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Liva AI (YC S25) Is Hiring

Original article
ycombinator.com|1 points|0 comments|by ashlleymo|Jun 26, 2026

🚀 Liva AI (YC S25) is Recruiting!

Liva AI Logo

Liva AI is seeking a Founding Operations Lead to join their team in San Francisco. This is a high-impact, full-time position designed for a relentless operator who can thrive in the chaos of an early-stage startup.

📋 Role Specifications

DetailInformation
Compensation\120,000 - $150,000$
Equity0.50%−1.00%0.50\% - 1.00\%
LocationSan Francisco, CA, US
ExperienceOpen (New graduates are welcome)
Visa StatusUS Citizens or valid visa holders only

🎯 Our Mission

Liva AI is a multimodal data company dedicated to creating AI that is more inclusive and emotionally intelligent. We believe AI should interact with humans naturally, reflecting a diverse array of ethnicities, races, accents, and professional backgrounds.

Currently, AI faces and voices often feel "uncanny" or artificial. Liva AI is solving this by constructing the most comprehensive library of human video and audio data to power the next generation of realistic AI. We are already collaborating with leading voice agent firms and frontier AI labs.

🛠️ The Role & Responsibilities

As the Founding Operations Lead, you will be the engine that drives data acquisition. You will move from standard corporate workflows to high-intensity, end-to-end ownership.

Your primary objectives include:

  • Process Architecture: Building data collection, annotation, and QA pipelines from the ground up.
  • Client Relations: Collaborating with top-tier AI labs to integrate feedback and elevate data quality.
  • Hybrid Workflows: Designing systems where human expertise and AI agents collaborate efficiently.
  • Team Management: Overseeing the daily execution of contractors and contributors.
  • Scaling: Converting manual, "messy" processes into automated, scalable operational systems.
  • Performance Tracking: Monitoring speed, quality, and bottlenecks to ensure timely delivery.

Operational Flow

👤 Candidate Profile

Must-Haves

  • Location: Must be willing to relocate to San Francisco.
  • Intensity: Comfortable with a rigorous schedule: ≈12 hours/day,6 days/week\approx 12 \text{ hours/day}, 6 \text{ days/week}.
  • Mindset: Extremely organized, detail-oriented, and a reliable problem-solver in ambiguous environments.
  • Leadership: Proven ability to manage people.
  • Passion: A deep interest in the intersection of AI automation and data.

Nice-to-Haves

  • 1-2 years of experience in "high-intensity" fields (e.g., Investment Banking, Consulting, Product Management, or Operations).
  • Previous experience at an early-stage startup.
  • A track record of building operational systems.
  • Technical proficiency in: 
    SELECT skill FROM candidate_profile 
WHERE skill IN ('SQL', 'Financial Modeling', 'Excel', 'Coding');

🎁 Benefits & Perks

  • Support: Free food, high-end equipment, and wellness support to ensure peak performance.
  • Family: Paid family leave with a flexible approach to personal needs.

🏢 About Liva AI

  • Founded: 2025
  • YC Batch: S25
  • Current Team Size: 2
  • Status: Active
  • Headquarters: San Francisco

The Founders