learning, technology, commercial, design, and operations

Purpose of the Position

We are searching for our first institutional CEO — a leader capable of taking full executive ownership of a business with real traction and converting it into a scalable, high-performance operation.

This is not a maintenance role. The incoming CEO will partner closely with the founding team and the Board to set strategic direction, build operational infrastructure, lead commercial expansion, and develop the talent and culture needed to scale. The right profile combines the discipline of a professional operator with the ownership mindset of an entrepreneur.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Define and execute our next-phase growth strategy, translating long-term vision into clear priorities and organizational alignment

• Identify and capture expansion opportunities across existing and new markets, including India and additional Latin American countries

• Operate as the company's chief growth driver, with full accountability for revenue achievement and trajectory

Commercial Leadership

• Own the commercial engine: build, lead, and scale sales and partnerships capability

• Close high-value B2G and institutional deals, managing long and complex government procurement cycles with maturity and patience

• Deliver annual revenue growth objectives and build the pipeline toward the next milestone

Product & AI Leadership

• Lead product strategy and portfolio decisions in an educational landscape undergoing continuous AI disruption — what works today may be obsolete tomorrow

• Maintain sharp product-market fit through constant iteration, working closely with the co-founding Chief Learning Officer who anchors pedagogical rigor

• Balance innovation with learning outcomes, commercial viability, and partner needs; know when to diversify the portfolio and when to focus

Stakeholder Management

• Build trusted relationships with the Board, global and local investors, government clients, and strategic partners across markets

• Represent the organization externally with credibility and gravitas; strengthen global market positioning and institutional brand

• Navigate governmental, institutional, and private stakeholder environments with integrity and executive presence

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of ~25, including six direct-report functional leaders and a co-founder (CLO) who remains a key equity stakeholder and cultural anchor

• Foster accountability, high performance, and a culture that combines startup velocity with mission discipline

• Identify and resolve organizational capability gaps; build the leadership layer required for the next phase of scale

Financial Stewardship

• Manage runway, cash flow, and resource allocation with discipline in a predominantly bootstrapped operating environment

• Make high-quality investment decisions under uncertainty, balancing growth ambitions with financial resilience

• Own the P&L — not as a reporting function, but as an operating imperative

Requirements and competences to work with us

Education

• University degree in Business, Engineering, Public Policy, Education, or related field

• MBA or equivalent advanced degree desirable but not required if track record speaks for itself

• Professional-level English required (spoken and written)

Experience

• 10+ years of professional experience, with at least 3–5 years in senior leadership or direct P&L ownership

• Experience in EdTech, education, workforce development, or government-aligned social enterprise strongly preferred

• Track record in B2G or B2B2G commercial environments — proven ability to navigate and close government contracts

• Demonstrated experience scaling organizations from early to growth stage

• Experience working in or with Latin America; Colombia experience a plus

• Demonstrated ability to build teams in resource-constrained, high-ambiguity environments

• Experience managing board relationships and investor communication

Knowledge and Skills

• Commercial development and B2G negotiation

• P&L management and financial discipline

• Strategic planning and execution

• Talent development and organizational culture

• Operational process design

• Government relations and institutional partnerships

• Impact measurement and reporting

• Technology-enabled business models

Competencies

• Commercial leadership: builds and closes relationships with governments, institutions, and corporations without requiring full commercial infrastructure

• Operational excellence: installs processes, metrics, and accountability where they don't yet exist; balances speed and structure without bureaucratizing

• Talent development: attracts, retains, and develops teams during the building phase; creates cultures of accountability and high performance

• Impact conviction: genuinely motivated by transforming foundational learning outcomes — not just by the business model; conviction that shapes decisions, not just narrative

• Relational intelligence: navigates the founder–investor–CEO dynamic with maturity and autonomy; builds trust without relying on formal hierarchy

• Executive resilience: operates effectively under ambiguity, limited resources, and multiple simultaneous fronts

• Applied strategic thinking: translates long-term vision into concrete short-term decisions; prioritizes without losing sight of the whole

Our team profile

We are an organization that combines entrepreneurial energy, social mission conviction, and a growing need for operational discipline and professional structure. We value people who build genuine relationships, lead with integrity and good intent, adapt to changing contexts without losing their footing, maintain emotional resilience under pressure, and deliver results even in ambiguous scenarios. The context demands people capable of operating with imperfect information and communication, organizational transformation in motion, diverse leadership styles, and high human sensitivity — this is a team that cares deeply about people.

Key interests for working with us

• Closing one of the most consequential gaps in global development: foundational learning at scale

• Transforming foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes for underserved K-12 communities

• Proving that rigorous evidence and commercial sustainability are not only compatible — they reinforce each other

• Building trusted partnerships with the governments and institutions that shape education systems

• Creating an organization as strong in its culture and values as it is in its measured impact

Reasons to join our team

Lead a proven venture at its inflection point — and define its next chapter.

• The opportunity to lead an organization with real traction, validated product, and regional ambition

• Direct influence on strategic decisions that define the company's next chapter

• A board and founding team committed to a successful leadership transition

• Full executive ownership: not a corporate role, but a builder's seat

• The chance to leave a lasting mark on foundational learning outcomes for communities across Latin America and beyond

• A fast-moving, mission‑driven environment with a high learning curve

Relevant details before applying for this vacancy

This is a high-ownership, high-accountability role — with the freedom and responsibility that entails.

• The organization is in a deliberate stage transition that requires tolerance for ambiguity and resilience

• The incoming CEO will work closely with the founder during a structured transition period

• The role demands genuine engagement with both the strategic and operational dimensions of the business

• Success will depend as much on relational intelligence and emotional maturity as on functional expertise

• Colombia-based candidates preferred; exceptional international candidates with strong regional experience and demonstrated willingness to relocate may be considered