The Challenge
Clap is an AI-powered challenge engine that's redefining how brands engage audiences through short-video competitions. You'll work directly with the CEO to land the first wave of brand partners and run growth experiments that'll shape product-market fit.
Your Mission
Build and qualify a prospect list of 50+ DTC/CPG brands, execute personalized outreach, and book 8-10 intro calls
Shadow and then lead portions of brand discovery calls, capturing competitive intel and customizing pitches for each prospect
Run 6-9 growth experiments (landing pages, paid ads, organic) tracking conversion, cost per signup, and engagement metrics
Document and package Clap's first brand partnership case study—metrics, testimonial, creative outputs—for sales and fundraising use
Close or advance 4-6 brand partnerships through full sales cycle: discovery, proposal, onboarding, campaign launch
Build and operationalize repeatable brand campaign workflows (briefs, approval checklists, launch timelines) that reduce setup time by 50%
Identify and implement 3-4 high-impact automation opportunities using Claude and AI tools to eliminate manual research and drafting work
Deliver month-over-month growth metrics showing impact of partnership campaigns and paid experiments on user acquisition and platform engagement
KPIs You'll Own
Brand Pipeline Conversion Rate
Percentage of prospects contacted who move to intro call, then proposal, then signed partnership.
Growth Experiment ROI
Cost per signup and conversion rate by channel (Meta, TikTok, organic) to identify highest-leverage acquisition levers.
Case Study Metrics
First brand partner's campaign performance: total participants, engagement rate, prize fulfillment success, brand satisfaction score.
Time-to-Launch for Brand Campaigns
Days from prospect qualification to live campaign—track improvement as you build repeatable processes.
Experiment Velocity
Number of growth experiments shipped per month and learning captured per experiment (learnings per $ spent).
Tools & Stack
Your Team
Your Manager
CEO (Sean or Dan)
Current Team
Founding team of 2+ (CEO, likely ops/product), marketing agency partner, social media manager
New role—intern-to-hire path to full-time if you execute
The Package
Salary
$20K-$28K
Equity
Likely—standard early-stage startup intern equity (0.05-0.15% range, not specified)
Remote
On-site in Austin, TX (or San Diego, CA if negotiated). Mid-April–September 2026.
Benefits & Perks
Company Intelligence
Clap (Virtual Playgrounds, Inc.) is an AI-powered challenge engine that lets brands, creators, educators, and communities generate interactive short-video competitions in seconds. The platform is white-labeled and embeddable, with Clap running the engine behind the scenes. Founded by two serial founders (Sean & Dan) with exits via Expedia and Chegg, the company is VC-backed, in private beta with first customers live, and building an AI-native product that scales.
Funding
VC-backed (specific amount not disclosed)
Customers
In private beta with first brand partner live
Culture
Fast-moving, founder-led, hands-on. Emphasis on shipping quickly and learning from real customer feedback.
Is This Role For You?
- You're a self-starter who owns projects end-to-end and doesn't wait for permission to contribute—this role is all about showing initiative
- You love early-stage startups: chaos, rapid iteration, wearing multiple hats, and learning more in 3 months than a year at a big company
- You're naturally curious about brands, creator economy, and social platforms—you read industry trends and can spot winning ideas
- You're comfortable with ambiguity and excited to help build processes from scratch (brand workflows, campaign templates, tracking systems)
- You're a solid writer and communicator—personalized outreach emails, meeting prep docs, and case studies are core to the role
- You need predictable structure and clear processes from day one—this is a startup, and you'll define a lot of the playbook yourself
- You're not genuinely interested in growth marketing and brand partnerships—this role requires real curiosity, not just resume padding
- You can't commit to on-site work in Austin, TX (or negotiate San Diego) through September 2026, or you need full remote flexibility
- You're looking for a passive internship where you observe and attend meetings—you'll be expected to own real work, present to leadership, and drive outcomes
Interview Process
Screening Call
Recruiter or CEO screen (30 min) to assess your background, growth marketing experience, and fit for startup pace.
Take-Home Challenge
Research and draft a personalized outreach email to a DTC brand prospect, including competitive intel and tailored talking points. Show your thinking.
Deep Dive Interview
CEO or co-founder conversation (60 min) diving into past growth projects, how you think about experiments, and questions you have about Clap's market and strategy.
Offer & Logistics
Verbal offer with equity discussion, start date logistics, onboarding plan, and first 30-day objectives.
Interested in this role?
Apply now and hear back within days, not weeks.
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About Growth Marketing Roles
Growth marketers drive user acquisition, activation, and retention through data-driven experimentation. They sit at the intersection of product, data, and marketing — running A/B tests, building funnels, and scaling what works.